1220 Colorado Street, Suite 300 – Austin, Texas 78701 – 512.478.7313 – FAX 512.478.6433 – equitycenter.org

A Request for Action from the Executive Director of the Equity Center, Wayne Pierce

We are very concerned by what we are hearing regarding the negotiations between the Senate and House conferees on school finance (SB 1811). The House plan is the least equitable of any plan that has been offered this entire session. It is designed to protect the highest-funded districts by cutting those districts that cannot survive further cuts.

It is imperative that school officials, board members and others call their state representatives and explain how dangerous the House plan is for our children. Ask them to tell the Speaker and House conferees for SB 1811 (Pitts, Geren, Turner, Crownover, Eissler) of the irreparable harm that is about to be done.

We know that many of your schools may do somewhat better under proration than with the Senate approach, and what we are asking you to do is hard. However, districts funded within the formula system and at lower Target Revenue levels will be devastated by the House plan. Even many high-wealth, high-funded districts already recognize the harm that the House plan will do to so many children and are supporting the Senate plan. That’s the kind of responsible leadership we need.

If you agree we must protect those children who are being placed in the most vulnerable position by the House plan, you must call your representative immediately. We expect a compromise to be reached today, and from what we are hearing, it will be a very bad one. The education community must act now to stop it.

Legislative Alert

May 27, 2011