The business community is working with school districts to lobby for full funding.

DALLAS — Public schools are the backbone of a thriving economy, and when they are underfunded, the future workforce suffers, warns a new coalition of Texas business groups.

“Before we talk about anything else in the education conversation, we need to prioritize funding our public schools,” said Chris Lee, director of state advocacy for the North Texas Commission, a leading organization in the newly formed Fund Schools First initiative.

The coalition, composed of chambers of commerce and business organizations from across the state, is pushing lawmakers to focus on boosting funding for public schools, rather than diverting resources to initiatives like school vouchers.

“We’re not taking positions on education savings accounts or vouchers right now,” explained Ken Malcolmson, president and CEO of the North Dallas Chamber of Commerce. “What matters most at this moment is sitting down with legislators to stress the importance of adequate school funding.”

Since 2019, the base allotment for public school funding in Texas — the amount spent per student — has remained unchanged at $6,160. If adjusted for inflation, that figure should be closer to $7,360 to $7,660. The Fund Schools First campaign aims to convince lawmakers to raise this per-student allotment and allocate funds for teacher pay increases before considering voucher programs or other alternatives.

“Most of our workforce comes from public schools, and without an educated workforce, we don’t have a sustainable economy,” said Lee.

Despite the business community’s emphasis on school funding, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick have made school choice, including vouchers, their top priority for the legislative session. During his address to the state Senate, Abbott reiterated his support for expanding school choice, urging lawmakers to pass a bill that would give parents more control over their children’s education.

“I can testify to the urgent plea of thousands of Texans who want the ability to choose the best school for their child,” Abbott told the Senate. “There’s a hunger for this opportunity.”

While school choice legislation passed in the Senate multiple times in 2023, it was blocked in the House. This year, with a new House Speaker in place — Republican Rep. Dustin Burrows of Lubbock — the landscape may shift. Burrows, who was elected with support from both Democrats and Republicans, acknowledged the need to address a range of pressing issues in Texas, including school funding.

“Property taxes need relief. Our public schools need support. We need investments in our water infrastructure and to combat terrorism threats,” Burrows said in his acceptance speech. “These are not just Republican or Democrat issues; they are Texas issues.”

Though Burrows did not comment on school choice during his address, he previously stated that he believes the political momentum for Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) is growing and that education will be a major focus in the upcoming session. School finance, he said, will be a key priority for both parties.

As the legislative session progresses, Lee and the Fund Schools First coalition are closely monitoring developments, particularly as Burrows names committee chairs. “We’ve made some early progress, but there’s still much to be done. Expect to hear a lot more from the business community as we continue to advocate for school funding,” said Lee.

While the debate over vouchers continues to dominate the conversation, business leaders are hopeful that school funding will take center stage in this year’s legislative agenda.