{"id":17667,"date":"2025-07-02T09:25:18","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T13:25:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/?p=17667"},"modified":"2025-07-16T20:50:51","modified_gmt":"2025-07-17T00:50:51","slug":"texas-house-bill-2-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/news-blog\/texas-house-bill-2-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Texas House Bill 2: What Educators Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In June 2025, Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 2 (HB 2) into law, committing $8.5 billion in new funding to public schools and $4 billion for teacher and support staff pay raises. It\u2019s a substantial investment aimed at strengthening the educator pipeline, expanding student support services, and helping districts keep up with rising costs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As Governor Abbott stated at the signing ceremony, \u201c[HB 2] ensures that our schools are funded better than ever\u2026teacher pay and student funding are at all-time highs, reading and math performance will improve, and students will be better prepared for the workforce\u201d (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/gov.texas.gov\/news\/post\/governor-abbott-signs-record-public-education-funding-teacher-pay-raise-into-law\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">source<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, what exactly is in the bill, and what should district leaders be thinking about next?<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Why HB 2 Was Introduced<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HB 2 is a direct response to persistent challenges in Texas education, including flat per-student funding since 2019, rising inflation, and a significant teacher shortage. Informed by recommendations from the state\u2019s Teacher Vacancy Task Force, the bill focuses on increasing compensation, supporting teacher preparation, and funding core priorities like <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">special education and early literacy.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Signed into law:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> June 4, 2025<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Goes into effect:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 2025\u201326 school year<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>What\u2019s in the Bill? A Closer Look at the Funding Increases<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>Teacher and Staff Compensation<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HB 2 introduces new funding streams through the Teacher Retention Allotment (TRA) and Support Staff Retention Allotment (SSRA), with differentiated compensation based on experience and district size:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Up to $8,000 for teachers with 5+ years of experience in small districts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Up to $5,000 in larger districts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also expands the <a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/news-blog\/maximize-texas-teacher-incentive-allotment\/\">Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA)<\/a>, enabling more educators to benefit from performance-based pay.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Special Education<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased funding helps districts serve students with disabilities through staffing, training, and service delivery improvements\u2014providing schools with tools to address <a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/news-blog\/ai-iep-goal-generator\/\">IEP needs<\/a> and compliance gaps.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Career and Technical Education (CTE)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additional funding supports the growth of workforce-focused programs, including equipment upgrades, teacher stipends, and new CTE course offerings.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Teacher Preparation and Certification<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Districts can now access funding to reimburse certification fees and support preparation programs\u2014reducing barriers for those entering the profession and strengthening local pipelines.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Early Literacy and Numeracy<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bill targets foundational skills in reading and math, especially in early grades, aligning with state goals to improve long-term academic outcomes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Funding for Small and Rural Schools<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rural districts with limited tax bases receive some of the largest per-student increases, helping level the playing field in staffing, services, and instruction.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Charter School Allotments<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Open-enrollment <a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/solutions\/charter-schools\/\">charter schools<\/a> are eligible for HB 2\u2019s funding models, including TRA and SSRA, ensuring broader access to compensation supports.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Campus Safety Upgrades<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Districts can apply HB 2 funds toward school safety compliance, including facility improvements and security training.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Increased Base Funding<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bill increases the basic allotment, the per-student base funding, by $55. While appreciated, this falls well short of the $395 originally proposed and the $1,300+ many district leaders cite as necessary to keep up with inflation and cost-of-living increases.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Which Districts Benefit the Most &#8211; and the Least<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While all districts receive increased funding, the impact varies widely. Smaller districts with low enrollment often see the largest per-student increases, while larger or urban districts may receive smaller proportional gains.