Texas Legislature sends teacher pay raise, school funding to Gov. Abbott. How much?
A school finance bill that includes teacher pay raises is headed to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has said he plans to sign it into law.
The Texas House on May 29 accepted Senate changes to House Bill 2, which directs $8.5 billion to public schools. The vote was 122-13.
“With empowered parents, exemplary teachers, and exceptional academics, Texas will be No. 1 in educating our children,” Abbott said in a May 23 statement.
Rep. Brad Buckley, a Salado Republican and the bill’s author, outlined the legislation as approved by the Senate on May 23. He said it directs $4.2 billion to teacher salaries through a new teacher retention allotment “designed to reflect the value of experience in the teaching profession and offer educators the opportunity to pursue teaching as a career that can support their families.” The raises would take effect in the 2025-2026 school year, according to the lieutenant governor’s office.
Teachers will see the following raises from the allotment in districts with more than 5,000 students:
- $2,500 for teachers with three to four years of experience.
- $5,000 for teachers with five or more years of experience.
In smaller districts with fewer than 5,000 students, the teacher pay raises are:
- $4,000 for teachers with three to four years of experience.
- $8,000 for teachers with five or more years of experience.
The bill sets aside $500 million in flexible funding for non-administrative staff pay raises, such as entry-level teachers, counselors, librarians, nurses, custodians and bus drivers, Buckley said.
Buckley said other funding initiatives include:
- $677 million for early learning programs.
- $430 million for school safety funding.
- An $850 million increase for special education.
- $200 million in charter facilities funding.
- A $300 million increase in an allotment for small and mid-sized schools.
- $153 million for career and technical education.
- $135 million for teacher preparation and certification initiatives.
The bill also directs $1.3 billion to schools, Buckley said. Districts get $106 per student for expenses that include transportation, costs related to retired teachers, utilities, property and casualty insurance, health insurance and employee benefits, according to the bill.
“Members, this final piece is a fiscally conservative, bipartisan response to points this body raised on the committee dais and on the floor,” Buckley said. “The most recurring requests we heard from our schools was to increase the basic allotment. By allocating this dedicated funding to address rising costs in the operation of districts, we can ensure that more of our basic allotment dollars stay in the classroom where they belong.”
The basic allotment is the base amount of funding districts get per student. The bill the House passed earlier in the session included $395 to increase the basic allotment. The bill headed to Abbott increases the allotment by $55.
Much of the legislative session has centered on school funding, as lawmakers considered public school funding and private school vouchers. Abbott signed the voucher bill into law May 3. The program lets parents use state dollars for their child’s private education or home schooling.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows praised the bill in May 22 statements, announcing details of the school finance bill, as agreed to by leadership in both chambers.
“We are proud to announce that House and Senate leaders have agreed upon a public education investment that will direct record new funding where it will make the biggest difference in the lives of students and teachers,” Burrows, a Lubbock Republican, said at the time.
Abbott can sign the bill into law or veto it.
“We have been working diligently with the House in countless meetings and thoughtful discussions throughout the session to create the most effective school finance bill in Texas history,” Patrick said in the May 22 statement. “House Bill 2 targets specific needs that will help create the best education system in America. I am proud of the work that members in both chambers, and both parties, have done. My priority has always been to pay teachers as professionals and focus on student outcomes over the 1,200 districts across Texas.”
Members of the House Democratic Caucus in May 29 statements supported the increased funding for schools, while cautioning there is still more that schools need.
“As a former educator and school administrator, I know that our schools need funding without delays,” said Rep. Alma Allen, a Houston Democrat. “I voted to pass HB 2 because for too long, our educators have been asked to do more with less. After years of legislative gridlock caused by Greg Abbott, and a school closure crisis that needs addressing now, we must take this step forward while continuing the fight to fully fund our schools at the level they deserve. Our children’s education cannot be held hostage to political games, and I will continue to fight for the comprehensive school finance reform that Texas children deserve.”
This story was originally published May 29, 2025 at 7:27 PM.
