Squatters
What to know: New York City has a plan to “fix” the surge in squatting—in which people occupy a property with no legal claim to it—by helping the squatters, not the property owners.
The TPPF take: The Left is using squatting regulations to undermine property rights.
“States have laws against trespassing, but also laws that protect tenants,” says TPPF’s Robert Henneke. “Progressives have begun misusing tenant protections to promote squatting. But property rights are human rights.
For more on squatting, click here.
Broke?
What to know: Texas public school officials are pleading poverty, claiming that the Legislature has underfunded education in the Lone Star State.
The TPPF take: Texas spent $92.4 billion on public education in the 2022-23 school year, which is $16,792 for each of the 5.5 million Texas students.
“This amounts to an increase of over $7.6 billion from the previous school year and an increase of over $39.9 billion over the last 10 years,” says TPPF’s Jorge Borrego. “Put another way, since the 2011–2012 academic year, spending on public education has increased by more than 76 percent.”
For more on public school spending, click here.
Classical Education
What to know: The Florida Board of Education is creating a special certification for classical education teachers.
The TPPF take: Classical education is booming in the U.S. because this model appeals to parents, teachers, and even students.
“Classical charter schools offer a distinct education rooted in the liberal arts and the pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty,” says TPPF’s Erin Valdez. “That’s why it’s so popular. In Texas, Asian American and Hispanic students represent the fastest growing groups of classical charter students.”
For more on classical education, click here.