AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Every teacher in Texas would get a $5,000 raise under a spending bill approved by the state Senate, but any pay hike still has a long path to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.
The budget bill passed Tuesday includes billions of new dollars for public schools in Texas. But the Senate and House - which are both controlled by Republicans - must now work out differences over how much to give teachers.
Republican leaders have promised more education funding after years of cost-cutting. Other states are also showing a new commitment to classrooms after teacher strikes in West Virginia last year began pressuring lawmakers.
The total price tag of the Senate’s state budget is roughly $248 billion. The legislative session ends May 27.
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