Proposed Bill Would Increase Pay for Texas Teachers Based on Merit

AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF) – A bill presented in the Texas House of Representatives would reward good teachers with higher pay.
Representative Matt Shaheen proposed the legislation and said teacher pay raises in Texas have historically been based on tenure. He feels teacher pay should instead be determined on merit.

“If you’re a great teacher producing great results and loving on those children you’re going to make more than your average teacher,” said Rep. Shaheen. “We want to reward those great teachers who are having an impact on their students.”

Shaheen proposes in HB 1947 that the pay raises come out of recently increased funding for education in Texas.

“We’re doing a significant increase because we’re trying to provide some property tax relief at the same time,” Rep. Shaheen said. “So there’s a significant infusion of education dollars by the state legislature and a portion of that would go toward incentive based pay.”

Shaheen believes the incentives would both reward and encourage educators.