IN THE NEWS
Last month, the Texas Legislature made significant moves on public and higher education policy—decisions that will shape how Texas students learn, how teachers are compensated, and how institutions across the state collaborate for a smarter, stronger future.
Public Education School Vouchers and Funding
On April 17, the Texas House passed Senate Bill 2 (SB 2), establishing a $1 billion Education Savings Account (ESA) program. For the first time since 1957, the House voted in favor of redirecting public funds for private education through ESAs.
The bill passed 86–61 and offers $10,000 annually to eligible students for private school tuition and related expenses—up to $30,000 for students with disabilities. Children of active-duty military members were added to the eligibility list via amendment.
To ensure oversight, the House version includes accountability measures such as requiring participating private schools to be accredited for at least two years. Governor Greg Abbott, who championed the initiative, hailed the vote as a “historic victory.”
At the same time, the House passed House Bill 2 (HB 2), a sweeping school finance package that infuses more than $7.7 billion into Texas public education—the largest increase in state history.
The Texas House Plan for School Finance
Rep. Terry Wilson calls HB 2 a critical investment. “People are asking if we’re fully funding public education. The answer is yes—and we’re structuring the budget around that commitment,” he said. Here’s what’s included:
- $3 billion to raise per-student spending and increase teacher pay
- $1 billion in boosted funding for rural and mid-sized schools
- $1.5 billion in new special education resources
- $1.5 billion in targeted investments for Pre-K, bilingual education, and achievement gap reduction
- $750 million in incentive pay for high-performing teachers
The bill increases the state’s Basic Allotment (BA)—the per-student funding benchmark—to $6,555, a $395 increase. For the first time, that number is tied to the growth of property values, allowing public education and teacher pay to rise automatically in future budgets while reducing pressure on local taxes.
HB 2 also mandates that 40 percent of the BA increase go directly to teacher pay. Priority goes to those with 10 or more years in the classroom, followed by educators with at least five years’ experience.
To protect against enrollment declines, the bill guarantees that schools receive 95 percent of their prior year’s funding and ensures every district gets at least a $200-per-student increase. It also enhances funding for special education transportation and resources, Pre-K expansion, extended school year programs, and streamlines teacher certifications.
Higher Education Curriculum Oversight and Governance
Meanwhile, in higher education, the Senate approved SB 37—a bill that shifts how public university curricula are reviewed and monitored. Governing boards would be required to review core curricula every five years, ensuring they prepare students for civic and professional life and avoid content perceived as promoting ideological bias or distorting historical events. The bill also allows individuals to file complaints that could lead to funding cuts—raising concerns about academic freedom and faculty self-censorship.
Rep. Terry Wilson’s Unified Vision
In a session marked by major educational reform, LTCOL (USA-Ret.) and Texas Representative Terry Wilson (TX-20) has stood out as a leader connecting the dots between classrooms, careers, and economic prosperity. Now chairing the Texas House Committee on Higher Education, Wilson is building bridges—between rural and urban districts, public schools and community colleges, and K-12 and post-secondary education.
“When members submit their committee requests, I told the Speaker, ‘Put me where I’m needed,’” Rep. Wilson recalls. That mindset landed him the chairmanship. “It’s humbling. Higher ed is a massive part of our economy and our workforce pipeline.”
Like his previous leadership of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Rep. Wilson stepped into Higher Ed with no preset agenda. That blank slate allowed him to draw from long-standing priorities and active conversations across Texas. He views education as a continuous, interconnected experience. “The real sticking points are the transitions—those handoffs between K-12 and what comes next,” he says.
Breaking Down Barriers
Rep. Wilson’s practical approach stems from experience. As Article III chair during the 2021 budget cycle, he prioritized Career and Technical Education (CTE) by funding high school programs that offered certifications or trade experience.
“You don’t need four years of college to start a career,” he says. “A kid who comes out of high school with welding skills can get to work right away. That’s powerful.”
One of the most effective tools in this space has been the P-TECH and JET grants that help school districts build technical training programs. However, the complexity of grant applications has excluded many small and rural districts.
“We simplified the application, but it’s still five pages, and most small ISDs don’t have staff to do it,” the representative says. “The ones who need it most are the least equipped to apply.”
That’s where House Bill 2110 comes in. Rep. Wilson introduced language that allows public school districts to formally partner with community colleges, co-mingling grant requests and sharing resources like career counselors and program space.
“Before this bill, a high school and a community college might both want to build an auto shop—one for the space, one for the teachers—but they couldn’t coordinate funding. Now they can,” he says. “Smaller ISDs like Florence and Jarrell and Austin Community College can share the program, share the students, and give kids a future they might never have had access to.”
Building Toward the Future
Rep. Wilson’s passion for education reaches beyond the classroom and into Texas’ economic strategy. He plays a key role in the state’s Secure Research Council, which aims to attract advanced manufacturing by investing in classified research partnerships.
“When you build secure research capabilities, the manufacturing follows,” he explains. “That’s how the I-95 corridor and Silicon Valley were built. The people doing the research become magnets for high-wage jobs and innovation.”
From expanding Pre-K classrooms to enabling high schoolers to earn trade certifications, Rep. Wilson believes the real investment isn’t in programs—it’s in people. “We’re building lives,” he says, “and a better Texas.”