Keep schools funded now to prevent crime
Last year tested almost every facet of our lives, and this year has certainly brought more challenges with the winter storm. The challenges of virtual learning and school closings as a result of COVID-19 have not gone away.
Due to these unforeseen circumstances, many schools across the state are seeing a decline in enrollment because of valid choices made by many parents. However, the declining number of students in the classroom could potentially lead to lasting financial damage to our school systems if we do not act.
Earlier in the pandemic, Texas established a “hold harmless” funding policy, which funds schools at their pre-pandemic levels, even if enrollment and attendance decline. While we’ve understandably seen a drop in school attendance over the last year, expenses related to things like video conferencing, PPE and infrastructure to support social distancing have risen.
The hold harmless funding allows our schools to be better prepared to safely open, reduce the spread of the virus and help students recover from learning loss. Without this funding, school districts across the state stand to lose millions of dollars, tightening an already constricted budget. This critical funding is set to expire if our lawmakers do not intervene to extend the hold harmless policy.
As a father and as a law enforcement leader, I am deeply concerned about what losing this safeguard could mean for Texas kids.
We all know that access to high-quality education is absolutely crucial for our children’s development and future success. What you may not know is that it is also key to reducing crime and increasing our public safety. Kids who graduate from high school are less likely to be involved in the criminal justice system later in life. For example, according to a report from Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a national law enforcement group, a moderate increase in high school graduation rates can reduce violent crime by 20 percent.
I have been a proud member of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids for several years now and have experienced firsthand the power of high-quality education and mentorship for at-risk youth. Maintaining school funding and resources during this stressful time can help increase positive outcomes for our kids and keep them engaged in their schoolwork and out of trouble long after this pandemic is over.
Adequate school funding is one of the most important ways to keep kids engaged in their learning, especially now. The pandemic has only emphasized the need for more school resources, like high-quality teachers and counselors, more flexible school meal options, and the technology required for digital learning. With COVID-19 case numbers remaining significant across the country, we need stable funding now more than ever to prevent pandemic-induced learning loss and keep kids on track to graduate. It is unfair to students, parents and educators to cut this vital funding when we arguably need it the most.
To prevent COVID-19’s influence from extending even further into the future, we must prioritize, not decrease, our investments in our kids and schools.
I am urging our lawmakers at the state Legislature and state education agency to consider the long-term consequences of letting hold harmless funding expire. Now is the time to act to ensure the funding remains through the pandemic, for the sake of our students, teachers and community’s future. We do not want this public health crisis to become a public safety crisis down the line.