Texas state lawmakers Rep. John Smithee of District 86 and Representative-elect Caroline Fairly of District 87 gathered Thursday evening at Tascosa High School to discuss their legislative priorities for local school districts in the upcoming 89th legislative session. The event, hosted by Raise Your Hand Texas, provided an opportunity for students from the school’s debate team to pose questions to the representatives about key issues facing the state's education system. Topics ranged from teacher pay and funding for early education to standardized testing, inflation, and the ongoing debate over school vouchers.
Both lawmakers highlighted the importance of education in the upcoming session, with Rep. Smithee calling it “the biggest education session we’ve had in a long time.” The discussion centered on the urgent need for additional funding to support schools, particularly following the delayed distribution of $3.5 to $4 billion in appropriations from the 88th legislative session. These funds were tied up in a contentious debate over school vouchers but are now seen as critical for addressing the financial strain many school districts are facing due to inflation and rising costs.
“I expect a lot of money to come out of this session for our school districts,” Smithee said. “That funding got caught up in the voucher fight last year and didn’t get out the door, so I’m asking the governor to place it on call as an emergency item. If he approves that, we can get that money distributed quickly, within the first 60 days of the session.”
Rep. Fairly, who will be serving her first term in the Texas House, underscored the importance of ensuring that funding reaches the areas of greatest need, particularly in rural and underfunded districts. “I’ve spoken with several local school districts, and funding is at the top of everyone’s mind,” she said. “We need to make sure we dispatch adequate funding to our schools, especially to address inflation and rising costs.”
Teacher Pay: A Key Priority
Teacher compensation was another central issue discussed at the town hall. Both lawmakers emphasized that increasing teacher salaries is essential to ensure that Texas retains and attracts high-quality educators. The state has seen significant teacher shortages, particularly in rural areas, and many teachers are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living due to inflation.
Rep. Smithee, who has been a longtime advocate for higher teacher pay, explained that the financial pressures on teachers have only intensified in recent years. “Teachers are on a fixed income, and inflation has been tough on them,” he said. “This session, I hope we can make meaningful strides in improving teacher compensation. It's critical to both teacher retention and recruitment.”
Fairly agreed, stressing that Texas has a responsibility to support its educators. She also noted that addressing teacher pay would help improve retention rates and ensure that schools can continue to provide quality education to all students. “We need to make sure that teaching is an attractive profession again,” she said. “We can’t afford to lose our teachers to other industries.”
In addition to salary increases, Smithee proposed exploring new ways to support veteran teachers, particularly those nearing retirement, by creating financial options that would allow them to return to the classroom without sacrificing their pension benefits. This would help ease the teacher shortage crisis, especially in schools where experienced educators are most needed.
Addressing Teacher Shortages and Recruitment
Both Smithee and Fairly acknowledged that raising teacher salaries is just one part of the solution to the teacher shortage. They agreed that the state needs to explore more ways to recruit and retain teachers, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Fairly mentioned that lowering barriers to entry into the teaching profession could help bring in more educators, citing the possibility of streamlining certification processes and offering financial incentives for new teachers.
“We need to find ways to make teaching more attractive for people,” Fairly said. “If we can reduce some of the barriers to entry, we could attract more qualified candidates into the field.”
Smithee also suggested that the state could explore ways to allow retired teachers to return to the classroom without losing their pension benefits. “If there are retirees who want to come back and help fill in the gaps, we need to make it easier for them to do so,” he said.
School Vouchers and Education Savings Accounts
Another major point of discussion at the town hall was the controversial topic of school vouchers and Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), which allow parents to use public funds to pay for private school tuition. The issue of school vouchers has divided lawmakers, with many advocating for school choice options while others argue that vouchers divert critical funding away from public schools.
Rep. Smithee, a staunch opponent of school vouchers, reiterated his position that they are harmful to public schools, particularly those in rural districts. He voted against an amendment to HB 1 during the 88th legislative session that would have allowed the use of state funds for school vouchers, citing the lack of input from educators and parents.
