On March 4, 2025, Director of Education and Workforce Policy Mary Lynn Pruneda testified before the House Public Education Committee on House Bill 2, which relates to public education and public school finance. The following is a written version of the testimony.
House Bill 2: Improving TX Student Outcomes With Targeted Funding Increases
Good afternoon, my name is Mary Lynn Pruneda and I am the Director of Education and Workforce Policy at Texas 2036. Thank you for the invitation to speak with you all today.
First, I’d like to say thank you. Thank you to Chairman Buckely and this Committee for investing in Texas’ public school students. The money provided in House Bill 2 will support public schools across our state as they work hard to get more students reading and doing math on grade level.
At Texas 2036, we believe in the importance of investing in our public schools. As such, we are grateful for the investment that House Bill 2 makes in the basic allotment. This $220 provides school districts with discretionary resources to invest in areas they believe are best for their school system.
HB 2 balances this increase to the Basic Allotment with an investment in more targeted strategies to improve student outcomes. This is a great idea.
Texas has been a national leader over the past few years in innovative public education policy. Our state, at this Chamber’s direction, has worked very hard to invest in strategies that are designed to close the achievement gap.
This approach makes sense. If the state seeks to improve student outcomes, it stands to reason that funding should be directed at those programs that have the greatest chance of improving those outcomes. We have seen other states focus on more targeted investments of public education dollars with big impacts on student outcomes.
In many ways, HB 2 is the culmination of sustained effort from this chamber over the past several years to improve student outcomes. Many of the targeted funding strategies in this bill come from ground work this chamber has already laid.
Last session, the House supported an expansion of the Teacher Incentive Allotment and HB 2 provides a path for more teachers to be rewarded for their great work.
Previously, the House also sought to increase funding for at-risk students and HB 2 provides that increase yet again.
But these policies aren’t just popular; they carry results. The comp ed allotment now funds high-impact tutoring, which is one of the most cost-effective interventions for students. And TIA is working: designated teachers are earning more, staying longer, and helping kids learn at faster rates.
Texas kids need focused attention and dramatic results. The 2024 STAAR administration shows less than half of students meeting grade level expectations. Your choice to provide financial incentives for what’s best for kids can continue to make the state a national leader in policies that put student outcomes at the forefront.