School Safety

The bill marks one of the largest education investments in state history. It includes $4.2 billion for teacher and staff pay raises. Nearly $2 billion is directed toward overhauling special education and funding full-day pre-K, early learning interventions and career and technical education. An additional $430 million is set aside for school safety measures.

Austin ISD has investigated more than 100 threats since Sept. 1, according to the district police department. For comparison, the district received about 300 threats during the 2023-24 school year.

The University Interscholastic League, or UIL, recently updated its heat safety recommendations and protocols for outdoor school activities.

Isaiah Xavier Smith was arrested on Dec. 8 for indecency with a child by contact. AISD police confirmed he is also the man who was seen earlier this month openly carrying a gun near two middle schools in the city.

A Central Texas Republican legislator says the school district's decision to buy Teslas sends the wrong message about its financial priorities. Eanes ISD says the nine Teslas are simply more affordable than other options.

More than 70 schools are getting new perimeter fences with money from the bond. The district says it wants to make sure campuses remain welcoming places while strengthening security.

House Bill 3 requires districts to have at least one armed officer on every campus during regular school hours. Austin ISD has more than 100 campuses, so it will push the district into an even deeper budget deficit.

The school board approved a plan that will place at least two peace officers at the district’s high school and at least one officer at middle and elementary schools. The Eanes ISD superintendent said the district would rather have trained police on campuses than armed teachers or other school staff.

What would you do with $33 billion?

Public education advocates hope lawmakers will spend more on schools, raise teacher salaries and prioritize mental health resources. The last time the Texas Legislature made a major financial investment in the public school system was before the pandemic in 2019.