Raise Your Hand Texas’ School Funding Advocacy Day Aims to Score a Win for Public Education

More than 175 public school advocates from across the state will convene at the Texas State Capitol today at 10 a.m. for Raise Your Hand Texas’ School Funding Advocacy Day, calling on lawmakers to invest in public school students and teachers.

Texas teachers, principals, business leaders, community members, and superintendents will come “home” to the State Capitol to advocate for Texas public schools, their 5.5 million public school students, and teachers during a homecoming-themed event on the Capitol steps, followed by visits to all 181 legislative offices.

Raise Your Hand Texas calls on state lawmakers to approve a permanent pay raise for teachers and fund another historic $1,000 increase to the basic allotment, the primary per-pupil funding for public schools and their students. The state last increased the basic allotment in 2019 by $980. To keep up with inflation since then, the state would have to increase the basic allotment by more than $1,300.

“We’re standing together to support the more than 1,250 public school districts that educate the next generation of Texans,” said Libby Cohen, Ph.D. executive director of Raise Your Hand Texas. “It’s a homecoming today because this is the people’s house, and we’re ready to cheer on our lawmakers and encourage them to score big by passing much-needed funding for our local schools.”

Public school advocates are making their drive for a big win just days before the expected April 10 floor vote on the Texas House’s proposed 2-year state budget. The Senate passed its version of the 2-year state budget on March 19.

“Lawmakers are on the clock with just two months left in the 89th Legislative Session,” said Jay McWilliams, M.Ed., superintendent of Big Spring ISD and a former football coach, who will direct a group of advocates to run through a breakthru #FundOurSchools football banner at the advocacy event. “Texans are a proud people, and we’re a state that deserves well-funded public schools for our students and pay that reflects the professionalism and worth of our Texas teachers.”

The Texas public education system is the second largest in the country and includes 5.5 million students, more than 1250 school districts, 8,600 campuses, and 375,000 teachers, in addition to critical campus and classroom support staff and administrators. Despite having a thriving economy and budget surplus, Texas currently ranks 46th in the nation in per-pupil spending.

“Our public schools and their teachers are educating the future of Texas,” said Martha Salazar-Zamora, Ed.D., superintendent of Tomball ISD. “Texas is number one in so many economic and business measures, and our school students and teachers deserve significant investments, too. The success of our public schools and the students they educate are critical to ensuring that future workforce needs are met and the Texas economy remains strong.”

Two notable bills have been proposed during the 89th Legislative Session to address teacher pay raises and school funding. They are both good first steps toward doing more for public education in Texas.

Senate Bill 26 (SB 26) by Sen. Brandon Creighton, Chair of the Senate Committee on Education K-16, is a bill that would provide about $4.3 billion in funding for several programs, including a permanent teacher pay raise for eligible teachers, the expansion of the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) program and free pre-K for teacher’s children. SB 26 has been passed out of the Senate.

House Bill 2 (HB 2) by Rep. Brad Buckley, Chair of the House Committee on Public Education, which has been updated with a Committee Substitute, would provide $7.7 billion over the next two years in new funding through various programs and allotments, including increasing the Basic Allotment by $395 from $6,160 to $6,555 and increasing the small- and mid-sized district allotment and special education funding weights. HB 2 would also expand the current TIA program and create a local optional teacher designation system grant. It would also incentivize districts to provide additional days in the school year and make a fine arts allotment. HB 2 is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on Public Education today.

“Local school districts are feeling the pinch, grappling with budget shortfalls, and facing tough decisions about how to fund teacher and staff salaries, maintain direct student services, fund health insurance, and cover costs for everyday federal and state-mandated operating requirements,” said Joseph Harrington, Ed.D., superintendent, Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD. “Texas lawmakers have a historic chance to change the trajectory and infuse much-needed money for local schools, students, and teachers.”

The Raise Your Hand Texas-led homecoming-themed event on Thursday is the culmination of months of more than 475 advocates visiting legislative offices. Raise Your Hand Texas regional advocacy directors, superintendents, teachers, community leaders, and representatives from businesses and chambers of commerce all visited the Texas Capitol this winter and spring at different times to make the case for investing in public school students and teachers.

“We’re all in this together, and we’re optimistic that we can make a final successful drive with our state lawmakers to pass the funding our public school students and teachers deserve and desperately need to stay competitive,” said Taniece Thompson-Smith, 2024 Texas Teacher of the Year, Abilene ISD. “The kids in every classroom across Texas are counting on our Texas lawmakers right now.”

About Raise Your Hand Texas

In 2006, Charles Butt and a group of Texas business and community leaders founded Raise Your Hand Texas with the belief that all Texas children should have equal access to high-quality education. Raise Your Hand Texas supports public policy solutions that invest in students, encourage innovation, and improve college, military, and workforce readiness. For more information, visit raiseyourhandtexas.org.

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