IDRA’s weekly email alert includes legislative updates, opportunities for action to make your voice heard, bills to watch and other information through the session until it closes in early June.
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In this edition…
- Senate Committee on Education K-16 discussing teacher pay
- House Committees are Released!
- Bills That Support Black History
- Hold the Line: Say No to Vouchers in Texas
The Senate’s Proposal to Pay Teachers More
This Thursday, the Senate Education K-16 Committee will hold a hearing related to one of Governor Abbott’s emergency items, teacher pay. Senate Bill 26, authored by chair of the committee, Senator Brandon Creighton, focuses on the teacher incentive allotment to boost qualifying teachers’ salaries. Other proposals, such as boosting the per-pupil basic allotment to trigger teacher pay raises, have not yet been set for a hearing.
The hearing begins at 11:00 am or upon adjournment of the Senate. You can watch the hearing live.
House Committees are Released
The Texas Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows released the House member committees last week. We are tracking legislation related to education and school funding.
- House Higher Education
- House Appropriations
- House Public Education
- House Subcommittee on Academic & Career-Oriented Education
Bills That Support Black History
During the Texas Legislative session, February is full of committees getting started, organizations holding advocacy days, and lawmakers filing bills. Several proposed bills would help support Black students or protect Black student culture and heritage. These bills include the following.
HB 178 (Morales, C.) – includes ethnic studies in high school course requirements for social studies
HB 474 (Morales, C.) – protects high school graduation regalia and attire with cultural significance
HB 752 (Gervin Hawkins, B.) – creates grant program to preserve historic buildings and sites related to African American history
SB 283 (Miles, B.) – creates a Texas African American Heritage Commission
Black history is an integral part of our state. Supporting Black students is essential.
Hold the Line: Say No to Vouchers!
Call your representative! Tell them to vote no on vouchers. Representative offices are reporting how much opposition they are hearing. Keep it up!
If you need help finding your state house representative, look online here, type in your address and your state representative will be listed. Senate Bill 2 sits with the House now, and it is critical you continue to voice your concerns on vouchers.
Cost of Vouchers Data Map Infographic
Click to see how much money your district will lose!
Tools & Resources
Learn more about IDRA’s policy recommendations for Texas
See our Infographic: 5 Data Snacks on IDRA’s Policy Priorities
How to Testify before the Texas Legislature, Infographic
