Bill Now Contains Over a Half-Billion Dollars in Funding for Schools

AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the passage of House Bill 21 on Sunday night:

“I want to make sure our colleagues in the Texas House are aware that the Texas Senate has added over a half billion dollars for schools to HB 21 including $200 million for Additional State Aid for Tax Reduction (ASATR), $200 million in new funding for the Foundation School Program and a $100 million for facility funding to school districts and charter schools. The bill also includes Education Savings Accounts for children with disabilities. As I said last week, it is hard for me to believe any Texas lawmaker would vote against a half billion dollars for public schools, as well as voting against children with disabilities, simply to oppose school choice.

“I ask the House to seriously consider concurring on this important legislation.”

If the House concurs on HB 21, the lieutenant governor has also agreed to move legislation that will push back the official start date for A through F campus ratings until 2019 and make 2018 scores another sample year.