Accountability Problems: Texas Tax Dollars Diverted to Colorado Charter Schools
A recent investigation by Spectrum News in Houston revealed that more than $2 million of Texas tax dollars have been diverted to an Aurora, Colorado charter school to help balance its budget. Watch the Story from Spectrum News
Internal records from Third Future Schools and a nationally recognized school rating agency indicate that three Colorado schools, struggling with performance, enrollment, and finances, have received $25 million in Texas tax dollars. Financial reports show $10 million of this money going to unspecified “management and general expenses,” with two checks of over $1 million each confirmed to have been paid to the Colorado schools.
So far, Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) have remained silent on this issue. On Tuesday, a Texas House lawmaker called for a TEA investigation. The TEA informed a Houston TV station that they are aware of and reviewing the matter.
Charter schools in Texas, funded through the state's Foundation School Program, are a form of school choice authorized by the TEA. These schools provide tuition-free public education options to all students and are held to the same academic and financial standards as traditional ISDs.
The Colorado schools in question are part of a network founded by Mike Miles, who was appointed by Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath to manage the underperforming Houston ISD, which was taken over by the state last year. This raises serious concerns about potential conflicts of interest and Miles’ ability to lead Houston's struggling school district.
Governor Abbott has been a strong advocate for a school choice voucher program, proposing Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) with limited financial oversight by the state. However, during the last legislative session, rural Republicans opposed the voucher program, citing concerns about accountability, and voted for an amendment to strip it from a bill that also included increased funding for school districts and teacher pay raises. Abbott blamed rural Republicans and Democrats for killing the bill.
This developing story around Third Future Schools highlights one of the major concerns expressed by rural Republicans about ESAs: the lack of accountability.
Many Texas public schools are underfunded and facing budget cuts. This week, a group of Democratic legislators called for Governor Abbott to convene a special session to address school funding. Despite a large state surplus, Abbott has shifted the blame to legislators for the state’s failure to fund schools.
The fact that Texas education dollars may be flowing out of state to educate Colorado students is alarming, especially when Texas schools are struggling. Texas schools are in crisis and the time is now to drop the political football and do what’s right for our Texas school children.