The overview
House Bill 1, a 184-page proposal by House Education Committee Chair Brad Buckley, R-Killeen, would also provide bonuses for public school teachers and set an end date for the state’s current public school accountability system.
Nearly two weeks into the third special legislative session of the year, Texas lawmakers have made little progress on education savings accounts, a top priority of Gov. Greg Abbott. The Texas Senate passed its version of a voucher program Oct. 12, but similar legislation faces bipartisan opposition in the House, including from some rural Republicans.
Less than a day after Buckley filed his bill, Andrew Mahaleris, a spokesperson for the governor’s office, indicated Abbott was not on board with the proposal. Abbott will continue working with the House to craft an education savings account plan, Mahaleris said.
The details
The third legislative overtime began Oct. 9 and can last up to 30 days. Abbott has threatened to keep lawmakers in Austin for a fourth special session if they do not pass bills on his agenda, including “education freedom,” border security and a ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Public school finance is not on the governor’s agenda.
Here are five things to know about the House’s omnibus education bill and how it could impact Texans.
1. Public schools would receive additional funding for each student.
Buckley’s proposal would increase the basic allotment, or the base amount of money districts receive per student from the state. Schools use the allotment, which has not increased since 2019, to pay for daily operations, teacher salaries and more.
During the current school year, the basic allotment would increase from $6,160 to $6,190. For the 2024-25 school year, districts would receive $6,500 per student. Per-student funding would be adjusted for inflation once every two years.
Beyond the basic allotment, the state gives schools funding for programs that include fine arts, advanced mathematics, and career and technical education.
The legislation also increases how much schools receive to implement school safety and security measures. Each campus currently receives $15,000 per year in school safety funding, but administrators across the state say it isn’t enough.
HB 1 proposes:
- $50,000 for campuses with 500 or fewer students
- $100,000 for campuses with 501-1,000 students
- $150,000 for campuses with 1,001-1,500 students
- $175,000 for campuses with 1,501-2,000 students
- $200,000 for campuses with over 2,000 students
2. Teachers would receive one-time bonuses and other support.
Full-time public school teachers would receive a one-time bonus of $4,000 this school year, with $2,000 for part-time employees.
The bill states that school districts must also use at least half of the new basic allotment funding to increase salaries for full-time school employees, besides administrators.
HB 1 also sets minimum salaries for public school teachers and full-time librarians, counselors and nurses. The salaries are based on certification and experience.
For example, an uncertified teacher with at least five years of experience would make at least $45,000 for the 2024-25 school year. Currently, teachers with five years of experience must make at least $38,880.
Schools would also receive funding for teacher residency programs, which place prospective teachers in classrooms with mentors for one year. Schools typically hire residents as full-time teachers the following year.
HB 1 would give districts between $22,000 and $42,000 to pay each resident teacher.
The plan would also increase funding for other teacher support programs and make it harder for the state to retaliate against teachers who break their contracts.
3. The current public school accountability system would end in 2026.
At the beginning of each school year, the Texas Education Agency issues ratings on an A-F scale for public schools and districts. The scores are meant to hold schools accountable and inform Texans about student performance.
If HB 1 becomes law, the current accountability system would end at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year.
The TEA would not be allowed to issue A-F scores for the 2022-23 school year, which have not yet been released due to widespread pushback and ongoing litigation.
The legislation would also create a commission to recommend improvements to the assessment and accountability system. The commission would consist of state lawmakers, public school educators and other Texans with “an interest in public education.”
4. The education savings account program would expand annually.
Under Buckley’s proposed education savings account program, parents would receive 75% of the average amount Texas public schools receive in per-student funding from state and local sources. The state would be required to determine that amount by Jan. 15 of each year.
Families could use the money to pay for private school tuition, books, tutoring, transportation and other education-related expenses. Home-schooled students could receive up to $1,000 per year.
Student participation in the education savings account program would vary by year:
- During the 2024-25 school year, 25,000 students would be eligible for the program.
- During the 2025-26 school year, 50,000 students would be eligible.
- During the 2026-27 school year, 75,000 students would be eligible.
- In 2027, the cap on eligibility would be removed.
The state has not released an estimate on how much HB 1 would cost each year. Buckley’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
5. The proposed bill differs from the Senate’s voucher plan.
HB 1 takes a different approach to education savings accounts than the Senate’s plan, which the upper chamber approved Oct. 12. The Senate proposed giving eligible families $8,000 per student to cover private school tuition and other expenses.
The Senate’s plan, by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, would set aside $500 million in taxpayer dollars, and roughly 60,000 students could participate. Buckley’s proposal does not designate a specific amount of funding for the program.
Both proposals would prioritize students with disabilities and low-income families. The Senate’s version limits how many students from certain income brackets could participate in the program, while the House’s bill does not.
It is unclear how HB 1 will fare in the House, where Democrats and rural Republicans have historically opposed any form of private school vouchers. Public schools would lose money if students leave districts for private schools, critics of the plan argue, because schools are funded by student attendance.
