This study investigates the regulatory and financial incentives driving up expenditures and examines the fiscal accountability of school districts to taxpayers. Economist Milton Holloway reviews the economic performance of three Texas school districts and finds their accounting systems were not designed to differentiate between required spending and discretionary spending. This calls into question claims that public schools have insufficient funds to provide core instructional programs.
Austin ISD is an Absolute Mess
Texas’ “most progressive” school district—Austin ISD—continues to be a shining example of all that’s wrong in public education. To start, it was recently revealed that AISD is likely facing a $60 million budget deficit for the upcoming 2024-25 school year. But rather than reduce spending to close the gap, district officials appeared content “to [only]...