Public schools in Texas would greatly benefit from many changes, including raises for teachers and support staff such as janitors, counselors, bus drivers, and others. The infrastructure would also benefit from help, calling for sustainable education reforms. 

Early 2020 polls and surveys suggested that Texans wanted more funding for education and were quite concerned about the state of public education and low teacher salaries. However, many Texans oppose taxes when the state faces an ever-increasing recession and job insecurity. 

Looming increases in taxes for the general public to raise compensation and for education reform is a complex notion, and surveys concluded that 15% to 23% of Texans oppose the tax hike for this purpose.

Over the past two years, while teachers have been striking, there has been steady progress and heated debate on school reforms and increasing teacher salaries and benefits. There is still much more to do, though, and it requires immense congressional support and funding. 

Parents and policymakers agree the education system needs reforms; teachers and school staff are some of the most neglected members of the community. One suggested solution to subsidize the raises is to increase taxes for the general public, but many think taxes are already too high.

The policymakers have been adamant that educational reform is possible through increasing taxes, but it is not viable in this economy. Some stakeholders believe that the burden should not fall to the public, but rather taxes for big corporations, real estate, and industries should be increased.

Another proposed solution in Arizona placed a tax hike on the wealthy to support the changes. This is a better solution because the livelihoods of many families in Texas are already in jeopardy, so policymakers and legislators should consider this less impactful option. The frontline school staff deserve a raise but increasing taxes for all is not the way to do it.