- 📚 Texas School Funding Is Changing for 2026–27
Texas is making significant changes to the way public schools receive state funding, with several provisions taking effect for the 2026–27 school year.
The changes come from legislation passed during the 89th Texas Legislature and affect several areas of the state’s Foundation School Program.
💰 What families should know:
• Higher basic funding: The basic allotment increases from $6,160 to $6,215 per student for the 2026–27 biennium.
• Special education funding changes: Texas is transitioning to a new service-intensity funding model, designed to better connect funding with the level of services students need. The new system is expected to provide approximately $250 million more statewide for special education compared with the previous framework.
• Small and midsized districts: Funding formulas for smaller districts are also being adjusted.
• Other funding changes: The legislation expands or modifies funding related to school safety, teacher incentives, transportation, bilingual education, career and technology programs, and other areas.
🏫 What could this mean for Texas communities?
The effect will vary from one school district to another. Additional funding does not automatically mean larger budgets for every program or immediate changes to class sizes, extracurricular activities, or transportation.
Districts will still make their own budget and spending decisions based on their funding, enrollment, local needs, and other resources.
👨👩👧 For families: If you’re trying to understand how these changes could affect your local schools, check your district’s budget information and announcements as the 2026–27 school year progresses.
A change in the state funding formula is important — but how that funding is ultimately used at the local level matters just as much.