Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued this statement today following the unanimous passage of Senate Bill 26, Increasing Teacher Pay, by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe:

“As the husband of a long-time schoolteacher, the son-in-law of a teacher, and the father-in-law of a teacher, I understand the profound impact that a great educator has on a child’s development. I believe teaching is a profession and not just a job, and teachers should be paid accordingly. Since my arrival in the Texas Senate, I have prioritized teacher pay increases to reflect the sentiment expressed in Matthew 6:21: “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

“Today, the Texas Senate passed SB 26 to allocate more state funding for teacher salaries. SB 26 aims to elevate the teaching profession in Texas by establishing a strong compensation framework to reward teachers for their continued commitment to Texas students and communities through retention pay increases, with nearly 80% of teachers eligible.

“SB 26 will provide experienced teachers in urban and suburban districts raises between $2,500 and $5,500. It aims to close the pay gap between urban and suburban teachers and rural teachers, providing raises up to $10,000 for rural teachers. Additionally, SB 26 expands the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) to enable more public schools and teachers to participate, providing a genuine pathway for teachers to earn six-figure salaries.

“I thank Sen. Creighton for his tireless work on SB 26 and the entire Senate for sharing my continued commitment to supporting our teachers, who give so much for Texas’ future.”

Senate Bill 26, by Senator Brandon Creighton, establishes a new teacher retention allotment to provide pay increases for teachers. SB 26 addresses the pay gap between urban and suburban teachers and rural teachers. Teachers with three to four years of experience in suburban and urban school districts (with 5,001 or more students enrolled) will receive pay increases of $2,500 per year, while teachers with five or more years of experience will receive a pay increase of $5,500 per year. Teachers with three to four years of experience in rural districts (with 5,000 or less students enrolled) will receive pay increases of $5,000 per year, while teachers with five or more years of experience will receive a pay increase of $10,000 per year. Almost 80% of all Texas teachers are eligible for a permanent pay increase through the school finance formula.

SB 26 also allows teachers to enroll their children in their school’s prekindergarten program, if offered, for free.