AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Democrats want to pump $40 billion into the public school system.
The plan is all part of State Rep. Gina Hinojosa's "Fully Fund Our Future Act," which was filed Thursday. The Senate already approved a plan, but it's a fraction of what Democrats want to spend.
Texas ranks 43rd in the country when it comes to per-student funding, which Democrats call unacceptable.
State Rep. James Talarico, who now represents parts of Austin, worked as a middle school teacher in a classroom with 45 kids.
"I had kids sitting on the air conditioning unit in the richest country in human history, in one of the richest states in that rich country," Talarico said.
Democrats say Texas is facing a school funding emergency, which is why Hinojosa filed House Bill 177. It includes a $15,000 raise for teachers and a $5,500 raise for other school support staff. It would also increase the basic allotment or per-student funding by more than $2,700 dollars.
The bill also calls for $2 billion to be pumped into special education along with funding schools based on enrollment instead of attendance. Lastly, it has inflation built into future funding.
"I have come to learn from experts that Texas schools are funded $40 billion below the national average," Hinojosa said. "This piece of information is not just enlightening to me because it helps me understand my experience as a mother with kids in public schools."
Lawmakers in the Senate agree public schools need more money. Last week, the upper chamber passed its school finance bill, Senate Bill 2, by Republican State Sen. Brandon Creighton.
"The teacher retention payment for small districts those with less than 5,000 students will receive $10,000 per teacher, while larger districts will see an allocation of $3,000 per teacher," Creighton said. "With a $75 increase in the basic allotment, we're eliminating restrictions on its expenditure and the guardrails for how that money is used."
Democrats say the Senate plan does not even cover the cost of inflation since 2019 and that Texas needs to invest in its children.
"Why don't we give every Texas teacher a $15,000 dollar pay raise? Why don't we lower class sizes, hire more counselors, fund more programs for more students instead of subsidizing the private education of the wealthy few," Talarico said.
School finance is not on the special session agenda, which means if the House and Senate agree on a bill, they cannot send it to the governor unless he adds school finance to the agenda. Gov. Greg Abbott has said he will only add it if lawmakers pass a school voucher bill.