The Texas Senate unanimously passed a bill Wednesday that would invest $4.3 billion over two years in teacher pay increases and secure state-funded salary boosts to educators when they reach early-career milestones.

Under Senate Bill 26, public school teachers would be guaranteed raises in their third and fifth years in the classroom. Educators in smaller school districts would receive the largest pay bumps.

The senators' letter to Texas boards of regents comes after requests to restore $400 million in universities funds that are absent in budget drafts.

“Today, the Texas Senate passed SB 26 to allocate more state funding for teacher salaries. SB 26 aims to elevate the teaching profession in Texas by establishing a strong compensation framework to reward teachers for their continued commitment to Texas students and communities through retention pay increases, with nearly 80% of teachers eligible.

Bills before a Senate education committee would eliminate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs in public K-12 schools and establish a procedure to file grievances against districts that violate the ban.

Dan Patrick speaks to the Senate at the Texas Capitol in Austin on Wednesday ... Smaller raises would go to teachers with less time in the classroom. Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, the author of SB 26, said it’s not enough to recognize a teacher ...

Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe ... which universities allegedly violated the law during a brief phone interview with The Texas Tribune on Friday, only noting that Creighton “has some reports.” Neither Creighton, R-Conroe, nor Bettencourt, R-Houston ...

Conroe Republican Sen. Brandon Creighton, who chairs the Senate Committee on Education K-16, has introduced two more measures targeting diversity, inclusion and equity in the state’s schools, The Texas Tribune reports.

(The Center Square) – A Texas Parental Bill of Rights measure has been filed in the Texas Senate. It’s part of a series of education bills filed by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, who chairs the Senate Education Committee. The bills are legislative priorities of Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

Texas Republicans aim to remove diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in all areas of public education from kindergarten all through high school after already removing it from public colleges and universities in the state.

AUSTIN (Nexstar) – On Wednesday afternoon, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 26 ... According to the bill’s sponsor Brandon Creighton, R – Conroe, 80% of the new money distributed to ...

The Texas Senate unanimously passed a bill Wednesday ... Senate Bill 26, authored by Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, will also invest more money into the existing Teacher Incentive Allotment ...