Texas Senate Approves Landmark Teacher Pay Raise Bill
The Texas Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 26 on Wednesday, a bill authored by Senator Brandon Creighton, which proposes the largest teacher pay raise in state history. This bill, one of Governor Greg Abbott’s emergency items, aims to significantly increase teacher compensation and improve the overall educational environment.
SB 26 would implement a system of automatic pay raises for teachers, providing a $2,500 raise after three years of teaching experience and a $5,500 raise after five years. To address the urban-rural teacher pay gap, teachers in districts with fewer than 5,000 students would receive larger raises of $5,000 and $10,000, respectively.
The $4.3 billion proposal would create a separate funding pool, distinct from the basic allotment, to cover the raises, providing school districts with greater financial flexibility.
Key provisions of the bill include:
- Automatic pay raises for teachers at the three and five-year marks.
- Increased raises for teachers in smaller, rural districts.
- Expansion of the state’s teacher merit pay program with higher bonus amounts.
- Free pre-kindergarten enrollment for teachers’ young children within their districts.
- Liability shield for teachers to enforce classroom discipline.
The bill also expands eligibility for the teacher merit pay program, and increases bonus pay.
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick stated that if the bill passes the House and becomes law, the average teacher salary in Texas would have increased from $54,000 in 2019 to $69,000.
Senator Creighton indicated that this bill is the first part of a legislative package, the Texas Teacher Bill of Rights, aimed at supporting Texas teachers. He announced that a conduct bill to improve classroom discipline would be filed later in the week.
