WAIS PTA Advocacy
The Westchester Academy of International Studies Middle and High School Parent Teacher Association (WAIS PTA) is a nonprofit local PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) organized under the authority of the Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers (Texas PTA), a branch of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers (National PTA).
The purposes of the WAIS PTA, in common with National PTA and Texas PTA, are:
- to promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, places of worship, and throughout the community;
- to raise the standards of home life;
- to advocate for laws that further the education, physical and mental health, welfare, and safety of children and youth;
- to promote the collaboration and engagement of families and educators in the education of children and youth;
- to engage the public in united efforts to secure the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social well-being of all children and youth; and
- to advocate for fiscal responsibility regarding public tax dollars in public education funding.
Posted March 6, 2025 - House Bill 2- Comments on the bill are accepted until the committee adjourns that day (March 6). COMMENT NOW!
- Basic allotment (BA) increase to $6,380 from $6,160 per student ($3.2 billion)
40% (up from 30%) of any BA increase must be used for staff salary increases (this is why a $220 bump would have little to no effect in the classroom) - Increases to the small and midsized allotments ($1.1 billion)
- Intensity-based special education funding and additional special education allotment funding ($1.8 billion)
- Creation of a $1,000-per-initial-SPED evaluation allotment
- Requirement to hire certified teachers for foundation curriculum courses
- Prohibition against schools using districts of innovation law as an exemption from requirements regarding hiring certified teachers and notifying parents about classes taught by uncertified teachers
- Grant funding to expand pre-k, fine arts, high school career advising, and other programs ($1.5 billion)
- Increased teacher compensation through the Teacher Incentive Allotment ($750 million)
- Additional state aid to address regional property & casualty insurance costs
While we expect this bill to change dramatically over the coming weeks, NOW is the time to provide your written testimony (online testimony opportunity will close when the committee hearing adjourns). Please include dollar amounts of where SBISD has funding gaps (see example below). Also, please be sure to state you are a part of the Spring Branch ISD community.
The link to make comments is included here: https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c400
Comments on the bill are accepted until the committee adjourns that day (March 6). COMMENT NOW!
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For more information on HB 2 from the Texas Tribune: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/20/texas-house-public-school-funding/
Example of written testimony for this bill (feel free to use or use a portion thereof):
Chairperson and Members of the Committee,
My name is [Your Name], I am a parent/community member in Spring Branch ISD in Houston and I am providing my written testimony to urge you to support legislation that will close the funding gaps in critical educational programs that serve our students.
The data from SBISD’s state funding allocations highlight a troubling trend—our schools are significantly underfunded in key areas, forcing them to absorb millions in unfunded costs. Special education, safety and security, transportation, and pre-kindergarten programs are all experiencing funding shortfalls that put immense strain on school districts and, ultimately, harm our students.
For example:
1. Special Education: The state allotment for special education in 2023-24 was $31.5 million, but actual expenditures reached $53.5 million, leaving a $22 million shortfall. This gap is projected to be $20.3 million in 2024-25. Without adequate funding, students with disabilities may not receive the legally mandated services they need to thrive.
3. Transportation: The 2023-24 state allocation was $1.5 million, while the cost of maintaining transportation services was $10.4 million, leading to an $8.9 million shortfall. In 2024-25, the gap is expected to be $8.3 million, making it difficult to ensure students have reliable and safe transportation to and from school.
4. Pre-Kindergarten: This critical early childhood education program faced a $3.7 million funding gap in 2023-24, with an estimated $3.2 million shortfall in 2024-25. Underfunding pre-K limits access to high-quality early learning opportunities that set children up for future success.
- Increasing the Basic Allotment at a minimum of $500
- Fully funding special education services to meet the true cost of providing federally required support for students with disabilities.
- Increasing state funding for school safety and security to protect students and staff.
- Expanding transportation funding to ensure students have safe and reliable access to school.
- Boosting investment in early childhood education to support pre-kindergarten programs that lay the foundation for academic success.
Posted February 5, 2025 - URGENT CALL TO ACTION TODAY!
Posted February 3, 2025 - URGENT CALL TO ACTION THIS WEEK
- Stay Informed and Make an Impact! – Over 500 bills affecting Texas children have been filed this session. Review Texas PTA’s 89th Session Legislative Priorities and Fact Sheets to understand the key issues facing our children and schools. Knowledge is power—be ready to speak up.
- Complete Texas PTA’s Call to Action on SB2 TODAY – Please tell your legislators to:
- Fund public schools first! Our neighborhood schools shouldn’t be shortchanged while state leaders push a voucher program. The basic allotment—set at $6,160 per student in 2019—now needs an additional $1,340 per student just to keep up with inflation.
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Hold voucher programs accountable! Any taxpayer-funded education program must meet the same transparency and accountability standards as public schools. Right now, public schools are funded based on attendance, while private school vouchers are proposed to be funded based on enrollment—that’s not a level playing field. Fair rules, fair funding—tell your legislators to hold voucher programs accountable!
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Let Texans decide! Vouchers would use public dollars for private education—Texans deserve a voice in this decision. Urge lawmakers to put the measure on a statewide ballot and let the people vote!
