Texas Senate Advances Teacher Pay Bill with Controversial Voucher Program

The Texas Senate Committee on Public Education has advanced a bill that would increase teacher pay and create an education savings account program to the full Senate for a vote. The bill would increase the per-pupil allotment for public schools by $50 and increase the minimum salary schedule for teachers. However, the addition of an education savings account program that would allow parents to redirect up to $8,000 to private school tuition has raised concerns about the inclusion of school vouchers. The Texas legislature has yet to pass a bill that would address the growing shortage of teachers in Texas public schools.