Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick: Statement on the Passage of Senate Bill 2 – Teacher Pay Raise and School Funding Increases

“In 2023, the Texas Senate has passed bills that increase public education funding by 30%.”

AUSTIN - Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the Texas Senate’s 30-1 passage of Senate Bill 2, School Finance and Supplemental Payments for Teachers by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston:

“As the husband of a long-time schoolteacher, the son-in-law of a teacher and father-in-law of a teacher, I know the impact of a great teacher on the development of a child. From the moment I arrived in the Texas Senate, improving public education has been one of my top goals.

“Under my leadership in 2019, the Senate paved the way to significant improvements in the way we pay our teachers. The Senate’s passage of SB 2 today will drive more dollars toward teacher pay and elevates the teaching profession in Texas with a robust compensation framework that rewards teachers for their work. The success of our teachers is critical for a brighter future for our children.

“From my travels across the state last year, I learned that teacher salaries in rural school districts have lagged behind teachers in urban districts. SB 2 will restore parity between them by providing a much-needed $10,000 raise for our rural teachers to close the pay gap and a $3,000 raise for our urban teachers.

“Parents should not have to worry about their students’ safety when they send them to school. Protecting our children, teachers, and staff in our schools is of paramount importance and, accordingly, the Senate’s passage of SB 2 will double both the per-student and per-campus school safety allotments.