For the first time, Frisco ISD will enroll out-of-district students next year to boost its state funding and trim its potential $30.81 million shortfall .
Why it matters: Districts statewide are grappling with large deficits amid increasing operational costs and, in some cases, declining enrollment.
- Texas lawmakers’ push to establish a voucher program to help families pay for private school could exacerbate budget shortfalls in public schools.
Threat level: The Texas Legislature hasn’t increased its per-student funding for school districts since the 2019-20 school year . Public educators were pushing for increases when the Legislature last met in 2023, but the effort failed.
- At least four North Texas districts have voted to close some schools to save money. Frisco ISD is trying to fill its vacant seats instead.
Zoom in: Frisco anticipates 900 vacancies in kindergarten through seventh grade next year. Filling those seats could generate an additional $6.75 million in revenue, per a November trustees meeting .