On November 21, the Austin ISD Board of Trustees approved its legislative priorities, focusing on increased school funding and recapture reform. The priorities are divided into nine categories, including safety and security, student support, teachers, and accountability.
Key highlights of the adopted priorities include increasing the basic student allotment with adjustments for inflation every two years, commissioning a study on recapture's impact on housing affordability, funding school districts based on enrollment rather than attendance, converting two copper pennies to golden pennies to retain more Proposition A funds in Austin, and increasing the school safety allotment to cover all mandates while expanding its use to mental health services. Additionally, the board opposes vouchers or any programs that divert public tax dollars to privately run schools.
The 89th Legislative Session is set to begin on January 14. To receive weekly legislative summaries regarding issues affecting Austin ISD, interested parties can email Edna Butts at edna.butts@austinisd.org.