Texas Bills Propose Higher Per-Student School Funding

Students and families in districts facing cuts could see the basic allotment rise if the proposed bills advance.

Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Financial Aid

Texas Bills Propose Higher Per-Student School Funding

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Do you think your local public schools are getting better or worse funded?

Texas lawmakers have filed bills that would raise state funding for public schools, as Hays CISD has cut positions, increased class sizes and made millions of dollars in budget reductions over the last year. The proposals would still need to move through the legislative process before any vote.

Why it matters

For Texas students and families, school funding levels shape class sizes, staffing and the programs available in local districts. The bills come as districts such as Hays CISD work to address rising costs against limited state funding.

House Bill 178, filed by Democratic Rep. Donna Howard, would lift the basic allotment from $6,215 to $7,500 per student and tie future increases to inflation starting in the 2028-2029 school year. House Bill 853, filed by Rep. Rafael Anchía, would set it at $7,075 per student; for comparison, the allotment rose only $55 in the last legislative session.

The players

Donna Howard

Democratic state representative who filed House Bill 178 to raise the basic allotment to $7,500 per student.

Rafael Anchía

State representative who filed House Bill 853 to raise the basic allotment to $7,075 per student.

Greg Abbott

Governor of Texas who signed House Bill 2 into law in 2025.

Hays CISD

Texas public school district that has cut positions, increased class sizes and reduced its budget over the last year.

The details

Texas uses attendance rather than enrollment to fund public schools, so the basic allotment is multiplied by the students a district counts as attending. Under the proposals, a higher per-student allotment would increase the funding a district receives for each student it serves. Hays CISD has used fund balance savings to avoid deeper cuts, but it has still eliminated positions, increased class sizes and made millions of dollars in budget cuts over the last year.

2019: The last basic allotment increase before the most recent legislative session occurred.
2025: Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 2 into law.
2027 legislative session: The proposed school funding bills are expected to be considered.
2028-2029 school year: Proposed inflation adjustments to the basic allotment would begin.

Education Landscape

The basic allotment has seen little change since 2019, with only a $55 increase in the last session, while districts face rising costs. The proposed bills would mark a shift toward regular adjustments tied to inflation rather than occasional increases.

If you are a Texas student or parent, changes to the basic allotment could affect class sizes and program offerings in your district over the coming years. Questions about how district budget cuts affect specific programs or services are best directed to your school district's administration.

The takeaway

Texas school funding is set by a per-student formula that has changed little since 2019, so proposed increases matter for district budgets. Families who want to follow the bills can track House Bill 178 and House Bill 853 as they move through the 2027 legislative session.