On a Monday in March, Nicolette Ardiente, a retired piano instructor aiming for a seat on the Northside Independent School District board, along with a busload of educators, traveled from San Antonio to the Texas state capitol in Austin. Their mission? To advocate for critical issues in public education, including funding and teacher pay, directly engaging with lawmakers.

Voices from the Classroom

Before departing, Ardiente expressed her concern about the lack of community input in legislative decisions affecting education. “For far too long, legislators have made bills without actual community input,” she noted, emphasizing the need for lawmakers to listen to those directly involved in education.

Gathering Strength in Numbers

Ardiente joined over 400 educators across Texas for Public Education Legislative Advocacy Day. This event, organized by state teachers’ unions, provided a platform for teachers to voice their concerns about public education. Among the advocates were 60 teachers from San Antonio, all there to discuss their needs and aspirations for the education system.

The day’s agenda included promoting the “Educator’s Bill of Rights,” a framework designed to address key issues affecting teachers, such as salary increases, enhanced working conditions, and improved classroom safety.

Key Legislative Discussions

As Texas lawmakers deliberate a myriad of proposals related to education, discussions on school vouchers were particularly prominent. Advocates voiced their opposition to proposed education savings accounts (ESAs) aimed at allowing families to use state funds for private school expenses. Teachers highlighted the significance of boosting the basic student allotment instead.

If instated, the ESA program could divert $1 billion in taxpayer money to support private education options for approximately 100,000 students. Bills in the Texas House and Senate, HB 3 and SB 2, are under consideration, each outlining distinct approaches to ESAs.

Concerns About Special Education Funding

Some educators, like Desiree Cervin, a teacher in San Antonio, raised alarms about the potential effects of ESAs on public education, particularly for students with special needs. Cervin, whose daughter benefits from vital dyslexia services, fears that the rollout of such programs could diminish essential resources in public schools.

Cervin’s sentiment is echoed in polling conducted by Unified for Texas Workers, revealing that 65% of surveyed voters oppose school vouchers. Furthermore, 86% stated they would reject vouchers if property taxes increased to support the program.

Interacting with Lawmakers

During their advocacy day, teachers organized into groups, meeting with their respective representatives to present their case against the proposed ESAs. While some lawmakers, like Rep. Trey Martinez-Fischer, are known for opposing vouchers, others demonstrated a lack of engagement or outright favoritism towards them, a point noted by advocates.

Ardiente commented on her encounters, mentioning that some representatives, including Rep. Mark Dorazio, appeared dismissive during their discussions. “We were talking to a staffer, and he walked right in and then ran back into his office,” she recounted, highlighting the challenges advocates face in being heard.

Funding for Public Education

Education funding is a pivotal topic in the ongoing legislative session. Governor Greg Abbott has designated teacher pay as an emergency matter, promising a historical level of funding for public education in Texas. Both houses of the legislature propose to allocate $4.85 billion for public schools, with various suggestions on how to distribute the funds effectively.

The Senate proposes increasing the Teacher Incentive Allotment, benefiting high-performing teachers, alongside a plan to offer $4,000 raises statewide. Meanwhile, the House is contemplating raising the basic student allotment from $6,160 to $6,380, recommending that at least 40% of these funds be reserved for raises for educators and district staff.

Despite the proposed increases, advocates argue that such measures are insufficient. The Texas American Federation of Teachers recommends a $1,386 increase to the basic allotment, reflecting inflationary trends over the past five years.