The Texas House made news last week with a new slate of committee assignments that will determine the fate of the Educator’s Bill of Rights and other critical education policies, including school finance, teacher and school staff pay, and private school vouchers (ESAs). This week, House Public Education Committee Chair Brad Buckley (R-Salado) dropped three major pieces of legislation that will affect educators: HB 2 on school finance and educator pay, HB 3 on private school vouchers, and HB 4 on accountability and testing.
At Texas AFT, we fight for what our members care about, including fully funded public schools, fair wages for educators, and an end to political attacks on academic freedom.
School Finance: More money for schools, but with strings attached?
As we reported last week, though lawmakers have $24 billion in surplus funds, the initial draft of the Texas House budget (HB 1) does not include significant increases to the basic allotment (the per-student funding rate). Texas AFT is fighting to raise the basic allotment, increase all school employee salaries, and fully fund special education. Rep. Brad Buckley has filed HB2 on school finance and educator pay, here are some of its provisions:
School Finance Changes:
- Substantially raises the amount of taxpayer dollars given to profit-driven charter school operators for facilities to the tune of about $100 million per year. Given the long history of charter school scandals and financial mismanagement, the state should be adding more oversight to charters, not more funding. (Texas AFT is against this provision as charter school operators have shown themselves to be unworthy of increased funding).
- Increases existing allotments for various student populations, including:
- An increase to the small and mid-sized district allotment to support rural schools.
- A teacher incentive allotment, increasing pay for teachers that is largely tied to test scores. (Texas AFT is against this provision and any performance-based pay system applied to educators, which also leaves out the many other school employees that contribute to student outcomes. Parents also oppose this mechanism that increases the emphasis on standardized tests).
- Changes the special education allotment into an intensity of services model that should provide funding that more accurately reflects what districts actually spend on special education services.
Teacher Compensation & Incentives:
- Increases state funding for educator salaries, ensuring that districts use at least 40% of additional state aid for pay increases.
- Introduces enhanced funding for schools that adopt performance-based teacher compensation models (which we continue to oppose).
Early Childhood & K-12 Policies:
- Establishes a full-day prekindergarten expansion, requiring partnerships between school districts and community childcare providers.
- Requires that pre-K classrooms comply with local childcare facility regulations.
- Provides funding for extended school year models, offering incentives for districts that operate 200+ instructional days.
School District Accountability & Property Taxes:
- Revises state property tax recapture formulas, impacting school districts that send excess local revenue back to the state.
- Increases state aid to school districts impacted by property value fluctuations.
- Enhances accountability for charter schools, requiring financial disclosures for real estate transactions (a positive development).
Texas AFT’s Take on HB 3: A Risk to Public Schools
Texas AFT members stridently argue that fully funding Texas public schools is what ensures every child, regardless of zip code, has access to a quality education not a school voucher scam.
We remain committed to that vision, not to one that prioritizes creating a third school system (public schools, charter schools, and taxpayer-funded private schools) to further strain our state budget and undermine our constitutionally protected public school system. Rep. Brad Buckley has filed House Bill 3, which establishes an Education Savings Account (ESA) program, diverting public funds to private schools with little accountability. The bill funnels state money away from neighborhood schools, allowing taxpayer dollars to be used for private school tuition, tutoring, and other expenses with minimal oversight.
🚨 Drains Public School Funding – ESA funds match the state’s per-student allocation, pulling money from already underfunded public schools.
🚨 Lacks Accountability – Unlike public schools, private schools receiving ESA funds aren’t required to meet state curriculum, testing, or transparency standards.
🚨 Leaves Rural Schools Behind – With few private school options in rural Texas, this program primarily benefits wealthier urban families while failing to provide real choices for most students.
Texas AFT opposes HB 3 because it weakens public education while creating an unregulated voucher program that benefits private institutions at the expense of Texas students and educators. We must invest in public schools, not undermine them with taxpayer-funded privatization schemes.
HB 4: More State Control, Fewer Protections for Public Schools
House Bill 4 overhauls school accountability and testing while limiting school districts’ ability to challenge harmful state policies. While some provisions aim to improve assessments, this bill prioritizes state control over meaningful education reform.
Key Concerns for Educators & Public Schools
🔹 Testing Overhaul, But Not Enough Relief
HB 4 redesigns state assessments, reducing multiple-choice questions and streamlining test length. However, it fails to eliminate high-stakes testing pressures that push educators to “teach to the test” instead of fostering real learning.
🔹 More State Takeovers, Less Local Voice
The bill expands the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) authority to take over school districts, increasing the risk of state-appointed managers replacing elected school boards. This further erodes local control and gives the state more power to override educators and communities.
🔹 Limits on School Districts’ Legal Rights
One of the most alarming provisions prohibits school districts from using state funds to challenge education policies in court. This prevents educators and parents from fighting back against harmful state mandates, stripping schools of their right to defend themselves.
🔹 School Ratings System Still Flawed
HB 4 tweaks the accountability system, incorporating workforce readiness and industry-based certifications. While career prep is important, this does nothing to address chronic underfunding, teacher shortages, or classroom resources—the real issues impacting school performance.
While HB 4 makes some modest improvements to testing, it tightens state control over public schools, weakens local advocacy, and expands TEA’s authority to punish struggling schools instead of supporting them.
What Can You Do About These Bills? Get Involved!
We cannot sit back while politicians play games with our students’ futures. Here’s how you can take action:
📢 Join Texas AFT at the Capitol – Our advocacy days are in the works. Help us educate lawmakers on the importance of fully funding public schools and stopping vouchers. Find an event near you & register here!
📝 Tell Your Legislators: Fund Public Schools First – Call or email your representatives TODAY and demand they support real investments in public education.
🏛️ Testify at Legislative Hearings: Now that committees have been announced, hearings will begin soon on bills aligned with our Educator’s Bill of Rights, as well as bills that pose a threat to our members’ priorities, including private school vouchers. We need your voice in committee hearings. Sign up to testify or submit written comments.