School year 2017-18 student data released recently by the Texas Education Agency show dramatic year-over-year shifts in student populations.
One very sobering statistic is that the population of homeless students enrolled in independent school districts (ISDs) increased by 40,890 students, which was more than double the total increase in students enrolled in ISDs. If the increase in the homeless student population were classified as a school district, it would be ranked 31st in enrollment size in a high-low sort of total enrollment for all ISDs in Texas, placing it between Mesquite ISD and Richardson ISD in total student enrollment. Unfortunately, media reports indicate many families continue to struggle to rebuild their homes after Hurricane Harvey, over six months after Harvey made landfall in August 2017.
Additionally, the increase in the number of special education students of 18,974 across all ISDs exceeded the total increase in enrolled students across all ISDs. An increase in students served in this program area was expected following the serious federal sanctions in the report issued to the Texas Education Agency by the U.S. Department of Education.
Another statistic of note is that the increase in the numbers of students enrolled in open-enrollment charter schools of 23,488 exceeded the increase for ISDs of 17,067.
These and other changes in student subpopulations raise questions about the adequacy in per student funding levels following a slight increase in per student funding by the 85th Legislature, in addition to the frozen cost of education index (CEI) factors for all school districts, and frozen state aid funding weights and adjustments in most Foundation School Program special program areas over the last two decades.
It’s anything but business as usual for Texas public school officials as they adapt to significant changes in student subpopulations that need more concentrated staff and supplemental program resources. It’s a sobering backdrop as the Texas Legislature continues to kick the can down the road in overhauling what the Texas Supreme Court labeled as a barely constitutional state aid funding calculation system for the Texas public school system.
Be sure to thank public school teachers and other staff for being heroes of the day for all they have done in school year 2017-18 in meeting challenges head-on in dealing with the human dimension and sobering stories behind the dramatic shifts in student populations in school year 2017-18.