Senate Bill 9 Is No Teacher Bill of Rights

On Thursday, the Texas Senate voted 22-9 to pass Senate Bill (SB) 9 by Senate Education Committee Chairman Brandon Creighton (R–Conroe). Dubbed the “Teacher Bill of Rights”—and touted as a counterpart to the voucher-containing SB 8, the “Parental Bill of Rights”—SB 9 is anything but positive for classroom teachers and the countless other education professionals and support staff serving the state’s 5.4 million public school students.
 
"Providing a one-time $2,000 stipend to some classroom teachers at a time when we are experiencing historic inflation and the state has a historic budget surplus will not address the critical recruitment and retention challenges districts across the state are experiencing,” ATPE Executive Director Shannon Holmes said. “Many educators, including school librarians, counselors, and nurses, wouldn't even receive the stipend. We believe a $10,000 across-the-board raise for educators is both achievable and necessary.
 
"There are also huge tradeoffs in the bill for such a disappointingly low stipend, including changes that will negatively affect educators' working conditions. The voices of Texas educators are missing in this so-called ‘bill of rights.’
 
“We are grateful to the nine senators who stood strong and asked for better for Texas educators. We will continue educating the remaining members of the Legislature about the solutions that will improve our state’s ability to recruit and retain educators.”