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Top 10 Districts by Total Operational Funding Increase<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These districts are seeing the largest dollar increases in operational (M&amp;O) funding, gains that allow for significant improvements in staffing, programming, and student support:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seagraves ISD \u2013 $2.82M<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Roosevelt ISD \u2013 $2.15M<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Van Vleck ISD \u2013 $1.97M<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nocona ISD \u2013 $1.91M<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eastland ISD \u2013 $1.86M<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New Boston ISD \u2013 $1.84M<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tidehaven ISD \u2013 $1.70M<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">George West ISD \u2013 $1.69M<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CISD (Unspecified) \u2013 $1.68M<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sabine Pass ISD \u2013 $1.64M<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><b>Bottom 10 Districts by Total Operational Funding Increase<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These districts are seeing the smallest overall increases\u2014though still positive. Many are extremely small and operate with limited enrollment, which can constrain the overall funding growth:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leary ISD \u2013 $84K<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Divide ISD \u2013 $103K<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">San Vicente ISD \u2013 $105K<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Westhoff ISD \u2013 $111K<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">La Gloria ISD \u2013 $137K<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Excelsior ISD \u2013 $138K<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dew ISD \u2013 $143K<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Morgan Mill ISD \u2013 $143K<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Walnut Bend ISD \u2013 $145K<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grandview-Hopkins ISD \u2013 $149K<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><b>Top 10 Districts by Per-Student Funding Increase<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smaller, rural districts see the biggest impact when measured per student, often due to a low enrollment base. This funding goes further in these communities, helping to close long-standing equity gaps:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">San Vicente ISD \u2013 $29,267<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Valentine ISD \u2013 $11,749<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loop ISD \u2013 $6,638<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Divide ISD \u2013 $6,348<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Seagraves ISD \u2013 $6,074<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sabine Pass ISD \u2013 $5,255<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Malone ISD \u2013 $4,439<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hubbard ISD \u2013 $4,435<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Benavides ISD \u2013 $4,351<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vysehrad ISD \u2013 $4,328<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><b>Bottom 10 Districts by Per-Student Funding Increase<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These districts are receiving the lowest increases per student. While their overall funding may be stable, the smaller per-student growth can present challenges when trying to address inflation or meet staffing needs:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lometa ISD \u2013 $464<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Garner ISD \u2013 $494<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leary ISD \u2013 $562<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dew ISD \u2013 $595<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Slidell ISD \u2013 $608<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CISD (Unspecified) \u2013 $643<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fort Davis ISD \u2013 $836<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dawson ISD \u2013 $859<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Burkeville ISD \u2013 $869<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ezzell ISD \u2013 $906<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><b>How Progress Learning Helps Schools Make the Most of HB 2<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HB 2 brings much-needed funding, but maximizing its impact requires the right tools. Progress Learning helps districts deliver on key priorities outlined in the legislation:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/solutions\/assessment-tool-for-teachers\/\"><b>Formative and summative assessments<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that align with TEKS and STAAR for <a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/schools-districts\/texas\/elementary-school\/\">elementary<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/schools-districts\/texas\/middle-school\/\">middle<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/schools-districts\/texas\/high-school\/\">high school<\/a> students.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/solutions\/independent-practice-tool\/\"><b>Custom study plans<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/solutions\/online-remediation-platform\/\"><b>quick-click remediation<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, supporting special education, early literacy, and targeted interventions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/our-products\/liftoff-adaptive-intervention-2-8\/\"><b>Liftoff adaptive intervention<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, now integrated with NWEA MAP for reading, math, and science.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/our-products\/pricing\/\"><b>Flat-rate pricing<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by campus, not per student\u2014ideal for larger schools managing growth.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Final Thoughts<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">House Bill 2 is a significant step forward for Texas education. Now, the work shifts to implementation\u2014and to ensuring these funds directly support student growth, teacher retention, and instructional equity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At Progress Learning, we\u2019re proud to partner with Texas schools and districts as they put HB 2 into action.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Stay up to date with changes in Texas schools<\/b><\/p>\n<script charset=\"utf-8\" type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/js.hsforms.net\/forms\/embed\/v2.js\"><\/script>\r\n<script>\r\n\thbspt.forms.create({\r\n\t\tregion: \"na1\",\r\n\t\tportalId: \"23272034\",\r\n\t\tformId: \"c970216b-3a79-4ad1-a9d7-920aea441c78\"\r\n\t});\r\n<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In June 2025, Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 2 (HB 2) into law, committing $8.5 billion in new funding to public schools and $4 billion for teacher and support staff pay raises. It\u2019s a substantial investment aimed at strengthening the educator pipeline, expanding student support services, and helping districts keep up with rising costs. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":17668,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Texas schools are getting a historic $8.5B boost thanks to #HB2 \ud83d\udcc8\ud83d\udcb0 From teacher pay to early literacy, here\u2019s what district leaders need to know\u2014and how to make every dollar count. #TXed #SchoolFunding","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[299],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-texas"],"acf":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Blog-Texas-House-Bill-2-What-Educators-Need-to-Know.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17667","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17667"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17667\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17740,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17667\/revisions\/17740"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}