Texas also has the ‘Robin Hood’ policy (Ann Richard’s brainchild) that actually hurts successful, wealthier schools by taking funding away from them and giving it to poor, failing schools.
Another issue is just attitude in Texas. For example, in the school district I’m in, they announced in February they would be cutting back on teachers and freezing pay. One month later, they announced a $13Million sports complex project. A lot of priorities are bass ackwards.
Regarding the sports complex project, I don't have a problem with it if it can be used year round. When my two oldest kids were in HS, I was a Band Dad and a Lariette Dad (drill team).
The football team drove the (financial) train for these extracurricular activities. Band parents run the concessions at the stadium, as it takes hundreds of thousands of $$$ to support a 350+ man marching band. During his 4 years, my son travelled to Washington, DC, Dublin, Ireland, and London, England.
The drill team puts on a spaghetti dinner before the first home football game, generating $40,000 in profits every year.
The busier the kids are, the less opportunity for them to get in trouble.
I understand your points about the priorities being skewed. However, every ISD could likely save a million or more a year by dumping ESL in favor of immersion training.
But that's a topic for another day.