Texas Schools’ Funding Increase Unlikely
Texas school districts are unlikely to see a significant increase in per-student funding next year. After weeks of negotiations, the Senate has released its version of House Bill 2, which proposes a different approach to funding schools.
The Senate’s Proposal
The Senate’s proposal keeps the $8 billion investment approved by the Texas House of Representatives but allocates $4 billion directly to teacher pay instead of increasing per-student funding. This move has raised concerns among education experts, who argue that school districts need a general increase in funding to address their unique needs.
The Need for a General Funding Increase
According to Texas A&M Professor Lori Taylor, who studies school finance, giving school districts a general increase in funding would be more effective than targeting specific areas like teacher pay. "I think that the districts are probably in a better position to know how to target an increase in payroll revenue than the legislature," Taylor said. She added that the cost of living, hiring, and education has increased while the basic allotment has remained the same, creating fiscal stress for school districts.
The Basic Allotment
The basic allotment is the minimum amount allocated per student in Texas public schools. The state formula multiplies this allotment by weights given to districts based on school size and student characteristics to determine how much state and local revenue they receive. The basic allotment was increased to $6,160 in 2019, but Taylor estimates that it should be increased by about $1,100 to keep up with inflation. The House proposed adding $395 to the basic allotment, while the Senate version only increases it by $55.
Teacher Pay and Rural Districts
The Senate’s proposal for teacher pay is largely taken from Senate Bill 26, which aims to address the pay gap between urban and suburban teachers and rural teachers. However, Taylor argues that urban districts are more likely to struggle with attracting teachers due to regional differences in the cost of living and amenities. "I’ve done a lot of work on regional differences in the cost of education," Taylor said. "The basic bottom line is that there are differences in cost of living and differences in the amenities that make it more difficult for some districts to hire compared to others…Those challenged districts tend to be in metropolitan areas."
The Proposed Teacher Pay Raises
The Senate proposal directs raises to teachers with at least three years of experience, with larger increases for teachers with at least five years of experience. In smaller districts with up to 5,000 students, teachers with three or four years of experience would receive a $5,000 raise, while teachers with at least five years of experience would receive a $10,000 raise. In larger districts with more than 5,000 students, teachers with three or four years of experience would receive a $2,500 raise, and teachers with at least five years of experience would receive a $5,500 raise.
Concerns About the Proposal
Taylor expressed concerns about the proposal, stating that she hasn’t seen any research to suggest that the biggest need is to provide an incentive for teachers to reach their fifth year. "Clearly their pay hasn’t kept up with inflation, but neither has the pay of the junior teachers, the beginning teachers," Taylor said. "And I don’t see an evidentiary support for raising the pay of senior teachers, but not junior teachers in the same district."
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Senate’s proposal for House Bill 2 has raised concerns among education experts, who argue that school districts need a general increase in funding to address their unique needs. The proposal’s focus on teacher pay, particularly for senior teachers in rural districts, may not be the most effective way to support Texas schools. As the legislative process continues, it remains to be seen how the final bill will address the funding needs of Texas school districts.
