Local property taxes fund a substantial portion of public education in Texas today. Asthe Texas Legislature provides property tax relief, a new source of education revenuemust be found. This report examines the viability of creating a payroll tax to fundTexas public schools. Payroll taxes, the author finds, have proven damaging tobusinesses, employees, and citizens – increasing the cost of doing business, reducingemployment, depressing wages, reducing economic competiveness, and obstructingeconomic growth.
Social Studies TEKS Reform: The Story So Far
On April 7, the State Board of Education is set to give its final approval to new Social Studies Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), a much-needed reform to the standards that determine what educators teach. Here’s what you need to know: The current Social Studies TEKS are profoundly inadequate. The flaws of the K-8...