Texas Senate unanimously passes $8.5 billion school funding bill

AUSTIN (Texas Tribune) — Texas public schools are one step closer to receiving new state money after the Senate on Friday unanimously approved an $8.5 billion funding package, a deal born out of lengthy negotiations with the House.

House Bill 2 provides districts a $55 per-student increase to their base funding while setting aside a new pot of money for schools’ insurance, transportation, utilities and other costs. The legislation also includes billions for teacher pay and special education...