AUSTIN, Texas -- AUSTIN, TX. - Ahead of Texas' next legislative session state conservatives are once again pushing for tighter spending limits across the board, and that includes funding to public schools. 

According to the National Education Association, Texas spends about about $2,300 less on each student than the national average.

When it comes to funding public schools there are two very different trains of thought. 

"Education funding is up," said Vance Ginn with the Texas Public Policy Foundation.  

But when asked the same question, Clay Robison with the Texas State Teachers Association responded: "The public education system in Texas is woefully underfunded."  

Ginn said he believes there's spending waste within the public school system, particularly when it comes to hiring. He said that between 1993 and 2015, student enrollment increased by nearly half, yet, staff increased by more than 60 percent. 

Ginn said matching staff hiring to student enrollment could equate to $2.2 billion in savings each year. But Clay Robison with the Texas State Teachers Association said these statistics tell a misleading story. He said there's actually a teacher shortage in Texas, and the proof is in your child's classroom.

"We have hundreds of classrooms every school year that are over the 20-1 class size limit for elementary grades. School districts can get waivers for financial hardships, and the financial hardships continue, " said Robison. 

The group pushing for a conservative budget also proposes using half of the 8 percent property tax to help maintain schools.

"We could use surplus dollars at the state level to buy down permanently, the state maintenance and operation property tax every session until it's eliminated," Ginn said.   

Ginn admits this could take up to 11 years to complete. Public school advocates maintain fixing the school finance system is key to increasing funding for schools. 

The commission tasked with coming up with recommendations for lawmakers met again Tuesday, where there were two trains of thought, but a familiar fight over public school funding that could lead to another legislative clash in 2019.