Statement from Bibi Yasmin Katsev, Executive Director, Texas District Charter Alliance on House Bill 3

Congratulations to Chairman Huberty, Vice Chairman Bernal and members of the Texas House of Representatives on today’s passage of comprehensive school finance reform with House Bill 3.  One of the three main legislative priorities of the Texas District Charter Alliance (DCA) for the 86thLegislative Session is supporting comprehensive school finance reform that equally benefits traditional district and charter students. The focus on transformative and necessary school finance reform has brought all sides together. On behalf of the members of the Texas District Charter Alliance, I thank you for the hours and hours of work. We are pleased to see this important legislation swiftly heading to the Texas Senate. 

The Texas District Charter Alliance (DCA) represents 14 organizations; Democracy Prep Charter School, El Paso ISD, El Paso Leadership Academy, Fort Worth ISD, Grand Prairie ISD, Great Hearts, KIPP Texas Public Schools, IDEA Public Schools, Midland ISD, Responsive Education Solutions, San Antonio ISD, Spring Branch ISD, Uplift Education, and YES Prep.

• The DCA supports comprehensive school finance reform that equally benefits traditional district and charter students and integrates an outcomes-based funding strategy that supports early literacy, and college, career and military readiness.  Such reform must allow for flexibility and innovation for districts and charters to reach the outcomes.  We seek new revenue to support the reform.
• The DCA supports strategic teacher incentive pay proposals that allow a state-developed or rigorous locally-developed compensation and evaluation systems to be eligible for funding incentives for excelling teachers.