Taxpayer spending on public education is at an all-time high in total and on a per student basis. But more taxpayer money for public education will not necessarily lead to better student results.
All taxpayer funds for public education should be appropriated to pay teachers based on their effectiveness, improve student results, and reduce recapture and property tax burdens.
Senate Bill 3 deserves praise for putting a legislative focus on teachers. Texas’ student outcomes would be improved if school districts identified effective principals and teachers and paid them based on merit to keep them in the classroom.