As Teacher Appreciation Week reaches its fourth day, Texas educators are voicing frustration over what they see as empty gestures amid a deepening teacher retention crisis. Instead of symbolic gifts like apples, teachers and advocates are demanding concrete legislative action, starting with setting House Bill 2 for a hearing in the Senate Education Committee.
According to a press release by the Texas American Federation of Teachers, the state saw a 19.1% teacher turnover rate for the 2023–2024 school year, slightly below the all-time high of 21.4% the year before. These numbers reflect what educators have long been saying: stagnant pay, deteriorating working conditions, and increasing workloads are pushing them out of the profession. A 2024 survey conducted by Texas AFT found that around 68% of educators have considered leaving their jobs.
“The best way to start addressing these concerns is fully funding Texas public schools,” the Texas AFT stated. They argue that this means not only hearing House Bill 2, but also ensuring the legislation includes meaningful increases to the basic allotment, teacher pay raises, and investments in student support programs.
Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Burrows had previously promised that an increase in school funding would accompany the recently signed voucher legislation, a plan dubbed the “Texas Two-Step.” With vouchers now law, education advocates say there is no excuse for failing to follow through with the promised funding increase.
Texas AFT President Zeph Capo emphasized that while House Bill 2 may not include everything educators are asking for, it’s a critical starting point. “If lawmakers really want to keep educators in the classroom, they can start by increasing the basic allotment, boosting teacher pay, and improving the work environment that the Legislature is so intent on micromanaging. Educators know their students and their families appreciate them; it’s time for lawmakers to show the same,” he said.
Capo also pointed to the political maneuvering behind recent education legislation, emphasizing the urgency of following through on funding commitments now that vouchers have passed.
“State leaders were quick to endorse the two-step plan when the voucher bill was on shaky ground. House Bill 2 isn’t everything we asked for, but without its basic allotment increase there’s no guarantee that educators and support staff will see a dime of the billions that lawmakers have promised to our schools,” he stated.
Capo acknowledged that educators feel appreciated by their students and families, but emphasized that it’s time for lawmakers to move beyond words and take meaningful action. He urged the Senate to pass a comprehensive school finance package before the 2025 legislative session ends, with just 25 days left on the clock.
The message from educators this week is clear: appreciation is welcome, but action is overdue. What teachers need now is real investment, in teacher pay, classroom resources, and the overall funding of public schools.
