H.B. No. 1257 seeks to amend the Education Code to enhance the compensation of public school educators and update the public school finance system. The bill introduces a new minimum salary schedule for classroom teachers, librarians, counselors, and nurses, with salaries based on years of experience and certification, starting at $40,000 for those with less than five years of experience. It mandates that school districts allocate at least 50% of the difference in salary costs between the old and new structures to increase average total compensation for these educators. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for determining years of experience, stipends for specialized training, and a salary transition allotment for districts to manage financial impacts. It also repeals certain outdated sections of the Education Code and modifies definitions related to average enrollment for funding purposes.

The bill further revises funding mechanisms by replacing "daily attendance" with "average enrollment" in various contexts, which will standardize funding calculations and ensure that they reflect actual student enrollment. It introduces new funding categories for students, including those in special education and homeless children, and increases funding for school safety and mental health services. The bill also mandates that prekindergarten classes be offered to children aged three or older and emphasizes full-day kindergarten programs. Overall, H.B. No. 1257 aims to create a more equitable and responsive funding system for Texas schools while enhancing educator compensation and support for early childhood education.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 21.402, Education Code 21.403, Education Code 21.4552, Education Code 21.4553, Education Code 21.4555, Education Code 30.102, Education Code 33.009, Education Code 48.051, Education Code 48.102, Education Code 48.108, Education Code 48.115, Education Code 48.151, Education Code 28.02124, Education Code 29.152, Education Code 29.1531, Education Code 29.153, Education Code 7.062, Education Code 11.052, Education Code 12.106, Education Code 12.263, Education Code 13.051, Education Code 13.102, Education Code 13.283, Education Code 25.038, Education Code 25.045, Education Code 25.081, Education Code 25.087, Education Code 25.111, Education Code 25.112, Education Code 29.008, Education Code 29.014, Education Code 29.081, Education Code 29.0822, Education Code 29.184, Education Code 29.203, Education Code 29.403, Education Code 48.005, Education Code 29.912, Education Code 30.003, Education Code 33.157, Education Code 37.0061, Education Code 37.008, Education Code 39.027, Education Code 39.262, Education Code 43.001, Education Code 44.004, Education Code 45.0011, Education Code 45.006, Education Code 45.105, Education Code 45.003, Education Code 46.005, Education Code 46.006, Education Code 46.032, Education Code 48.0051, Education Code 48.006, Education Code 48.010, Education Code 48.052, Education Code 48.101, Education Code 48.105, Education Code 48.106, Education Code 48.107, Education Code 48.109, Education Code 48.118, Education Code 48.152, Education Code 48.153, Education Code 48.202, Education Code 48.256, Education Code 48.2642, Education Code 48.273, Education Code 48.277, Education Code 49.001, Education Code 49.002, Education Code 49.003, Education Code 49.158, Education Code 49.201, Education Code 49.203, Education Code 49.205, Education Code 49.258, Education Code 49.305, Education Code 49.306, Education Code 49.311, Education Code 49.354, Government Code 403.104, Government Code 1371.001, Government Code 1431.001, Local Government Code 48.005 (Education Code 39, Education Code 48, Government Code 403, Education Code 21, Education Code 33, Education Code 12, Government Code 1371, Education Code 37, Education Code 28, Education Code 13, Government Code 1431, Education Code 30, Education Code 29, Education Code 7, Education Code 43, Education Code 25, Education Code 49, Local Government Code 48, Education Code 44, Education Code 11, Education Code 45, Education Code 46)