Two days after the November midterm elections, Arlington ISD trustees gathered to craft a set of legislative priorities they will present to lawmakers in Austin. The board plans to accompany the list with infographics that illustrate the district’s current challenges and successes, aiming to make the case clear and concise for state officials.
Funding the District Amid Declining Enrollment
Arlington ISD is confronting a nearly $60 million budget shortfall caused by falling enrollment and aging school facilities. After adopting a $13 million shortfall last year, the district reduced that gap to about $9 million by June 2026, but the financial strain remains.
Trustees are asking the legislature to raise the basic per‑student allotment, which currently stands at $6,215, to keep pace with post‑pandemic inflation. They also want the funding formula to shift from attendance‑based calculations to enrollment‑based ones, arguing that this would better reflect the true cost of educating students.
Expanding Universal Pre‑K
Board member Justin Chapa highlighted the district’s universal pre‑K program, launched in the 2022‑23 school year with an initial $4 million investment. The trustees want legislators to close the funding gap for universal pre‑K, providing a clear directive for state support.
Voucher Program Opposition
Trustee Larry Mike summed up the board’s stance on the state’s education savings account program with two words: “Repeal vouchers.” While the program was expanded earlier this year, Texas comptroller Don Huffines has asked for additional funding. Chapa expressed concern that the program should not grow without strong accountability measures, both financial and academic, to ensure that vouchers are used responsibly.
Reforming the A‑F Accountability System
Board members also called for a overhaul of the Texas Education Agency’s A‑F rating system, which heavily relies on STAAR test results. Currently, schools receiving five consecutive F‑ratings face state‑mandated takeovers, either through district control or closure. Arlington ISD has two campuses—Rodriguez Junior High and Thornton Elementary—each with three consecutive F‑ratings followed by a D in August, leaving them vulnerable to future state intervention.
Superintendent Matt Smith emphasized that any accountability reforms must reflect the priorities of Arlington families, not distant policymakers in Austin. Board members David Wilbanks and Justin Chapa argued for raising the threshold for state takeovers and creating a partnership model that targets truly struggling schools while preserving local control.
Political Context
The board noted the shifting political landscape after a statewide blue wave, which could affect the receptiveness of legislators to their proposals. Nonetheless, trustees expressed optimism that the post‑election environment offers a stronger platform for advocating bold reforms.
Governor Greg Abbott recently celebrated a record‑breaking public‑education funding bill that raised the basic allotment by $55 per student, a modest increase that the board hopes will be built upon in the upcoming session.
Arlington ISD will finalize its priority list in the coming weeks and deliver it to state decision‑makers, seeking to secure the resources and policy changes needed to sustain quality education for the community’s children.
Original reporting: Fort Worth Report — read the source article.
