Bryan ISD officials on April 6 outlined how fewer students in classrooms has reduced the district's state funding. (Courtesy Adobe Stock) (Pixel-Shot)
Bryan ISD leaders say declining student attendance and enrollment are beginning to impact district finances as administrators prepare for next year’s budget amid statewide school funding challenges.
During an April 6 meeting, district officials outlined how fewer students in classrooms has reduced the funding the district receives from the state.
What you need to know
During the meeting, Norma Friddle, the district's chief financial officer, and other district officials presented this agenda item, explaining how Texas public schools are funded largely based on average daily attendance. That means when students miss school, even if staffing and operating costs stay the same, districts receive less state funding.
Agenda materials show attendance has dropped to about 93.45%. The board discussed how during the COVID-19 pandemic, schools across the country saw drops and have rebuilt to pre-COVID numbers over the past few years, as has Bryan ISD. However, the district noted another dip since the last school year.
Bryan ISD leaders say declining student attendance and enrollment are beginning to impact district finances as administrators prepare for next year’s budget amid statewide school funding challenges. (Courtesy Bryan ISD)
Enrollment has also declined by roughly 300 students this year, according to agenda materials, adding to the average daily attendance dip. The board clarified that daily attendance is on par with that of last year.
Although the board pointed to the Bryan community’s continued development, a demographer contracted by the district told them multiple factors may contribute to the decline at the district, including:
Declining local birth rates
Retirees and empty nesters moving into the community
Growth in alternative learning programs, like homeschooling and charter schools
Community fear tied to immigration enforcement activity
A district official presenting noted that students need to be in class, not because the district sees them as a dollar sign, but because they need to learn. The official added that the district continues urging state lawmakers to fund schools based on enrollment rather than attendance, noting schools still pay teachers and operate campuses regardless of an absence.
The breakdown
Payroll makes up 85.2% of Bryan ISD’s budget, as shown in agenda materials, meaning enrollment shifts directly affect staffing and long-term financial planning.
The district is exploring ways to streamline operations while maintaining instructional quality, with goals that include retaining and recruiting good staff, supporting classrooms and continuing campus safety investments.
Bryan ISD reported a projected $2.7 million funding shortfall tied largely to attendance-based funding reductions.
District officials also highlighted ongoing statewide financial strain on public schools caused by inflation, the expiration of federal pandemic relief funds and minimal increases to Texas’ base per-student funding since 2019.
Legislative approach
Trustees also received an update on potential flexible learning programs from Associate Superintendent of Teaching & Learning Barbara Ybarra. This is allowed under Senate Bill 569, passed by the Texas Legislature in 2025.
Ybarra said the district is exploring virtual or hybrid high school options that could:
Expand access to advanced placement and dual-credit courses
Re-engage students not currently enrolled in the district
Provide alternative learning environments
About 700 community members responded to a district survey, Ybarra said, with most interest centered on high school-level options.
No final decisions have been made and additional planning and state guidance are still underway.
Also on the agenda
Trustees also learned about several updates, including:
2025 bond update: Early planning for a new Merrill Green Fieldhouse, estimated at $35.8 million and roughly 43,000 square feet.
Design work could begin this spring with a potential move-in timeline of summer 2028.
Students may spend at least one athletic season using temporary facilities.
State testing changes: Texas will replace the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness with the Student Success Tool beginning in the 2027-28 school year.
High school GPA rules: The Texas Education Agency is proposing a statewide GPA weighting system beginning with students entering the seventh grade in the fall semester of 2027.
Texas A&M Forest Service invests in firefighting aircraft with a state-managed fleet
