NUMBER TO KNOW That’s how much the Texas Senate has set aside to expand access to mental health services and construct new mental health facilities across Texas. $2.3B UPDATES FROM LOCAL LEGISLATORS REP. DONNA HOWARD Austin • Democrat • Elected: 2006 HOUSE BILL 300 This bill would eliminate sales taxes on certain items, also known as the “pink tax.” These include period products and infant care and maternity supplies. It was approved by the Texas House in March and sent to the Senate Finance Committee in early May. REP. JAMES TALARICO Round Rock • Democrat • Elected: 2018 HOUSE BILL 2063 The bill would criminalize leaving animals unattended at boarding facilities— including veterinary medicine clinics and other facilities that provide boarding and related services to dogs or cats—if the animals’ owners did not provide informed consent. It was sent to the governor May 18.
House passes bills to improve teacher retention and increase school funding
KEEPING STAFF The Texas Teacher Vacancy Task Force issued a report in February. House Bills 11 and 100, which passed April 27 in the Texas House, respond to the task force’s recommendations:
BY HANNAH NORTON
The minimum salary for a beginning Texas teacher is $33,660 for the 2022- 23 school year, according to the Texas Education Agency. HB 100 also adjusts the basic allotment—or how much state money schools receive per student—by $140 over the next two school years. The basic allotment is set at $6,160. It would go up to $6,250 during the 2023- 24 school year and $6,300 in 2024-25. The Texas Education Agency in March 2022 reported teacher depar- ture rates to be 11.57%. That rate is the highest it’s been since the agency started collecting data beginning in the 2007-08 school year. “House Bill 100 is a historic bill that is infusing an estimated $4.5 billion into public education while making policy shifts that will support critical increases in teacher pay and greater predictability,” King said. Both bills are now headed to the Texas Senate.
In an attempt to reduce the high rate of turnover among public and charter school staff, the Texas House passed two bills April 27 that are aimed at increasing school funding and provid- ing more support for teachers. House Bill 11, by Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, would provide additional funding for teacher residency and mentorship programs, which help aspiring and early-career teachers. The proposal also increases the Teacher Incentive Allotment, a program designed in 2019 to give “outstanding” teachers added pay. “This bill ultimately provides ... an opportunity for all of our schools—all five and a half million students in Texas to get a better quality educa- tion,” Dutton said. HB 100, by Rep. Ken King, R-Ca- nadian, would raise the minimum salaries for teachers, librarians, nurses and counselors based on experience.
Raise overall teacher compensation
Give teachers additional benefits and support
Increase help for special education teachers
Improve training for aspiring teachers
Expand teacher mentor- ship programs
Increase access to high- quality teaching materials
Extend teacher planning periods
Provide additional sup- port for staff
SOURCE: TEXAS TEACHER VACANCY TASK FORCE AND TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN - DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION • MAY 2023
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