In a busy week at the Texas Capitol, lawmakers took key steps toward addressing the long-standing funding gap between public charter schools and traditional independent school districts (ISDs), advancing legislation that could bring much-needed facilities support to charter campuses across the state.
The House Public Education Committee voted 13-2 to advance House Bill 2 (HB2), a broad school finance measure that includes a facilities funding proposal backed by the Texas Public Charter Schools Association (TPCSA).
Meanwhile, the Senate’s Education K-16 Committee approved its own version, Senate Bill 1750 (SB1750), by a 7-0-1 vote. SB 1750 amends the Texas Education Code to provide annual per-student funding for open-enrollment charter schools’ instructional facilities, capped at the lesser of a calculated state average tax rate amount or 15% of the basic allotment, with strict usage rules and a certification requirement to prevent personal financial gain from real estate deals.
While the bills differ in funding levels and eligibility criteria, both represent forward movement in efforts to close the $1,600 per-student gap that charter schools currently face when compared to ISDs.
This funding shortfall has forced many charter schools to divert dollars from classroom instruction to cover essential building and maintenance costs.
Advocates say resolving this disparity is essential for ensuring all students in Texas—regardless of the type of public school they attend—have access to high-quality educational facilities.
“Closing the facilities funding gap is critical for ensuring all Texas students—regardless of zip code—have access to safe, innovative learning environments,” said Nakia Douglas, Executive Director of the Dallas Education Collective (DEC). “The progress on HB 2 and SB 1750 is a promising step toward equality, especially for public charter schools serving Black and Latino students in historically marginalized communities. We’re encouraged to see momentum building at the Capitol, and we’ll continue advocating for policies that expand opportunity and empower families.”
In addition to the facilities funding bills, lawmakers are also advancing legislation related to charter school expansion and Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). Senate Bill 605, initially proposed with broad restrictions on charter growth, was narrowed significantly after input from charter advocates.
The revised bill would limit expansion only for schools under state conservatorship or governed by a board of managers. It passed out of committee unanimously, 8-0.
On the ESA front, both House Bill 3 (HB3) and Senate Bill 2 (SB2) advanced through committee, with HB 3 now including a provision that designates charter schools as “pre-approved education service providers”.
Charter supporters are also preparing for a major moment at the upcoming State Board of Education (SBOE) meeting from April 7-11, when Mater Academy—a high-performing charter network from outside Texas—will present its application. If approved, it would be the first out-of-state charter school to clear this SBOE hurdle.
With 59 days remaining in the legislative session, TPCSA and other charter advocates say they will continue pressing lawmakers to deliver meaningful reforms.
As Douglas noted, these policy shifts could help ensure that more Texas families have access to high-quality public education options that meet the diverse needs of their children.