Across North Texas, parents, educators, and community leaders are coming together with a shared mission: ensuring that public schools receive the funding they need to support students and teachers. Fund Schools First, a grassroots movement, is advocating for increased public education funding to improve classroom resources, teacher salaries, and student services.
A key priority for the movement is shifting Texas school funding to an enrollment-based model, rather than attendance-based funding. Under the current system, schools lose funding when students miss class, even for excused absences. This outdated formula shortchanges schools and forces districts to operate with unpredictable budgets. Fund Schools First supports an enrollment-based funding approach, ensuring that every student is fully funded, regardless of daily attendance.
This aligns with the Texas AFT Educators’ Bill of Rights, which calls for fair funding, competitive educator pay, and strong public school investment. Educators across Texas have long demanded a system that prioritizes student needs over budget cuts and privatization. By advocating for enrollment-based funding, Fund Schools First is helping push forward a vision of fully resourced classrooms, well-paid educators, and thriving public schools.
To support this movement, parents and community members across the state can take similar actions, coming together to sign petitions, attend legislative or advocacy meetings, and contact lawmakers to demand that Texas put public schools first.