Rep. Dan Huberty/Sen. Larry Taylor
HB 1525 is a school finance clean-up bill to address issues arising
from implementation of last session’s HB 3. Other substantive provisions
were added during the legislative process. At over 125 pages we
continue working through this comprehensive bill and will update with
any new information as warranted.
- Includes a TCTA-initiated provision protecting teacher salaries so
that districts cannot pay teachers and other employees a salary less
than what they earned in 2019-20 (after the HB 3 raises).
- Allows stipends paid under the Teacher Incentive Allotment program to count for TRS purposes.
- Extends the literacy academy deadline to 2022-23.
- Funds tutoring programs.
- Restores the gifted/talented allotment as a weight of .07, with a cap of no more than 5% of students.
- Reimburses districts for technology purchases before Feb. 28, 2021.
- Reimburses districts for additional costs incurred during the winter storm.
- Changes career/tech education (CTE) funding from the current 1.35
weight to varying weights dependent on courses: 1.1 for non-approved
programs, 1.28 for approved programs for levels 1 and 2, and 1.47 for
approved programs for levels 3 and 4.
- Provides full CTE funding for small and mid-sized districts.
- Increases the fast growth allotment.
- Allows the use of compensatory education funds for instructional
coaches, attendance officer duties, and social emotional wellness
programs.
- Entitles districts to the highest possible comp ed weight for homeless students.
- Students earning an associate’s degree count toward a district’s
eligibility for the college, career, and military readiness bonus.
- Funds COVID-19 accelerated learning.
- Expands P-TECH, Regional Pathways Network, and JET.
- Extends grant programs for students with autism and dyslexia.
- Requires districts to accept donations from a PTA/PTO for supplemental staff positions.
- Requires that local school health advisory councils are subject to
the Open Meetings Act. Human sexuality materials must be posted on the
district’s website and parents must opt in to sexuality instruction for
their student.