Whopping $3 billion to be injected into public education

Schools to get increased funding for teacher hiring, facilities in latest budget

State legislators have come together in bipartisan support to commit billions to shore up education funding. The latest numbers from the Texas House of Representatives adds even more money onto the Senate’s earlier proposed budget, all totaling a $3 billion injection into Texas schools in place for this upcoming school year. House budget chief, Rep. Pitts, hasn’t ruled out even increasing the budget further to fully “restore public education funding.”

These latest budget numbers show that schools will finally have the money they need to fully staff their classrooms. It’s more money than many people expected and it’s seen as a show of confidence and support to Texas teachers and students.

“This all comes in good timing,” explains Lindsay Suhor, Assistant Director of Business Development at Texas Teachers. “This means that school districts can now hire teachers that they have needed for the last 2 years. There should be a teacher hiring boom coming this summer to fill that pent up demand.”

Many in Texas have predicted that the state would begin to reverse the previous funding cuts this legislative session. The booming Texas economy is producing record revenues to the state treasury which is now being directed to help schools recoup the billions cut two years ago. That reduced funding led to a reduction in overall hiring and has developed a cumulating demand for teachers. This demand is estimated to be in the many, many thousands. This need for teachers comes on top of the tremendous population increases in the state which brings over 80,000 new students into Texas schools each year.

Schools will begin hiring now for their August placements.

State looks to restore funding for education, teacher hiring

In what is a reversal of the earlier cuts to Texas schools, the state is now seeking to provide billions in new funding to Texas' schools and to the hiring of new teachers. The last legislative session saw some cuts, now looking to be restored with the fortunes of the booming Texas economy. Texas leads the nation in economic strength and is a magnet for US migration causing a population explosion that is expected to continue for decades. Read More

Recession Over; Districts Once Again Hiring Thousands of Teachers

It’s official: the worst of the economic downturn in education is over, and we’ve turned the corner with gusto. So far this summer, districts have been hiring teachers at rates not seen since before the recession. There are now thousands of vacancies, and once again, shortages for teachers in many areas.

The number of teachers hired for the upcoming school year, thus far, not only drastically exceeds last year’s numbers at this time, but are matching, if not exceeding, the hiring levels from several years ago during the boom!

Mass retirements and district layoffs brought the teacher ranks down to a minimum level last year, and now we are experiencing the first of many years that will be focused on restocking those ranks.

Thanks to a continuing boom in Texas’ population growth that produces close to 100,000 new school kids each year along with an improved economic climate that provides better funding, we are looking at a great new year in the making for teacher hiring.

Districts Have More Resources than Expected; Employment Season to Run Longer and Later

Districts around the state are currently hiring thousands of teachers to properly staff their classrooms just as the constitution requires.

Earlier this year, districts were anticipating a worst case scenario which never came to be. Instead, districts all across Texas do have the resources to hire teachers and they are doing just that. Districts, like the state’s largest, Houston ISD, will additionally hire back hundreds of teachers who were prematurely laid off earlier in the summer. Other districts, like Austin ISD, even have surplus money to give bonuses to teachers and maintain small class sizes.

“The resources are obviously much better than anyone would have thought, now we just need to communicate that message to the public,” said Stephaney Kennedy, Deputy Executive Director of Texas Teachers.

Although many districts are in fact going back and re-hiring some of the previously laid off teachers, they are not re-hiring all of them in order to open up some of those positions for new teachers who many consider to be better suited for the new challenges in today’s classroom.

This year’s hiring season got off to a late start due to the budget hold up, but now most districts are saying the hiring season will run much longer than normal.

Favorable School Budget Passes! Districts Funded to 97% of Last Year: Let the Hiring Begin!

Districts now have the money that they need and can finally do what they do this time of year–hire teachers. The state legislature has finally passed a school budget in the special legislative session, ending months of uncertainty, as well as what turned out to be unnecessary panic over early funding shortfall predictions.

The final budget will only cut about 3% from last year, an amount that districts say they can easily manage. Further, districts around the state are already talking about raising local taxes and spending from their own reserves to completely cover the gap. In fact, from such actions, many districts, like Mission ISD, expect to end up with more funds as compared to last year.

We expect a strong teacher job market to begin developing immediately and running well into September and October for the upcoming semester. In addition, we expect to see strong hiring in the Fall for the Spring 2012 semester.

There is a substantial amount of pent up demand for teachers that is ready to unfold. It’s time for you to get back out in the job market so you don’t miss the boat.

Teacher Hiring Boom is Coming: Lead by Phenomenal State Growth, Revenue

As we come out of a five month dip in the education industry, Texas is roaring back stronger than ever. We now have more proof that Texas has turned the corner and is on a solid path to prosperity. New reports show that Texas is again leading the nation in our economic recovery. Analysis released from the Brookings Institution shows tremendous economic growth all across the Lone Star state from McAllen to El Paso; from Houston to North Texas. This economic strength is an indication that revenues will get stronger and education in Texas is going to come back fast.

Teaching Jobs are Coming Back!

With school funding rapidly improving, teacher hiring should pick up fast and be strong this upcoming school year. Judson ISD, among the hardest hit districts by the budget crisis, announced its plans to reinstate 75 teachers immediately who had been laid off due to projected budget cuts that never materialized.

As the state finishes up on school funding and subsequently is providing much more money than earlier anticipated, districts all around the state, like Brownsville ISD, are pledging balanced budgets. Now that districts can finally begin to confirm they’ll have enough money for next year, we can expect to see the kick off of teacher hiring season in earnest.

New Money to Help Fully Fund Texas Schools

The Texas House of Representatives voted today for an amendment that could direct over $2 billion more in funds to Texas schools! These new funds would come from increases in the state’s rainy day fund as it grows over the next year from high oil prices and other revenues as the economy rebounds. Read More

Good News! Schools Funded, Budget to be 80% Better than First Predicted

For the past few months, the media has laid out and sensationalized the worst case scenarios regarding the projected school budget cuts, causing the entire state to descend into a full-fledged panic. But, as it turns out, those budget cuts are not nearly as bad as previously predicted. The house and senate recently agreed on a school budget that will fund our schools, just as the state’s constitution requires. Read More

School Funding Stronger as State Leads Nation in Recovery

Indicators are consistently showing that our state economy and revenue are on track to continue strengthening. This strong recovery will provide Texas with more revenue to properly fund Texas schools as the state constitution requires.

Money for public schools comes primarily from revenues generated by the state that increase or decrease with the economy. As Texas continues to lead the nation in its economic recovery, we have increased funding available to support our education system. The turnaround is already here, demonstrating that any school budget cuts will be short lived.