Teacher salaries

One of the most highly debated bills in Texas' 2025 legislative session has passed both chambers and heads to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature. House Bill 2 provides $8.5 billion for the state's public school system.

Senators will hold a hearing Thursday on their counterproposal to the House's school funding bill. House Democrats and public education advocates have criticized the upper chamber for not moving faster to advance the legislation.

Texas school districts' best chance of seeing a significant increase in per student funding next year now appears unlikely. The school finance package now uses that money directly for teacher pay.

Underprepared teachers have been tied to student learning losses. But amid a teacher shortage crisis, school leaders fear the restrictions will lead to fewer instructors in their classrooms.

Gov. Greg Abbott named raising teacher pay as one of seven emergency items for this legislative session. The push for higher salaries comes as most teachers in the state weigh whether staying in the profession is worth it.

The proposal would expand a program that allows districts to award bonuses to educators based on their students’ academic growth.

The proposal would expand a program that allows districts to award bonuses to educators based on their students’ academic growth.

Vera Daniels and Celeste Hoins, substitute teachers in the Lansing school district near Kansas City, are suing the district. They say they were fired for speaking out against school district policies.

Some Texas public school teachers say they have to do side jobs in order to be able to live.

Democrats are the minority in the Texas Legislature and their proposal is almost guaranteed to fail. Even if they wanted to push for salary increases for teachers, their anti-voucher stance could stall any progress.