“I’ve always voted against vouchers, and I may likely vote against them again this time,” Smithee said. “But I want to hear the input from educators, parents, and other stakeholders before I cast that vote.”
Fairly, who is new to the Texas House, acknowledged that while the voucher issue is contentious, she believes there is a higher likelihood of seeing movement on Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) in the upcoming session. “I think we’re likely to see more movement on ESAs, and I’m preparing for those conversations,” she said. She stressed, however, that any such legislation must balance parental choice with the needs of public schools and be carefully considered to avoid unintended consequences.
“We need to have conversations that are inclusive of all voices, especially those of educators and parents,” Fairly said.
Standardized Testing and Accountability
The discussion also touched on the future of standardized testing in Texas, particularly the STAAR exam and the “A through F” rating system for schools. Both Smithee and Fairly agreed that the current system is unpopular with students, parents, and educators and needs to be reevaluated.
“There is a general dislike of STAAR testing, and I think we’ve reached the point where we need to reconsider it,” Smithee said. “But we still need some way to measure student progress, so we’ll have to figure out what that looks like going forward.”
Fairly added that the overemphasis on standardized testing often fails to capture the full range of student achievement. “We need to move away from the overemphasis on testing and focus more on providing a well-rounded education,” she said. “Testing shouldn’t define everything. We should focus on students’ growth, their creativity, and their overall development.”
Both lawmakers indicated that they are open to discussions on how to transition away from the current system of testing and grading, with an eye toward improving student learning outcomes without relying so heavily on high-stakes assessments.
Early Education Funding and Expansion
Funding for early education was another key issue raised during the town hall. Both lawmakers expressed strong support for expanding full-day pre-kindergarten programs across the state. Fairly, in particular, expressed interest in understanding how full-day Pre-K funding could be implemented effectively, particularly in rural areas where such programs may be limited.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how we can support full-day Pre-K programs and make sure that funding reaches the right areas,” she said. “Early education is essential to setting students up for success, and we need to ensure that every child has access to quality programs.”
Rep. Smithee agreed that early education is critical to closing achievement gaps and ensuring long-term academic success. However, he noted that the amount of funding available for pre-K will depend on broader legislative priorities and budget negotiations. “The focus will be on making sure that schools can meet the needs of all students, from early education all the way through high school,” he said.
Censorship and Book Bans in Schools
The issue of censorship in schools also surfaced during the town hall. Smithee noted that while he had supported legislation aimed at banning certain books in public schools, he had concerns about the broad language used in these bills. He specifically pointed to medical textbooks and other educational materials that could be inadvertently restricted.
“I voted for the Book Ban Bill last time, but I do understand that the language is problematic in certain areas,” Smithee said. “We need to ensure that we’re not inadvertently restricting access to educational materials that are important for our students’ learning.”
Fairly made it clear that she supports efforts to keep inappropriate or sexually explicit materials out of schools, but she emphasized the need for careful consideration of the language in any bill that seeks to restrict books. “I don’t support the use of inappropriate or sexually explicit materials in our schools,” she said. “But I need to see the full language of any bill before I can make a decision on it.”
The Future of School Funding
Superintendent Doug Loomis of Amarillo Independent School District (AISD) also attended the event and raised concerns about the current school funding model. Loomis suggested that it may be time to revisit the system, which is based on Average Daily Attendance (ADA), and consider moving to a funding model based on student enrollment.
“Currently, districts are penalized for student absences, which often can be out of our control,” Loomis said. “A model based on enrollment would better reflect the true needs of our students.”
With education at the forefront of the legislative agenda for the upcoming session, Texas lawmakers are preparing to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the state’s public schools. As the session approaches, educators, parents, and students are hopeful that the discussions will lead to meaningful changes that will support teachers, students, and school districts across Texas.
