Raise Your Hand Texas’ Statement on the Senate Committee on Education K-16’s Advancement of CSHB 2 / HB 2

$8 Billion School Funding Bill Prioritizes Teacher Pay Raises, Limits Flexible Funds

Investing in Texas Teachers: Key Components of the Senate Bill

Raise Your Hand Texas thanks Chairman Creighton and the members of the Senate Committee on Education K-16 for making a major investment in Texas teachers and our public schools through the Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill 2 (CSHB 2, previously HB 2). This $8 billion public education package includes over $4.2 billion for teacher pay raises, giving districts, especially in rural areas, a stronger ability to attract and retain experienced educators. 

The Senate version of HB 2 also strengthens the teacher pipeline by funding programs like Preparing and Retaining Educators through Preservice Partnership (PREP), which connects teacher candidates to real classroom experience. It waives certification fees for teachers in high-need areas, provides stipends for teachers completing reading and math academies, and expands training and mentorship opportunities. These investments are a critical step toward ensuring Texas classrooms have well-prepared, well-supported teachers today and into the future. 

The Broader Context: Funding Needs and Differences Throughout Texas Schools 

Texas public schools came into the 89th Legislative Session needing almost $20 billion to keep pace with double-digit inflation since 2019. Most school districts across the state are facing serious funding issues caused by a variety of compounding challenges. The Texas public school system is vast in scope and complexity – uniquely so for our state and on the national landscape. Texas public schools educate more rural students than any other state in the country, and our cities and suburbs are also home to 43 of the country’s 200 largest school districts. 

Our public school districts also reflect a diverse array of local economies, from the tech giants of Dallas to the energy producers of the Permian Basin to the citrus farms of the Rio Grande Valley. The more than 80,000 students of Fort Bend ISD speak over 100 languages and dialects, while the 44 students of Valentine ISD drive 40 minutes to reach the nearest grocery store. 

The Challenge of Limited Flexible Funding

In such a diverse school system, one-size-fits-all solutions are neither prudent nor practical. Flexible funding, which in our school funding formulas comes through the basic allotment, is critical to allow our vast range of schools to meet the varied needs of their students and communities. Unfortunately, raising the basic allotment by $55 means little flexible funding in the Senate’s version of HB 2, limiting the practical capacity of this investment to nimbly meet the immediate needs of all Texas classrooms. 

Looking to the Future

Raise Your Hand Texas has always believed that supporting and growing our teacher workforce is essential to the success of our public schools and the future of our students, and we thank Chairman Creighton and the Senate Committee on Education K-16 for their progress on this front. We look forward to working with the legislature in future sessions to ensure every Texas student attends a well-resourced school equipped to help them thrive and contribute to their community and our state. In a state as large and dynamic as ours, every session must be a public education session.