Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday signed a major education funding bill into law allocating a record $8.5 billion for public schools and $4 billion for teacher and staff pay raises. Even though record levels of public education funding have been allocated in the past and Texas education outcomes remain among

Much of the money is earmarked for teacher pay raises at a time when schools are struggling to recruit talent.

The spending package will give schools more money for staff pay raises, operational expenses, special education and more.