Educators across Texas have long fought for wages that reflect the vital work they do in our classrooms, cafeterias, and campuses. Yet despite their dedication, Texas teachers earn over $9,000 less than the national average and receive $5,000 less in per-student funding. Inflation-adjusted, their salaries are 6% below 2015 levels, fueling an educator shortage statewide and leaving many support staff living in or near poverty. In our 2022 survey, 68% of Texas AFT K-12 members said they were considering quitting—an alarming signal that our state is losing the very people who inspire tomorrow’s leaders.
The Educators Bill of Rights recognizes that fair compensation is non-negotiable. It diagnoses the underpayment of teachers, paraprofessionals, and adjunct professors as a root cause of staffing shortages, and it proposes clear, actionable solutions: increase the basic allotment to trigger automatic pay raises; set a living wage for support staff; invest meaningfully in higher-ed faculty; and ensure unemployment benefits for drivers and cafeteria workers during layoffs.
When the 89th Legislature convened, Texas AFT championed five bills to turn these proposals into law:
- HB 237 (Rep. John Bucy) offered a $10,000 annual salary increase for all full-time state employees—including higher education staff—with prorated raises for part-timers.
- HB 419 (Rep. Terry Meza) would have established a $15/hour minimum for school bus drivers (or the federal minimum wage, whichever is higher), covering districts of 4,500+ students, charters, and their contractors.
- HB 1257 (Rep. John Bryant) aimed to raise the basic allotment—moving from attendance-based to enrollment-based funding—and lock in dedicated mental-health funds, translating directly into raises for pre-K-12 educators and staff.
- HB 337 (Rep. Mihaela Plesa) proposed dedicating any surplus in the Foundation School Fund to boost the basic allotment, with those increases automatically triggering pre-K–12 employee raises.
- HB 351 (Rep. Vikki Goodwin) sought an annual inflation adjustment to the basic allotment, guaranteeing year-over-year pay raises for all pre-K–12 school employees.
Here’s where those bills stand after sine die:
HB 237 (Bucy) – State Employee Pay Raise
Despite widespread support, HB 237 did not advance out of committee and saw no further action this session.
HB 419 (Meza) – Bus Driver Minimum Wage
HB 419 was read and referred to the House Public Education Committee but was never scheduled for a hearing..
HB 1257 (Bryant) – Basic Allotment & Educator Raises
Referred to committee on March 10, HB 1257 but was never scheduled for a hearing.
HB 337 (Plesa) – Surplus Funds for Pay Raises
Although HB 337 proposed a smart, budget-neutral approach to boost the basic allotment, it did not receive a hearing before adjournment.
HB 351 (Goodwin) – Inflation-Tied Allotment
HB 351 was referred to Public Education on February 28, but did not receive a hearing, leaving yearly cost-of-living adjustments off the table.
In place of these separate bills, lawmakers passed the comprehensive HB 2. Texas’s new HB 2 delivers important wins for teachers and support staff by embedding several pay- and benefit-enhancing provisions directly into the school finance code. Below is an overview of the key positive measures that school employees can celebrate:
Expanded Teacher Designation and Incentive Allotments
Though Texas AFT fundamentally disagrees with the practice of tying pay to performance, HB 2 expands the state’s Teacher Incentive Allotment by raising base awards and adding new tiers, paving the way for higher payouts for educators who earn advanced designations:
- Base amounts increased for master, exemplary, recognized, and acknowledged (including National Board Certified) teachers. For example, the master-teacher base allotment jumps from $32,000 to $36,000, and recognized teachers see their base rise from $3,000 to $5,000 per teacher each year.
- Enhanced “high-needs and rural” factor also grows. Master teachers in high-needs or rural campuses now attract an additional $6,000 (up from $5,000) per teacher.
2. New Grants for Local Teacher Designation Systems
HB 2 creates a grant program under Section 21.3522 of the Texas Education Code to help districts expand their own optional teacher designation systems. These grants provide both funding and technical assistance—covering needs from program design to capacity building—so more teachers can qualify for master, exemplary, or board-certified status.
3. Teacher Retention Allotment
Recognizing that experience matters, HB 2 establishes a Teacher Retention Allotment under Section 48.158 that delivers experience bonuses directly to staff:
- Districts with up to 5,000 students receive $4,000 for each teacher with 3–4 years of service and $8,000 for each with 5+ years.
- Larger districts get $2,500 (3–4 years) and $5,000 (5+ years) per qualifying teacher.
All funds shall be used to raise or maintain those teachers’ salaries in 2025–2026 and beyond, assuring that experienced educators see real, ongoing pay bumps.
4. Support Staff Retention Allotment
For the first time, HB 2 creates a Support Staff Retention Allotment (Section 48.1581), giving districts $45 per student in average attendance to boost pay for paraprofessionals, custodians, food-service workers, bus drivers, and other non-administrative staff. These dollars must be used to raise support staff salaries in 2025–2026 and maintain those increases thereafter. Special shout out to Senators Menendez and Miles who worked particularly hard on behalf of support staff this session.
These targeted investments could yield positive gains for educators:
- Teachers gain not only higher base allotments for advanced designations, but also clear pathways—through grant support—to build local performance pay systems.
- Experienced educators see recurring retention bonuses.
- Support staff earn dedicated funds to lift wages above poverty thresholds.
Texas AFT and its Locals will be organized and ready to work with districts to implement these provisions rapidly, helping local leaders translate state funding into meaningful pay raises and protections. We’ll also monitor agency rulemaking and offer technical support where needed, ensuring HB 2’s promise becomes a reality on every campus and classroom.
The session’s outcome is a stark reminder: without sustained pressure, legislators will not prioritize those who invest their lives in Texas students. But the fight isn’t over. We ask every member to stay engaged: write to your representative, share your stories of financial hardship, and demand accountability. Together, we can ensure that the 90th Legislature hears our call and enacts the reforms our schools—and our students—deserve.
Solidarity is our strength. Texas AFT will continue to fight until every educator earns a fair wage that matches their worth. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to students and the teaching profession—and for standing with us as we push for real, lasting change.