LISD Families,

This week has been so special as we’ve celebrated the impact our teachers make on the lives of students every day throughout Thank A Teacher week. Hearing their own words about the difference our teachers make in their lives is invaluable, and I am so grateful to be a part of a community that supports our educators. As we begin the last nine weeks of the school year, you can share your positive feedback and compliments with our staff by completing a Recognize Someone at LISD.net/Recognize.

It is also time for our second parent and student survey of the year. If you haven’t already received it, be on the lookout for an email with your survey link, which will close on April 4. The feedback we receive through these surveys helps us shape district initiatives, so I want to thank you in advance for your participation and input.

The 89th legislative session is ongoing and has been a major focus for district leaders and the LISD Board of Trustees as we partner with our elected representatives to inform and educate legislators as they make decisions throughout this session. You may have seen in the news the assertion that public schools in Texas receive, on average, $10,000 per student. I want to alert you to the fact that this statement from the Texas Education Agency relies on a calculation that averages funding amounts that cannot be used for every child. The one funding amount that can be used for every child is the Basic Allotment, which is $6,160 per student and has not been adjusted since 2019. This lack of increase is creating a funding crisis for public education in Texas. You can find more information in this newsletter regarding funding amounts for LISD and why creating an average funding amount is of concern.

Find contact information and resources for how to communicate with our elected officials, and stay up to date with information we are sharing with our elected officials on our district webpage (LISD.net/legislative). Continue to follow our social media channels for further updates in the coming weeks.

I will continue to keep our community informed and updated regarding school finance and decisions being made in Austin that have a direct impact on the programs and services we are able to provide for our students.

With appreciation,

Important Dates

March 17-21 | Thank-a-Teacher Week

April 2 | Paraprofessional Appreciation Day

April 3 | Voter Registration Deadline

April 4 | School Librarian Appreciation Day

April 7 | National Assistant Principal Week

April 7 | Board Work Session

April 12 | LISD Job Fair

April 14 | Regular Board Meeting

April 18 | Student & Staff Holiday

March - Women's History Month

To view the 2024-25 LISD Academic Calendar visit LISD.net/cal. For school hours, including early release times, visit LISD.net/hours.

PreK Enrollment | Begins April 1

LISD serves eligible four-year-old students in full-day, state-funded pre kindergarten classes. Students must be 4 years old on/before Sept. 1 of the school year for PreK enrollment and qualify by one or more of the criteria. Enrollment for the 2025-26 school year begins April 1, and an in-person enrollment event will be held on May 6 and 7 at the LISD Administrative Center (Bolin Professional Building) to support families in the enrollment process. Visit LISD.net/prek for more information.

Superintendent Update | March 2025

Dr. Rapp recently shared an update with Legislators related to how TEA’s use of average funding per pupil is a misleading representation of public school funding. Some of those details and explanations are included below. The update also includes our comments submitted to the House Public Education Committee concerning House Bill 2 (HB2). Read the full update HERE.

State Funding Per Student: To Average or Not to Average

The TEA latest annual report states that schools, on average, receive $10,800 per student, which includes Tier I funds, Tier II funds, and other funds including TRS on-behalf, which cannot be spent on students. In the presentation video and slides linked below, Dr. Rapp breaks down how calculating an average funding per student depicts an inaccurate representation of how much funding our district actually receives to educate a student in LISD. The use of an average assumes that each Tier 1 allotment can be used on every student and that is not the case, which means calculating an average is inappropriate.

House Bill 2

For the last several school years, our ask has been for legislators to increase the basic allotment (BA) to account for inflation. Currently, the House has proposed a $220 increase to the BA (House Bill 2), and the senate has not discussed an increase. At the March 17 board meeting, I shared more with the Board about the impact a $220 would have in LISD, and why it would not provide relief in the midst of declining enrollment and budget constraints. You can watch that update HERE.

Campus Retirements | Legacy Events

The district has prioritized establishing Legacy Committees to help support and guide the community through the emotional process of closing school buildings. These dedicated committees, formed specifically for each campus identified for closure, are tasked with preserving and celebrating the rich history of LISD schools. Find additional information including commemorative event details and archived stories and images for each campus at LISD.net/leavingalegacy.

Lewisville ISD

From the beginning, Lewisville Independent School District has committed to ensuring all students are confident, equipped with the knowledge and skills to thrive and adapt for their future. Visit Best Schools in Texas for more information about joining the LISD family. Need this update in a different language? Visit LISD.net/translate.