School finance is one of the most complex issues in state government. Because of that complexity, much confusion exists regarding the effect on both state and local school district budgets from various forms of educational choice. This paper is intended to help illuminate this issue and explain the ‘how and why’ of fiscal effects on the state and local public schools.
K-12 Education
The Education Cartel
Texas’ education system is not merely inefficient. It is structurally tilted to benefit insiders at the public’s expense, according to an explosive new report. The root of the problem is the Education Cartel—a network of consultants, vendors, and taxpayer-funded lobbyists who profit from ever-expanding school bond debt and bureaucratic growth. This system has helped drive...
April 8, 2026