Gov. Abbott, TEA Issue Report Showing Teacher Pay Raises For 2019-2020 School Year

AUSTIN- Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) today released a report showing significant pay raises for Texas teachers for the 2019-2020 academic year as a result of House Bill 3 (HB 3).

Statewide, Texas teachers who have more than 5 years of experience received an average pay raise of over $5,200, while teachers who have been working up to five years received an average pay raise of more than $3,800.

It is worth noting that the pay increases are averages of all teacher raises in Texas; individual raises vary.

The pay raises are part of a $1.1 billion annual investment in additional compensation that started last year for Texas teachers, counselors, librarians, and school nurses.

“Thanks to the historic legislation we passed last session, Texas teachers are already seeing a significant increase in their pay,” said Governor Abbott. “When Texas students graduate, we want them to receive more than a diploma — but also the knowledge and skills they need to excel in college or a career. Thank you to Chairman Larry Taylor and Chairman Dan Huberty for leading the way on this critical issue, and thank you to Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Dennis Bonnen, and members of the Legislature who supported this bill. Their work is delivering meaningful results for Texas students and teachers, and helping our state recruit and retain the very best educators. The State of Texas will continue to enhance our education system and provide a quality education for every Texas student, regardless of zip code.”

These pay raises are a result of HB 3, which the Governor signed into law during the 86th Legislative Session.

HB 3 created an incentive pay program for teachers to be on a path to reach six-figure salaries, added career, college, and military readiness bonuses for school districts, funded full-day prekindergarten for students in poverty, and required all elementary school principals and teachers in kindergarten through third grade be trained on science-based reading instruction by 2021.

“Coming from a long line of teachers and knowing how just one teacher changed the course of my life, it was critical that we compensate teachers as professionals.  I was proud to be a part of this historic accomplishment and look forward to continuing funding teachers and their peers so that they not only want to stay in the classroom but stay in the profession,” said House Committee on Public Education Chairman Dan Huberty.

The bill also created a student-focused formula structure, where the needs of a child – not the child’s zip code – determine funding allocation.

Additionally, the bill buys down property tax rates by an average of 8 cents in 2020 and implements a 2.5% property tax cap starting in 2021, which will result in a cumulative average tax rate reduction of 12 cents this biennium.

HB 3 provided an increase of $2.7 billion in annual net funding for public education and school district budgets.

A link to each Local Education Agency’s (LEAs) report to the Legislature can be found on the TEA website.

View the report.