TCTA Legislative Priorities for 2025

The TCTA Representative Assembly voted Feb. 1, 2025, to approve the following legislative priorities for the 89th Texas Legislature.

SUPPORT AN ACROSS-THE-BOARD PAY RAISE FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL
The current statewide workforce crisis requires the state to take immediate steps to address the factors contributing to teacher attrition, especially educator salaries. The state must commit additional funding and direct districts to provide a significant salary increase to teachers and other educational and support staff.

SUPPORT FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION 
Lawmakers must focus on providing adequate funding to public schools, including an increase in the basic allotment, so that school districts can ensure appropriate employee compensation, equipment, instructional materials and other resources necessary for a high-quality education.

OPPOSE VOUCHER EFFORTS
The Legislature should oppose measures that will decrease available revenues, such as proposals to use public funds to support private or home schools. Vouchers and school funding / teacher salary proposals should not be a “package deal” but should be considered on their own merits.

ENSURE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO KEEP CLASSROOMS AND CAMPUSES SAFE
Teachers must be able to maintain an academic environment conducive to learning. Current laws that allow teachers to remove disruptive students must not be restricted, and schools should be required to have discipline policies in place that provide for administrative support of teachers and appropriate access to resources and skilled personnel to address students’ behavioral issues. Schools must have adequate funding for measures to ensure campus safety.

LIMIT NON-INSTRUCTIONAL DUTIES
Time spent on non-instructional duties and responsibilities outside the workday must be reduced or eliminated. This will provide teachers with the time needed to adequately plan and collaborate with colleagues, reduce the intrusion of work responsibilities into personal time, and contribute to teacher retention.

INCREASE CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD SCHOOL EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE
The cost of health insurance has reached a crisis point for Texas school employees, and benefits under the TRS-administered plans have declined in efforts to keep costs down. The state must increase its contributions and ensure that employees have access to affordable, high-quality coverage.

IMPROVE RETIREMENT BENEFITS
The current defined benefit structure of the retirement system must be retained, and the legislature should build on recent retiree benefit increases through a series of cost-of-living adjustments, so that school employees are provided a measure of financial security after years of dedicated service to our state’s schoolchildren.

RESTORE STATUTORY PROTECTIONS FOR TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND PARENTS
Texas statutes provide basic protections such as class size limits, teacher certification requirements, notification to parents of departures from class size and certification laws, and basic teacher rights and benefits. These laws ensure a safe, transparent and productive school environment, but they have been eroded by measures such as Districts of Innovation. Further erosion must be halted and protections restored to ensure a standard baseline of expectations and transparency.