It’s Not About the Money
What to know: New York City spent nearly $40 billion on government schools—or $36,293 per student—in fiscal year 2024 and yet, “More than 400K New York City children [are] enrolled in failing public schools.” The lesson here is that more spending does not mean better outcomes.
The TPPF take: New York’s disastrous example should inform Texas’ own approach.
“The radical Left loves to claim that government schools are not fully-funded. But recent data reveals that Texas taxpayers already spend nearly $19,000 per student, raising serious questions about how much is too much,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “We can learn from the experience of other states. It matters less how much is spent and it matters more how well it is spent—and what return on investment is realized.”
For more on public school spending, click here.
Higher Education
The TPPF take: The Chronicle portrays these developments as a “chilling effect” on academic freedom.
“This narrative misses the larger picture,” says TPPF’s Tom Lindsay. “Texas Senate Bill 37 represents a principled effort to restore universities to their essential purposes: transmitting knowledge, cultivating intellectual independence, preparing students for civic and professional life, and spending taxpayer dollars responsibly. Far from censorship, SB 37 provides measured guardrails against compelled ideology while preserving genuine inquiry.”
For more on higher education, click here.
Rogue DAs
What to know: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has called for a new impeachment process for district attorneys who refuse to prosecute crime.
The TPPF take: Rogue prosecutors are undermining laws throughout the nation, issuing official memos or informal orders to not prosecute certain types or classes of crimes.
“When local prosecutors are not enforcing laws passed by our elected state officials, public safety is jeopardized, the rule of law is undermined, and public faith in our institutions is eroded,” says TPPF’s Ross Jackson. “Research has shown that when prosecutors have higher conviction rates, mortality rates decline. Although there have been valiant attempts to address this issue nationwide, states across the country, including Texas, still have elected officials who are derelict in their duties to enforce the law and, thus, deny justice to victims.”
For more on crime rates and rogue DAs, click here.