Texas public schools have not received a basic budget increase since 2019. This is a particular concern as the State Senate prepares to hold a public hearing next Thursday to discuss an education spending proposal of up to $8 billion.
This bill, passed by the House and pending in the Senate for several weeks, proposes increasing the basic allocation (the amount each school receives per student) by $395. In addition, the bill has other important provisions such as linking teacher salary increases to years of experience, reducing reliance on underqualified teachers, and reforming the way special education is funded.
Notably, this proposal comes after Texas passed a $1 billion “education savings account” program, allowing families to use public money to pay for their children to attend private schools. This shows that the education budget picture in the state is complex.
During the hearing, senators will also hear opinions on the Senate’s own version of the proposal, which calls for a more modest increase in the basic allocation, only $55.
The Senate Education Committee is expected to discuss the differences between the two versions in detail, especially the issue of teacher salaries. If the proposal is approved by the Committee, it still needs to be approved by the entire Senate before being submitted to the Governor for signature into law. According to KHOU-TV, things are happening quite quickly as the legislative session has only about 20 days left.
Texas Senate to Discuss $8 Billion Education Budget Bill
