Pflugerville ISD superintendent: The urgent need for real public education funding in Texas

As the superintendent of Pflugerville ISD, I have the privilege of witnessing the transformative power of public education every day. Our schools are more than just buildings where students learn; they are the heartbeat of our community, the places where our children grow into thoughtful, capable and responsible adults. Yet, despite the essential role public schools play, they continue to be underfunded, even in a time of unprecedented state surpluses.

On Aug. 12, the Texas House Public Education Committee convened to discuss ways to increase educational opportunities in our state. Among the topics was the idea of education savings accounts (ESAs), a voucher-like program that would divert public funds to private schools. While the focus of the hearing was on expanding these programs, a critical issue was glaringly absent from the agenda: the chronic underfunding of our public schools.

During the hearing, Rep. Gina Hinojosa voiced a concern shared by many of us in the education sector. She questioned why, with the state sitting on a record-breaking budget surplus, our public schools are still struggling. The reality is stark … our schools are being asked to do more with less, while the state continues to collect taxes without adequately redistributing those funds to where they are most needed.

Education Commissioner Mike Morath reported that Texas spends $14,928 per student annually. However, this figure is misleading. When we account for expenditures that don't directly benefit classroom learning such as administrative costs, debt repayment and federal funds for specific programs, the actual amount spent per student in our classrooms is significantly lower, just $10,863 per student. And this figure doesn't even consider the impact of inflation.

The implications of this underfunding are profound. It means larger class sizes, fewer resources for teachers and limited opportunities for our students. It means our children are not receiving the education they deserve, despite the best efforts of our dedicated educators.

The Legislative Budget Board recently released a report on the fiscal condition of Texas state government. The report highlighted that despite a $4 billion appropriation to public education by the 88th Legislature, this is offset by a $9.8 billion decrease in total funding by 2025, equating to a $1,988 reduction per average daily attendance. This reduction will only further strain our already stretched resources.

The term "fully funded" is often used by state leaders to describe their efforts to support public education. However, the definition they use differs vastly from what we in the education sector know to be true. To state leaders, "fully funded" means that current legal requirements are met. But to those of us in education, it means providing the resources necessary to meet the needs of every student in our district.

This disparity in definitions is crucial and must be highlighted in our conversations with legislators. Our schools cannot continue to function at their best with insufficient funding. The future of our children, and indeed the future of Texas, depends on our ability to provide a fully funded, high-quality education to every student.

I urge you to reach out to our elected leaders. Ask them to reconsider their definition of "fully funded" education. Encourage them to invest in our public schools, not just with words but with actions and dollars that reflect the true cost of educating the next generation of Texans.

Our children deserve better, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure they receive it. Let's make sure that the promise of public education remains strong, vibrant and fully funded for every student in Pflugerville ISD and across Texas.

Quintin Shepherd is the superintendent of the Pflugerville school district.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Pflugerville ISD superintendent: The urgent need for real public education funding in Texas