This past week, Texas AFT-endorsed candidate for governor, Beto O’Rourke, emphasized his support for increasing public education funding at a town hall in Bowie, Texas. When asked by a retired educator how he planned to increase teacher salaries as governor when salary schedules are set by local school boards, O’Rourke explained his plan to increase the state’s share of education spending.
As governor, O’Rourke explained he would increase the state’s share of education funding, which would reduce the burden on local taxpayers while providing school districts with more funds for raises for teachers and other resources students need. O’Rourke cited a plan proposed by Republicans in the state House, which would raise the state’s share of education funding so that the state and local shares of public education funding would be roughly equal. O’Rourke said he would sign that bill into law if he were elected governor.