Perry Warns School Districts

By Bill Zeeble, KERA News

Dallas, TX –

Governor Perry is warning school districts to beware before seeking some federal education funds. President Obama wants to add than a billion dollars to a program Perry already rejected. KERA's Bill Zeeble explains.

Perry turned away 700 million dollars available to Texas to implement the Race to the Top program. He called the funds government's attempt to take over Texas schools. Now he says another billion and a third dollars - made available directly to school districts is an end-run around states.

Perry: This is a federal government that shows us how they operate. They dangle some dollars in front of you expecting that to lure you in. It's like cheese on the rat trap. And once you take that money you're on the hook for it.

In North Texas, Dallas and Fort Worth schools plan to apply for some of the new money, even though Perry's concerned.

Perry: Those superintendents are locally controlled and what have you, but I would certainly advise them to be very, very careful before they take a nip at that cheese.

Dallas school officials don't know how much money might be available, but say they could sure use some. Congress must first approve the President's budget request.

Email Bill Zeeble