Local educators react to `Texas Two Step` Approved bill paves way for vouchers, another on table promises teacher raises
Local educators are praising lawmakers’ efforts to increase school funding and pay raises for teachers but striking a cautionary tone about the Legislature’s approval of school vouchers.
It’s a dance in Austin some have dubbed the “Texas Two Step” and it sets the tune for how Lone Star State schools will be conducting education practices for years to come.
Texas Senate Bill 2, which creates a statewide Education Savings Account program for private education, was approved by the Senate and then passed by the House April 17.
It’s also known as the school-choice or school voucher bill.
The day before, an overwhelming House majority approved House Bill 2, a school-finance measure which focuses primarily on increasing allocations for student attendance and teacher pay hikes for Texas schools.
Next, it has to be aligned with a Senate version.
While educators across the state said they are happy about the prospect of beefedup school funding and more pay, several fear the voucher bill could harm public school districts.
“The Texas House today proudly passed our ‘Texas Two Step’ plan to transform education by expanding educational options and investing historic new funding into classrooms across our state,” said House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock.
SB 2 launches 100,000 savings accounts for the 2026– 27 school year, according to state records.
Families could receive up to $10,000 per child for private school tuition, $11,500 for students with disabilities and $2,000 for homeschool costs — including an additional $500 if the child also has a disability.
The amended bill states accounts would cap at $20,000 and refill each semester.
Meanwhile, Texas is one of six states where public schools receive funding based on student attendance, also known as the basic allotment.
Under HB2, a school’s base funding is raised by about $400 per student, or from $6,160 to $6,555. The basic allotment is tied to property value increases and goes up every two years. About 40% of that is earmarked for educator salary hikes.
Larger increases, fueled by additional revenue in the allotment, are for teachers with more than 10 years of classroom experience.
“The Texas House took a monumental step to increase education funding and teacher pay raises that puts Texas on the path to education excellence for our students,” said Gov. Gregg Abbott. “Since I have been governor, public education funding and average teacher pay have reached all-time highs and now House Bill 2 will add $7.7 billion more to fund a highquality education for the next generation of Texas leaders.”
East Wilco educators sound off
Coupland, Hutto and Taylor independent school district superintendents Earl Parcell, Jeni Neatherlin and Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen, respectively, say they’re encouraged to see the investment in public education promised by HB2.
Neatherlin and Garcia-Edwardsen both agreed the basic allotment has the potential to bring funding into their districts that would better support their students, educators and staff.
“This doesn’t quite make us whole, but it’s a great start,” Neatherlin said.
Parcell echoed the sentiment.
“There have been no basic allotment increases since 2019, so something is definitely better than nothing,” he said. Stephen Brosch, superintendent of the Granger Independent School District, said early estimated projections indicate a very promising financial number for the district moving forward.
Some school districts may see their annual funding almost double over the next two years.
Most area officials recently discussed the need for teacher and staff pay raises but were unsure how their districts could afford it and where those funds might come from.
Now, with HB2, teacher salaries could increase anywhere from $3,500 to $7,000 with the initial focus being placed on teachers with more than a decade in the classroom.
Thrall Independent School District board President Bryan Holubec said, “HB2 is a long overdue step in the right direction for school funding. It’s far from being the historic effort that the legislative leaders have described it as being, but it does move us in the right direction, and for that we are grateful.”
Holubec noted there are still legislative hoops HB2 needs to jump through before the final details are ironed out, which is also a concern for Garcia- Edwardsen, Neatherlin and Brosch.
However, Garcia-Edwardsen and Neatherlin said their respective districts will be preparing for potential implementation in a way that is fiscally responsible and focused on the long-term benefits for students, staff and the broader school community.
Brosch hopes HB2 will remain intact as it makes its way through the Senate for consideration and is not disassembled through the upper body’s amendment process.
“The house getting HB2 through was wonderful, however … the fight for HB2 is far from over and we must ensure that our Senate members hear how much of a priority this is,” Brosch said.
Tommy Hooker, Thrall ISD superintendent, agreed and added his thanks to Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, for working with public schools and professional organizations, listening to his constituents and taking the necessary action to get HB2 to the finish line.
“It is for the future of public education, and in Thrall ISD, our community is counting on our schools to do an amazing job,” Hooker said.
A different response to SB2
Educators, including Hooker, are not as excited about SB2, the legislatively approved school-voucher or school-choice bill.
Critics fear the measure will siphon away funds that normally are allocated to publicschool districts, which could be detrimental in rural areas where those campuses are also the major employer.
Other detractors said private and parochial schools are not held to the same accountability standards as public campuses.
Buckley, a supporter of SB2, said parents and guardians finally have a say in where their education dollars are spent.
“Senate Bill 2 paves the way for every Texas kid to thrive in the educational environment that will serve them best,” the representative said. “Parents should have every tool in the toolbox to make decisions for their child’s education, and Senate Bill 2 gives them that.”
Hooker and Brosch have previously voiced concerns about the program, with both stressing the need for accountability. Hooker recommends safeguards be implemented to make sure there are standards in place for the use of taxpayer funds outside of the public school system.
“There is some slight disappointment amongst fellow colleagues as SB2 has passed and I feel has, and will, face major compliance and equitable measures for Texas education moving forward,” Brosch said.
Abbott has said as soon as the bill reaches his desk he will sign it into law.
“For the first time in Texas history, our state has passed a universal school-choice bill out of both chambers in the Texas Legislature,” said Abbott. “This is an extraordinary victory for the thousands of parents who have advocated for more choices when it comes to the education of their children.”
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“There is some slight disappointment amongst fellow colleagues as SB2 (school choice) has passed.”
— Stephen Brosch, Granger Independent School District superintendent
