House Bill 3 made sweeping changes to Texas education earlier this year, lowering property tax rates for Texas taxpayers and sending billions more in state dollars to school districts. Now, before districts can ask local taxpayers for higher M&O property tax rates through a tax ratification election (TRE), they must first conduct an efficiency audit. This is designed to ensure that a district is thoroughly evaluating its spending practices before asking to permanently increase tax rates and that taxpayers get a chance to review a district’s efficiency for themselves and make an informed decision.
Higher Education
Who Teaches the Teachers?
Every state requires public school teachers to be “certified,” and most of that certification runs through a university school of education. New research by TPPF’s Kate Bierly asks a simple question: is that credential actually worth anything? The answer, backed by decades of data, is no. Teacher training used to happen in “normal schools.” The practical, two-year...
July 23, 2026