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88TH TEXAS LEGISLATURE

Teacher salaries, school funding still undetermined in final days of session

The legislative session ends Monday, and extra funding for public schools and teacher pay increases is still undetermined. With a couple of key deadlines approaching, fast action is necessary if the House and Senate are to come to agreement on school finance and teacher pay issues. It is entirely possible that the session will end without a raise for teachers.

On Thursday, a conference committee released its report on the state budget. HB 1 includes up to $5 billion in potential new funding for education, but that funding is dependent on the passage of other bills. Click here to read more.

Disagreements over school vouchers have put school funding and teacher salaries in jeopardy. The House allowed SB 9 to die this week after the Senate tied education savings accounts to HB 100 earlier in the week.

The House rejected the Senate's changes and sent HB 100 to conference committee to work out differences. Several other major bills, including a TRS benefit increase, are also pending. Click here to see where things stand.

As work continues through the weekend ahead of Monday's final gavel, we encourage you to contact your House and Senate members to ask their support for increased school funding, including a significant pay increase for teachers and other school employees, without a voucher plan. Click here to find contact info for your Texas House and Texas Senate representatives.

And check our Capitol Updates webpage for the latest news from Austin. We’ll update it throughout the weekend as actions are taken on the budget, teacher salaries, TRS benefits, and more.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Secretary sues district, claims it violated Whistleblower Act

A school secretary sued her employer school district, alleging that it violated the Texas Whistleblower Act when it terminated her employment after learning about mismanagement of school funds. The secretary cooperated with a police investigation into missing money, and a district audit revealed the secretary and the campus principal failed to comply with district policy regarding student fundraisers for several years.

The district requested that the lawsuit be dismissed and the court denied that motion. The school district appealed. Click here to read more.

OTHER NEWS

Surgeon general: Social media can harm youth mental health

The U.S. surgeon general is calling for tech companies and lawmakers to take “immediate action” to protect children's mental health on social media. The call comes after a national survey by the CDC sounded a new alarm about teens in crisis. It shows nearly 30% of teenage girls said they considered dying by suicide, and three out of five girls said they felt persistently sad or hopeless. 

“Our children and adolescents don’t have the luxury of waiting years until we know the full extent of social media’s impact,” Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said Tuesday. “Their childhoods and development are happening now.”

Click here for 8 tips for parents and kids on social media use.

NASA and Education Department work to boost STEM in schools

NASA and the U.S. Department of Education signed a memorandum of understanding this week to strengthen collaboration between the two agencies, including efforts to increase access to high-quality STEM and space education to students and schools.

Collaborations include the development of an agreement to provide NASA STEM content and technical assistance for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program, which funds after-school programs. NASA also provides content for USDE’s YOU Belong in STEM initiative and Your Place in Space student challenge. Click here to learn more.

Comptroller reminds families of 529 College Savings Plans

May 29 is 529 College Savings Day, and Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar urges families to save for their children’s higher education expenses.

“As we come to the end of another school year, all of us with school-age children are reminded just how fast the time flies," Hegar said. "It's also a reminder that now is the perfect time to start saving for college by opening a 529 account, or even contributing to an existing plan.”

Click here to learn more about the state's 529 plans.

Plan your summer adventure and save with TCTA discounts

As you make plans for summer fun, be sure to check out TCTA's cost-saving programs for discounts on hotels, rental cars, air fare, cruises, amusement parks, zoos, Schlitterbahn, movie theaters, concerts, professional sports, museums and more.

• Online enrollment for the 2023-24 school year is open. Renew your membership and invite your colleagues to join TCTA today!
• Memorial Day is Monday, May 29. TCTA Headquarters will be closed.
• May 29 is the last day of the Texas Legislature's regular session.
• The TRS Board of Trustees meets Tuesday, May 30, in Austin. The agenda includes setting TRS-ActiveCare rates for 2023-24.