“Most Comprehensive and Impactful School Finance Reform Ever Proposed in Texas”

AUSTIN, Texas — Following the filing of House Bill 2, the Texas House’s landmark public school finance proposal by Representative Brad Buckley, education leaders and advocacy groups from across the state are voicing their strong support for the House’s historic public school investment package.

House Bill 2, when taken together with the state budget and other priority education legislation, proposes over $9 billion in new, targeted funding for Texas classrooms. This record investment in Texas classrooms is inspiring praise from stakeholders who see HB 2 as a transformative step toward enhancing opportunities for all students, including those in rural, small, and midsize districts.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT THE HOUSE’S HISTORIC SCHOOL FUNDING LEGISLATION:

“Today, the Texas House introduced House Bill 2, a transformative and visionary school finance bill that has the potential to redefine public education across our great state. This legislation is, without question, the most comprehensive and impactful school finance reform ever proposed in Texas. House Bill 2 demonstrates an unwavering commitment to Texas students by making strategic, long-overdue investments in public schools. It provides critical flexibility for all districts, ensures substantial investment in the basic allotment, and—most importantly for rural communities—delivers game-changing support through increased funding for the small school and midsize school allotments. Thank you, Speaker Burrows and Chairman Buckley.” —Randy Willis, Texas Association of Rural Schools

“The Commit Partnership commends the Texas House of Representatives for its historic commitment to Texas students through substantial investments in public education in House Bill 2 by Chairman Brad Buckley. These investments represent a transformative step forward, with targeted, evidence-based strategies designed to improve student achievement, support classroom instruction, and strengthen the future of our state.” —Commit Partnership

“Investing $8 billion in our public education system through HB 2 is not just a commitment to our students; it’s a promise to the future of Texas. Under Chairman Buckley’s leadership, we are taking bold steps to ensure every child has access to the resources they need to thrive. Together, we are laying the foundation for a stronger, more equitable education system that empowers our communities and fosters the leaders of tomorrow.” —Benny Soileau, Texas Association of Community Schools, Superintendent, Huffman ISD

“The Texas School Alliance appreciates the Texas House’s efforts to begin putting more dollars into public schools, which have endured stagnant funding and high inflation over the past six years. HB 2 is an important first step in helping Texas schools meet the needs of their students and the expectations of parents and taxpayers—many of whom are deeply concerned about the impact of funding shortages on their neighborhood schools. We look forward to working with Chairman Buckley, the House Public Education Committee, and Speaker’s Office to ensure the state of Texas funds its public schools at the level required to provide a great education to every Texas student.” —Marty Crawford, Texas School Alliance, President, and Superintendent, Tyler ISD

“We are pleased Chairman Buckley and the Legislature are renewing their commitment to increases to state compensatory education funding weights for at-risk students. These funds will help districts in the Houston region continue to provide much needed services to support these students and improve outcomes.” —Taylor Landin, Greater Houston Partnership

“House Bill 2 is a generationally impactful investment in public education. It strengthens the teacher workforce through pay raises and invests in quality certification pathways. It also lays out a clear path to six-figure salaries for more of the state’s most effective teachers, while also investing billions in Texas’s most vulnerable students. It is evident from this bill that the Texas House is focused on investing deeply in public schools, teachers, and students.” —Texas 2036

“We are encouraged by the commitment of House leadership to fund public schools. We look forward to assisting Chairman Buckley in his efforts to assist rural, small, and midsize districts across the state.” —Bill Tarleton, Texas Rural Education Association

“House Bill 2 (HB 2) represents a historic step forward for the Texas teaching workforce, introducing key incentives to attract and retain high-quality educators. By advancing strategic reforms in educator preparation, compensation, and working conditions, HB 2 strengthens the teaching profession and will foster long-term teacher retention. Critically, the bill provides for dedicated funding for teacher candidates, school districts, and high-quality preparation programs, helping to significantly reduce our state’s reliance on uncertified teachers—currently employed at historically high rates. Additionally, HB 2 expands strategic compensation opportunities by enhancing the Teacher Incentive Allotment, paving the way for more teachers to earn the competitive salaries they deserve. These targeted investments will not only improve teacher quality but also drive meaningful and lasting improvements in student learning outcomes.” —Educate Texas

“We are thrilled to see the potential increase to the midsize allotment in HB 2. This coupled with other funding increases will have an enormous impact on students in rural, small and midsize schools. It is encouraging to see this level of commitment to public education. Our small and midsize schools are the heartbeat of communities across this great state. We look forward to working with Chairman Buckley, Speaker Burrows and the members of the Texas House and Senate to get this important legislation across the finish line.” —Joe Kucera, Texas Association of Midsize Schools, Superintendent, Lorena ISD

“We are encouraged by what we see in House Bill 2. While we are still analyzing the full impact of this bill, it is clear there is a commitment to providing needed additional resources to school districts throughout the state. Especially encouraging is the funding earmarked for special education, compensatory education, and fine arts. We are appreciative of the House leadership in introducing House Bill 2.” —Diana Sayavedra, Texas Urban Council of Superintendents, Chair

“The Texas Bishops have long supported increased funding for public schools as the vast majority of Texas children attend public schools—which are vital for the success of our state. We thank Speaker Burrows and Chairman Buckley for the robust additional funding in HB 2 and for their commitment and support for public education and the hard-working teachers who devote their lives to the children of Texas.” —Jennifer Allmon, Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops, Executive Director

“The Texas Music Educators Association is so thankful for the establishment of a dedicated fine arts funding allotment in House Bill 2, recognizing the impact of arts education as part of a well-rounded education. This landmark legislation will provide critical support for the 1.9 million Texas children engaged in public school fine arts programs, fostering essential workforce skills like critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and personal responsibility. We are grateful to Speaker Dustin Burrows and Chairman Brad Buckley for their unwavering commitment to arts education and this historic investment in Texas students.” —Joe Muñoz, Texas Music Educators Association, Executive Director, and Texas Arts Education Campaign, Co-Chair

“Through House Bill 2, Speaker Burrows and Chairman Buckley are prioritizing policies that will ensure the teaching profession is attractive to future teachers and effective for students. By providing incentives for hands-on teacher preparation for new teachers and increasing compensation and support, HB 2 creates a comprehensive framework to provide the teacher workforce our students deserve.” —Ryan Franklin, Philanthropy Advocates, Managing Director of Policy and Advocacy

“We appreciate Chairman Buckley including children with disabilities in eligibility for Texas public pre-k in House Bill 2, a vital step to ensure more children have access to enriching early learning opportunities.” —Texans Care for Children

“We appreciate the much needed increase in the BA and the SCE weight increase.” —Greg Smith, Fast Growth School Coalition