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More Funds Will Boost Test Scores, Study Says
AUSTIN -- School districts need additional funding of between $226 million and $408 million to ensure that at least 55 percent of students pass the state's reading and math tests, according to results of a long-awaited education study released Thursday.
The study, conducted by economists at Texas A&M University, found a "significant relationship between school spending and student performance," Lori Taylor, an assistant professor at Texas A&M, told a panel of lawmakers and citizens studying school finance.
"There appears to be a fundamental economic relationship among input prices, educational outcomes and cost in Texas public schools. Other things being equal, the analyses suggest that it costs more to produce higher levels of educational outcomes," according to a key finding of the study.
The $1 million study correlated school spending to student performance standards. Researchers defined adequate performance for a school district as having 55 percent of students passing the state's reading and math tests, and having an average percentage of high school students completing at least one advanced course and scoring at or above the state criterion on the SAT or ACT test. (These criterion scores are a SAT score of 1100 or an ACT score of 24.)
The average minimum funding level per pupil to meet those standards is estimated to be around $6,271, slightly lower than the current average expenditure of $6,503.
The extra $226 million to $408 million would be needed to help those districts that are not meeting the performance standard. The study found that it costs more to educate students who are economically disadvantaged, have limited English skills or have special education needs.
The study also found it costs $4,000 more per pupil to educate a high school student compared with an elementary student. Taylor attributed part of the extra cost to athletics.
Critics of the study said it failed to include the cost of reducing the state's high level of dropouts and passing new science and social studies tests. And while it considered students who receive free school lunches, it didn't include those who qualify for reduced-price lunches.
Sen. Florence Shapiro, co-chairman of the Joint Select Committee on Public School Finance, said the study sets a baseline for lawmakers.
"I think that we have an opportunity now to make some dramatic changes in education and to look at education excellence," said Shapiro, R-Plano.
The committee will meet next week to discuss the state's tax structure. Gov. Rick Perry has said he may call a special session this spring if lawmakers can reach a consensus on providing property tax relief and eliminating the existing "Robin Hood" school finance system.
Perry has proposed $500,000 in new education spending for schools that improve student performance and reduce dropouts. School district administrators and trustees hope there will be more money for all students.
Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, said the study shows that if the state wants higher student achievement, it may be costly.
"For those people who say it's not about the money, let me tell you, this study proves it's about the money," said Van de Putte.
Rep. Talmadge Heflin, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said the 55 percent passage rate assumed by the study to be adequate performance is too low.
"We certainly have to raise the bar, in my opinion, to be where we're expected to be," said Heflin, R-Houston.
But he said that he doesn't expect the Legislature to make wholesale changes to the tax structure this year.
— Jane Elliott
Houston Chronicle
2004-03-04
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2434137
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