Patrick Rose

Rose secures commitment from statewide education organizations for extending mid-size adjustment to Chapter 41 school districts

AUSTIN—State Rep. Patrick M. Rose (D-Dripping Springs) announced today that leading statewide education groups have joined his effort to extend the mid-size adjustment to Chapter 41 school districts.  

“I am grateful that these eight leading education organizations have agreed to support our efforts during this interim and next session,” said Rep. Rose.  “A strong recommendation in the Select Committee’s report is an important first step but we must continue to build and grow our coalition for next session.”

“Mid-size, Chapter 41 school districts across our state, like Wimberley and Dripping Springs, are cutting programs and teachers,” said Rep. Rose.  “These schools are struggling under our current system of school finance and they need the relief that a mid-size adjustment can provide.”

Last fall, Rep. Rose was joined by 25 of his House colleagues in requesting that the House Select Committee on Higher and Public Education Finance consider extending the mid-size school adjustment to Chapter 41 districts like Wimberley.  Currently, these districts do not receive this adjustment, even though they face similar hardships due to their size and economies of scale as their Chapter 42 or “non-wealthy” mid-size counterparts that are allowed this adjustment.  There are thirty-seven school districts in Texas today that would benefit and extending the adjustment is estimated to cost the state approximately $39 million for FY ’09.    

“I am here today to join Rep. Rose in asking the State of Texas to fund the mid-size adjustment for districts like Wimberley next session,” said Traci Maxwell, leader of Texans for School Finance Reform and a Wimberley resident.  “Our organization is committed to securing a favorable recommendation from Chairman Branch’s committee and to supporting legislative efforts next session to fix this inequity that exists in Texas’ school finance laws.”

The groups supporting the extension of the mid-size adjustment include the Texas Association of Mid-Size Schools, the Equity Center, the Texas School Coalition, the Texas Association of Rural Schools, the Texas Association of Community Schools, the Texas Association of School Administrators and the Texas Association of School Boards.

“Ensuring that all mid-size school districts have access to the relief that this adjustment provides is a priority for our organization,” said Darrell Floyd, President of the Texas Association of Mid-Size Schools.  "We are very appreciative for Rep. Rose’s leadership in righting this wrong.  It is long overdue."