AUSTIN, Texas — At a public hearing Monday, the Senate Finance Committee unanimously passed a bill that would provide an annual $5,000 pay raises for all full-time classroom teachers in Texas.
AUSTIN, Texas — At a public hearing Monday, the Senate Finance Committee unanimously passed a bill that would provide an annual $5,000 pay raises for all full-time classroom teachers in Texas.
One of Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s top campaign promises, Senate Bill 3 will now be taken up by the full Senate, with a bipartisan group of more than 20 co-authors signed on.
"It will provide an immediate financial boost for teachers, assist in retaining good teachers, and recruit the best and the brightest to this critical profession. I will be moving this bill to the floor and out of the Senate at the earliest possible date," said Patrick in a statement Monday afternoon.
Testimony on the legislation, authored by the Senate's lead budget writer, Jane Nelson, a Republican from Flower Mound, proved that not everyone agreed on how the raises should be implemented. Some lobbyist, with administrators and school district advocates wanted more local control on how to use additional money. Teachers supported legislature directed pay increases that would circumvent local control. Many teachers who testified expressed their appreciation for the legislation while asking for it to be expanded to include librarians, school counselors and support staff.
Senator Nelson said she would explore expanding the bill but stressed that money is not unlimited.
"This one bill is the bill we're choosing to put out there first because it deals with who we think is the No. 1 factor, besides the parent, in our child's education," she said.
Lawmakers did approve changes that would provide pay raises to charter school teachers — in addition to those at traditional school districts — and prevent school districts from cutting teacher salaries in the future. They also approved a change that would cover requisite increases in teacher pension costs due to the pay raises.
Nelson also said this bill would not preclude lawmakers from passing additional merit pay legislation, which would reward the state’s most effective educators with bonuses. Sen. Larry Taylor, of Friendswood, chair of the Senate Education Committee, is expected to author a school finance bill that will include that policy proposal.
Last week, House Democrats proposed their own raise proposal, which would also include support staff. Meanwhile, Republicans in both chambers are expected to release a sweeping school finance bills soon that will include merit pay proposals lawmakers say.
A 2018 report issued by the National Education Association ranked Texas 28th in the country with an average teacher salary of $52, 575. The national average for teachers is $59,660. In other words, Texas teachers would need roughly a 12 percent raise to meet the national average.
Based on 2018-2019 salary schedules obtained from each district’s website, teachers in Kaufman County can make anywhere from $40,000 for first year teachers, to over $60,000 a year or more for teachers with 25 years of experience. These salaries are well below both state and national averages.
Terrell ISD leads the county in teacher salaries. First year teachers in Terrell earn $50,100 a year. Teachers with 25 years of experience reach $60,824. Forney ISD starts rookie teachers at $50,000 and increases incrementally annually to $60,100 for 25 years of service.
First year teachers in Crandall ISD begin at $47,000 and earn a salary of $59,465 after 25 years of service. Mabank ISD starts teachers off at $43,000 a year and can earn $56,500 at 25 years. Kaufman ISD salary scale begins at $45,000 annually and jumps to $59,900 for 25 years of experience.
Salaries are the lowest among the counties two smallest districts. Scurry-Rosser ISD begins at $41,000 for new teachers and grows to $56,950 at the 25-year mark. Kemp ISD salaries start at $40,000 and reach $56,750 after 25 years in teaching.
The proposed legislation, if passed, would go into effect for the 2019-2020 school year.
