Senate files teacher pay bill

The Texas Senate filed SB 26 on Tuesday, Feb. 18. The bill would increase pay for many teachers across the state and bolster the Teacher Incentive Allotment program, among other provisions.

Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), the chairman of the Senate K-16 Education Committee and author of the bill, has expressed interest in raising teacher pay in the past, but last session, it was tied to school voucher legislation, which failed to pass the Texas House of Representatives. This time, the two topics are on separate bills. 

“Nationally, we rank 15th in the country for starting salaries for teachers. But we rank right around 40th for how we pay our experienced teachers,” Creighton said.

Last session, the teacher pay raise would have paid more to rural school districts than urban, but SB 26 also differentiates the raises by a teacher’s years of experience. 

In rural districts, defined as those with fewer than 5,000 students, teachers with at least three, but fewer than five, years of experience would receive a $5,000 raise; while those with five or more years of experience would receive a $10,000 raise. 

In urban districts, those with at least three, but fewer than five, years of experience would receive a $2,500 raise and those with five or more years of experience would receive a $5,500 raise. 

Absent from the proposal are raises for teachers with fewer than three years’ experience.

Overall, the proposition would cost about $5 billion per year.

The Teacher Incentive Allotment, a bonus program for teachers, would see the pay ranges for its designations increased and would add a new “acknowledged” designation under the current lowest designation, “recognized.” 

National Board certified teachers would receive an “acknowledged” designation automatically, earning them an additional $3,000 to $9,000. Other designations were increased between $2,000 and $7,000 from their previous ranges.

Additionally, teachers who work at a campus that offers pre-K would be eligible for free pre-K for their children.

The bill contains a handful of other more technical provisions as well.

TCTA will work closely on this legislation, including testifying before the Senate K-16 Education Committee on Feb. 20, to ensure the best possible outcome for educators.