During the 87th Texas Legislature, TACC advanced SB 1230 by Senator Larry Taylor and House sponsor Rep. Leo Pacheco which established the Commission on Community College Finance.
The Commission was tasked with making recommendations for consideration by the 88th Texas Legislature to establish a state funding formula and funding levels sufficient for sustaining viable community college education and training offerings throughout the state. The 12 appointed commissioners held seven public hearings, with the final hearing on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, where they unanimously approved a set of final recommendations which were sent to State Leadership in early November and made public on November 17, 2022.
The new proposed model ties funding directly to measurable outcomes such as transfer rates, credentials of value, credentials in high-demand fields, and dual credit. Most notably, it moves away from a funding model that is static and merely redivides the same pie, to one that is dynamic and provides colleges with predictable funding based on their own success. The recommendations also include additional funds for colleges to support low-income or academically unprepared students, and adult learners.
The Texas Association of Community Colleges and its 48 members unanimously support these recommendations.
