TCTA - Texas Classroom Teachers Association
09/26/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/26/2024 15:58
TCTA testifies on TEA budget, urging pay raises and more funding for schools
TCTA provided testimony on the Texas Education Agency's proposed budget request for the 2026-27 biennium during a hearing on Sept. 25 as lawmakers prepare for the 2025 legislative session.
During the joint committee meeting, TCTA Legislative Liaison Quinn McCall asked staffers from the Legislative Budget Board, the Governor's and Lieutenant Governor's offices, and a handful of legislative offices to increase the basic allotment for public schools, fund significant teacher pay raises and increase the state's contributions to employee health plans. TCTA also asked for increased funding for school safety and campus behavioral specialists.
The hearing gave TCTA and other education stakeholders a chance to provide input on TEA's budget request. Education Commissioner Mike Morath outlined TEA's priorities, which include training and retaining high-quality teachers, laying a strong foundation in early numeracy and literacy, connecting high school experiences with college and career after graduation, and supporting school districts.
In addition, TEA included some exceptional requests, meaning they are not part of the typical biennial budget: increased funding for TEA investigations into educator misconduct, increased funding for special education services, an investment into teacher preparation pathways to produce more certified teachers, and an infusion of funding into strategic compensation for teacher salaries.
TCTA submitted written testimony detailing not only our specific budget priorities for the next session, but also detailed ways to implement them and research to support their importance. McCall testified before the committee to underscore the importance of these priorities, including ensuring that the state does not rely on the Teacher Incentive Allotment program to attract and retain teachers but instead raises all salaries to competitive levels.
TCTA will continue to monitor upcoming budget bills and work to ensure that supporting teachers is a top priority in the budget and beyond.