- An average $1,000 pay raise statewide, with an $800 minimum
- An escalator that ties education funding to rising property tax revenues
- Reduced focus on state achievement tests as the major criterion for promotion in grad 3.
Waves of messages from members and their contributions to the Texas AFT political action fund supported our legislative team at the Capitol, helping block measures like vouchers for private schools that would have seriously harmed public education.
But state lawmakers left a lot undone. The 2009 legislature began with upwards of $25 billion available to improve public education, children’s health and other public services. Yet state leaders and majorities in the House and Senate managed to minimize the impact of the federal stimulus money, using it to supplant rather than supplement state revenue. Rising costs, a shrinking economy and state leaders’ failure to use the resources they had will squeeze schools hard again this year.
The picture would be much darker were it not for $2.25 billion in additional federal stimulus aid that will go directly to school districts. Texas AFT’s national affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers, played a key role in getting the stimulus money dedicated to education.
In spite of these obstacles, thanks to hard work and educators like you, Texas AFT continues to grow. Times are changing as more and more teachers and school staff turn to Texas AFT and continue to challenge the status quo in Austin. Join us today.
Learn more about other education-related bills in the 2009 legislative session by downloading our end-of-year report. Click here to download.
