Dallas ISD's Merit-based Teacher Pay Becomes Flashpoint in Texas House's School Funding Debate

AUSTIN — The Texas House's $9 billion school funding plan had its first public vetting Tuesday, with school advocates and officials at odds over the pros and cons of a merit pay system partially inspired by Dallas ISD. School superintendents, including the top brass from Dallas and Richardson ISDs, offered full-throated endorsements of the House's omnibus public education bill in a committee hearing. The plan would give schools $6.3 billion in new funding in the next two-year budget, reduce property tax burdens by $2.7 billion, fund full-day prekindergarten for low-income students and incentivize districts to implement merit pay.  Continue reading...