TAKE ACTION NOW
Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I am a constituent from [Your City], Texas. I am calling to express my strong opposition to Senate Bill 2, which proposes the establishment of an Education Savings Account program.
I believe that diverting public funds to private institutions through this program could undermine our public education system by reducing essential resources for public schools. Additionally, private schools receiving these funds may not be held to the same accountability standards, potentially leading to misuse of taxpayer money.
I urge Senator [Senator’s Last Name] to vote against S.B. 2 and to focus on strengthening our public schools to ensure quality education for all Texas students.
Thank you for your time.
Posted January 30, 2025
Advocacy sent a heads up about a Senate Education Committee hearing today for SB 2. 'A bill that would establish an education savings account (voucher) of $10,000 per child. As a reminder, the basic allotment for public school kids provides $6,160 per student. Thus far Texas PTA has not sent out an alert or a call to action on the bill.'
Posted January 15, 2025
Upcoming SBISD Trustee elections on May 3, 2025.
Trustee Positions 5, 6 and 7 will be on the Spring Branch ISD ballot on May 3, 2025. Each member serves a three-year term.
Interested candidates may file an application for a place on the ballot with Jennifer Maynard, Early Voting Clerk, during regular office hours 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, from January 15 – February 14, 2025 by submitting the required forms at Wayne F. Schaper Leadership Center, 955 Campbell Road, Room 128, Houston, Texas 77024.
As a convenience, a packet of all forms is available and can be picked up in Jennifer Maynard, Early Voting Clerk’s office. Notaries are available for candidates who submit their applications in person.
The deadline for candidates to file is 5:00 PM on February 14, 2025.
Posted December 2024
Public schools are facing significant challenges. Despite a close to $40 billion state surplus, the lack of adequate state funding has forced Texas public school districts to make very difficult choices that include closing campuses, cutting staff, and eliminating programs. Texas PTA is runing two campaigns and wants to hear from you!
- Share a story HERE about how the school district budget cuts have impacted you and your family. Have programs been cut? Has your campus had to eliminate counselors or nurses? Have class sizes increased?
- Join in the Texas PTA video campaign to celebrate Texas public schools. Grab your phone, hit record, and tell the world why you love your public school and then upload to social media with the tag #THTXPubEd - click HERE for more details!
If you would like to get more involved and more informed regarding Public School Financial Advocacy then please mark your calendar and join us for the following meetings and events.
Informational Resources:
- PTA Advocacy information: Subscribe to: txpta.org/newsroom and txpta.org/take-action
- Spring Branch ISD School Finance Advocacy Team web site: https://www.
springbranchisd.com/engage/ committees/sfat - School Finance 101 presentation (items 2 & 3): https://springbranchisdtx.
new.swagit.com/videos/ 10202022-607 - (Slide deck here: https://resources.
finalsite.net/images/ )v1666290379/ springbranchisdcom/ wsckr12yerzy2vmudwi0/Slides_ Meeting_1.pdf - School Funding in Texas (legal perspective): https://
springbranchisdtx.new.swagit. com/videos/10272022-505 - (Slide deck here: https://resources.
finalsite.net/images/ )v1666793803/ springbranchisdcom/ jclk61nro7eig42hpuyy/Meeting_ 2.pdf - The Last School Funding Bill and Recommendations for Advocacy (with former House Rep. Dan Huberty, who authored the bill): https://
springbranchisdtx.new.swagit. com/videos/11172022-774 - (Slide decks here: https://resources.finalsite.
net/images/v1668611826/ and here: https://resources.springbranchisdcom/ ln7qnicvbpa0kouwroru/sfat_ meeting_111622.pdf finalsite.net/images/ )v1668695128/ springbranchisdcom/ oqwjsu0yhj9dpnxpdxgn/Rep_ Huberty_Presentation.pdf
The 89th Legislative Session Opened on Wednesday, Jan 15 and Representative Dustin Burrows was elected as Speaker of the House.
Our SBISD Senators and Representatives for the 89th Legislative Session:
**A pro tip: put these in the contacts in your phone for easy access as we move into session.
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Senators
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Representatives
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District 7 |
District 133 |
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District 15 |
District 138 |
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District 17 |
District 148 |
Senate Education Committee Contact Information:
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Brandon Creighton brandon.creighton@senate. 512-463-0104 |
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Donna Campbell donna.campbell@senate.texas. 512-463-0125 |
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Paul Bettencourt paul.bettencourt@senate.texas. 512-463-0107 |
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Brent Hagenbuch brent.hagenbuch@senate.texas.gov 512-463-0130 |
| Adam Hinojosa
adam.hinojosa@senate.texas.gov 512-463-0127 |
| Phil King
512-463-0110 |
| Jose Menendez
jose.menendez@senate.texas.gov 512-463-0126 |
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Mayes Middleton mayes.middleton@senate.texas.gov 512-463-0111 |
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Tan Parker 512-463-0112 |
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Angela Paxton angela.paxton@senate.texas.gov 512-463-0108 |
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Royce West 512-463-0123 |
