One of our greatest allies for public schools in the nation is the remarkable Pastors for Texas Children. They are active every day in Texas, urging the public to support and fund their public schools. Their leadership has helped to spur similar organizations in other states where public schools need help and where privatizers are making a play for public funds.
Here is their latest appeal for funding the public schools of Texas, attended by five million students:
After last week’s freeze, the Texas Legislature is back to work at the Capitol. Our focus on funding public schools fully and fairly is more important than ever. As you know, our Texas Constitution says in Article 7, Section 1: “A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to the preservation of the liberties and rights of the people, it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools.”
Here are three ways we can fulfill our constitutional obligation:
1. Federal COVID Relief Dollars
Last spring, Texas received $1.3 billion in federal stimulus funding earmarked to public education. The money was intended to equip schools for education during a pandemic, including PPE, technology, internet capabilities, and updating facilities. That package was not ever distributed to the local school districts, but was used to fill state budget holes.
In December 2020, the state received the next federal relief package of $5.5 billion for public education purposes, which has not yet been distributed to school districts.
We are asking our state leaders to release this and any future stimulus money for its intended purpose: to enable local districts to operate and educate safely without having to dip into reserves. Our friends at Raise Your Hand Texas have developed a helpful fact sheet about the federal stimulus funding. You can read that here, along with other resources.
1. Federal COVID Relief Dollars
Last spring, Texas received $1.3 billion in federal stimulus funding earmarked to public education. The money was intended to equip schools for education during a pandemic, including PPE, technology, internet capabilities, and updating facilities. That package was not ever distributed to the local school districts, but was used to fill state budget holes.
In December 2020, the state received the next federal relief package of $5.5 billion for public education purposes, which has not yet been distributed to school districts.
We are asking our state leaders to release this and any future stimulus money for its intended purpose: to enable local districts to operate and educate safely without having to dip into reserves. Our friends at Raise Your Hand Texas have developed a helpful fact sheet about the federal stimulus funding. You can read that here, along with other resources.
Read the Pastors’ legislative priorities here:
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Question: Why aren’t States accountable for using Federal funds for what they are earmarked for? What am I missing here? CBK
IT’S UP AT OPED NEWS https://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/Money-Intended-for-Educati-in-General_News-Budget_Education_Education-Costs_Education-Funding-210223-644.html#comment785723https://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/Money-Intended-for-Educati-in-General_News-Budget_Education_Education-Costs_Education-Funding-210223-644.html#comment785723
Susan I guess it’s a good thing . . . . but it seems so many are not even trying to hide their corruption any more. It’s a good thing because at least their openness about their own corruption makes naive optimists more likely to become aware of it and push back. CBK
Public schools will never get ahead unless there is a provision that states the federal money for public schools must go to the intended designee or forfeit the funds. There are too many privatizers and crooked politicians in the states.
It struck me today that the only thing that will temporarily slow down states’ efforts to expand charters and vouchers will be the proliferation of legislation to limit voters’ rights.
Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Education.