Senator Eliot Shapleigh - El Paso, Texas

In H.B. 1, teachers received a $2,000 pay raise, and the key element of school finance, equity, survived a three year attack. A coalition of Senators representing property-poor school districts from all over the state (twelve Democrats and six Republicans) crafted and passed a new ‘equity’ framework based on the property-wealth of the Austin Independent School District (Austin ISD). Austin ISD is one of the wealthiest districts in the state as defined by property-wealth and one of the poorest districts as defined by student income. Their property wealth per student is over $480,000 (compared to $150,000 in the El Paso Independent School District), yet more than 60 percent of their students qualify for the federal free-and-reduced lunch program.

In the bill, all property-poor districts and the 88 percent of the Texas school children they educate are now on a track to achieve the same money as each Austin child gets. Without a doubt, equity is the most important aspect of any school finance bill. Since the day the Robin Hood suit was filed, ‘equity’ has taken us years to achieve. We fought too hard and for too long to give it up this session. Now, we need to hold onto it next session. Because of better equity formulas that I have long championed and helped negotiate in H.B. 1 and the teacher pay raise of $2000, I voted for H.B. 1. In El Paso, H.B. 1 means more money for each student, for certified teachers, better technology, and the rigorous courses that lead to good jobs.

There is still work to be done to improve teacher pay and benefits. Even with the $2,000 salary increase in H.B. 1, average teacher salaries in Texas are $4,000 less than the national average. When compared to earnings in the private sector, teacher salaries in Texas were 50th in the nation in 2003-04. Low salaries affect school districts abilities to attract and retain educated and talented people to the teaching profession. The $2,000 salary increase in H.B. 1 was a small step toward providing the most essential piece of our children's education -- a motivated, certified teacher. But with a $8.2 billion surplus and $10 billion in new tax money, we must continue to do better in order to truly invest in our children.

Major Provisions of H.B. 1

* $2,000 teacher pay raise;

* Invests more in high schools with a new High School

* Allotment of $275 per student;

* Maintains the principles of equity by sending money through the equalized system;

* Provides for performance pay to reward schools with disadvantaged students that demonstrate the greatest gains in student performance;

* Reduces school property taxes to $1.33 next year and down to $1.00 the following year;

* Maintains the $500 health care stipend for the 3000,000 public school support personnel;

* Restores the proclamation and issuance of math textbooks;

* Provides that all military children qualify for free, state pre-kindergarten;

* Creates dual credits so high school graduates can obtain up to 12 hours of college credit for work done in high school; and

* Streamlines courses from elementary through college so students get the tough courses they need to succeed.