“In 2023, the Texas Senate has passed bills that increase public education funding by 30%.”

 
AUSTIN – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the Texas Senate’s 30-1 passage of Senate Bill 2, School Finance and Supplemental Payments for Teachers by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston:

“As the husband of a long-time schoolteacher, the son-in-law of a teacher and father-in-law of a teacher, I know the impact of a great teacher on the development of a child. From the moment I arrived in the Texas Senate, improving public education has been one of my top goals.

“Under my leadership in 2019, the Senate paved the way to significant improvements in the way we pay our teachers. The Senate’s passage of SB 2 today will drive more dollars toward teacher pay and elevates the teaching profession in Texas with a robust compensation framework that rewards teachers for their work. The success of our teachers is critical for a brighter future for our children.

“From my travels across the state last year, I learned that teacher salaries in rural school districts have lagged behind teachers in urban districts. SB 2 will restore parity between them by providing a much-needed $10,000 raise for our rural teachers to close the pay gap and a $3,000 raise for our urban teachers.

“Parents should not have to worry about their students’ safety when they send them to school. Protecting our children, teachers, and staff in our schools is of paramount importance and, accordingly, the Senate’s passage of SB 2 will double both the per-student and per-campus school safety allotments.

“The Senate knows that improving public education is the best way to secure a more prosperous future for Texans. The Senate will pass this bill over and over again until it passes the House.”

SB 2, by Sens. Brandon Creighton and Joan Huffman, provides one-time teacher retention payments for the 2023-2024 school year because the state cannot modify existing contracts with teachers. Districts with less than 5,000 students will receive $10,000 per teacher and districts with more than 5,000 students will receive $3,000 per teacher for these payments.

Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, each teacher statewide will be entitled to a $3,000 permanent pay raise to continue the retention payment. Teachers in districts with 5,000 or fewer students will receive $10,000 on top of their regular salary ($3,000 + $7,000 rural add on).

SB 2 expands eligibility under the Teacher Incentive Allotment, so that at least 50% of teachers can earn designations that come with additional pay.

SB 2 also increases the basic allotment by $75 per student and doubles the per-student school safety allotment from $10 to $20 and doubles the per-campus allotment from $15,000 to $30,000.