Texas Senate approves school funding proposal focused on teacher raises

The Texas Senate approved priority school funding legislation Wednesday that would provide pay raises to teachers based on years of experience, expand a state program that offers raises to instructors based on student performance and allow educators to enroll their children in pre-K free of charge.

Senate Bill 26, authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, passed unanimously. The bill now goes to the House for further consideration. The House filed its own school funding bill last week, which lawmakers in that chamber will likely take up in the coming weeks.

“This bill is a promise, one that tells every teacher in Texas that we have their back,” Creighton said just before the vote on SB 26.