AUSTIN — A key negotiator on Saturday rated the chances of a school finance bill being agreed to by Senate and House members before adjournment as “slim to none.”
Legislative leaders in both chambers had declared the measure dead several days ago, but Senate Education Committee Chairman Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, said the Senate was leaving the door open until the last moment.
The House response: It’s still dead.
The 140-day legislative session ends Monday.
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The measure at one time had been the major school-finance reform bill of the session, intended to pump an additional $1.5 billion into Texas’ public education system and update outdated funding formulas that have been a target for criticism for years. Story continues below
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Media: Associated Press
But the Senate amended the House-passed bill to include private “school choice” ESAs that would subsidize private school tuition and homeschooling for students with disabilities.
Taylor said Senate leaders are hoping that school districts that are assessing the impact of school funding levels in the new budget will pressure the House to accept the Senate wording.
The deadline for the House to change its mind is midnight Saturday.
Scroll through the gallery to see who the key players are and the big issues in the legislative session that winds down Monday.
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