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Texas Senate Approves $8.5 Billion Public School Funding Bill

The landmark legislation, which includes teacher pay raises and special education reforms, now awaits final House approval and the governor's signature.

After out loud reading time, Dana Altamirano discusses the book they just read as a group with her fourth grade students at West Avenue Elementary in Waco on April 5, 2024.
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Overview

  • The Texas Senate unanimously approved House Bill 2, allocating $8.5 billion in new funding for public schools over the next two years.
  • The bill includes $4.2 billion for teacher and support staff pay raises, with amounts tied to years of experience and district size.
  • Districts will receive a $55 per-student increase in base funding, alongside $1.3 billion earmarked for fixed costs like insurance, utilities, and transportation.
  • House Bill 2 overhauls special education funding to better address the individual needs of students, with $850 million allocated for these programs.
  • The legislation also sets aside $430 million for school safety improvements and $500 million for support staff salary increases.