Senate Bill 26, which recently passed the Texas Senate and was sent to the House, aims to increase teacher salaries, but a local BISD education official says the legislation does not go far enough.
“At first glance, SB 26 looks very good, but once you dive deeper into the proposed legislation, there are issues,” said Michael Neuman, chief financial officer for Bandera ISD. “The raises are only for classroom teachers; nothing is allocated for any support staff, such as teacher aides, bus drivers, counselors, librarians, and nurses. Teachers definitely are in need of increased salaries, but inflation affects everyone.”
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick praised the bill’s passage, emphasizing its goal of elevating the teaching profession and closing the pay gap between urban and rural educators.
“As the husband of a long-time schoolteacher, the son-in-law of a teacher, and the father-in-law of a teacher, I understand the profound impact that a great educator has on a child’s development,” Patrick said in a statement. “SB 26 will provide experienced teachers in urban and suburban districts raises between $2,500 and $5,500. It aims to close the pay gap between urban and suburban teachers and rural teachers, providing raises up to $10,000 for rural teachers.”
Neuman said his main corner with the bill is that it does not guarantee funding for the increase in teacher salaries past the new biennium.
“The legislature can simply choose not to appropriate funds after the first two years, but the statute would remain, creating another unfunded mandate,” he said.
The unanimously approved a $4.3 billion bill Feb. 26, 2025, aims to address pay disparities between urban and rural school districts and improve teacher retention.
The bill provides a $2,500 raise for teachers with at least three years of experience and a $5,500 raise for those with five or more years.
These increases are slated to take effect in the next fiscal year.
The legislation offers larger raises for teachers in districts with fewer than 5,000 students.
Educators in these areas will receive a $5,000 raise after three years and a $10,000 raise after five years.
The salary increases will be funded through a new, separate allotment, distinct from the existing per-student funding.
SB 26 now awaits consideration in the House.
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