All articles tagged with #teacher pay raises
Texas has signed an $8.5 billion school funding bill, HB 2, marking the largest recent investment in public education, including teacher pay raises, targeted support staff funding, and new approaches to special education funding, with some provisions taking effect in September 2023 and others in 2026-27, aiming to improve educational quality and safety across the state.
The Texas House voted against a school voucher program that would have provided taxpayer dollars for private schooling, dealing a blow to Gov. Greg Abbott's top legislative priority. Pro-voucher advocates plan to continue fighting for vouchers in future legislative sessions and during next year's primary elections. The defeat of the voucher program means public schools won't receive additional funds for teacher pay raises and inflation adjustments. Public school advocates are preparing to push for increased school funding in the next legislative session and support pro-public school candidates in the primaries. Voucher advocates argue that education savings accounts would provide access to alternative forms of education and stabilize tuition for private schools.
Texas House Democrats have introduced a $20.9 billion tax relief plan that includes property tax relief through tax compression, an increased homestead exemption, and annual rebates for renters. The plan also incorporates annual teacher pay raises into the state's school financing system. The proposal combines ideas from previous House and Senate plans and aims to provide sustainable relief for homeowners and teachers. Renters, who make up 38% of Texans, would now be eligible for a tax rebate of 10% of their annual rent. The bill will need Republican support to advance in the House.