Monitoring the Session

SB 2561

West Bill Locks 75% Of Grants To 100,000-Plus Student Districts

Died in committee

Verdict: Smells

SmellsInitial review
Sen. Royce WestDSenate 23
Why it's charged
Bracket bill

THE TEXT

…“100,000 students or more; and”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption reads like a statewide grant program, but the text locks 75 percent of each year's grant money to districts serving at least 100,000 students. That leaves most of the money for a small number of very large districts.

Bracket bill

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the establishment of the student success initiative program by the Texas Education Agency and the award of grants under that program.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

A small number of very large districts get most of it. TEA keeps up to 10 percent.

The bill orders the Texas Education Agency, working with child mental health and education experts, to build a student success program and hand out grants to school districts and charter schools that run it, using money the Legislature sets aside. Three of every four grant dollars each year must go to districts serving 100,000 or more students, with priority for schools whose students fail state tests or are educationally disadvantaged. The agency can keep up to 10 percent for administration, must report to the Legislature every year, and must write rules on who can apply and how the money is spent, including on tutoring and mentoring outside the school.

Labels

Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 13, 2025 and referred to the Senate Education K-16 committee. No public hearing. The bill died.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2561 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

Sen. Royce WestDSenate 23 Sen. Borris MilesDSenate 13

ITEM

relating to the establishment of the student success initiative program by the Texas Education Agency and the award of grants under that program.

WHAT IT DOES

A small number of very large districts get most of it. TEA keeps up to 10 percent.

The bill orders the Texas Education Agency, working with child mental health and education experts, to build a student success program and hand out grants to school districts and charter schools that run it, using money the Legislature sets aside. Three of every four grant dollars each year must go to districts serving 100,000 or more students, with priority for schools whose students fail state tests or are educationally disadvantaged. The agency can keep up to 10 percent for administration, must report to the Legislature every year, and must write rules on who can apply and how the money is spent, including on tutoring and mentoring outside the school.

CHARGES

[x] BRACKET BILLanalysis confidence 60%

THE TEXT

…“100,000 students or more; and”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The caption reads like a statewide grant program, but the text locks 75 percent of each year's grant money to districts serving at least 100,000 students. That leaves most of the money for a small number of very large districts.

TOTAL

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Read first time
  4. Referred to Education K-16
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

Smells

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Royce West

Donors

Skyview Development LLC$36KTexas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20KErle Allen Nye Jr.$15,000

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Skyview Development LLC$36,332.00

Skyview Development LLC

$36,332.00

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$36,332.00
Total
$36,332.00
Other filed descriptions $32,032.00fundraiser $4,300.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100987569, 101009506, 101058878, 101063137.

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC$20,000.00

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash
$20,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$20,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 11, 2024 to Oct 10, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100987569, 101063137.

Erle Allen Nye Jr.$15,000.00
Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Skyview Development LLC

$36,332.00

Cash
$0.00
Paid by others
$36,332.00
Total
$36,332.00
Other filed descriptions $32,032.00fundraiser $4,300.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 1, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100987569, 101009506, 101058878, 101063137.

×

Texas Trial Lawyers Association PAC

$20,000.00

Cash
$20,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$20,000.00

Also funds 137 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 24, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Oct 11, 2024 to Oct 10, 2025. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100987569, 101063137.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal

No fiscal note in the loaded record.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Mar 13, 2025

04/03/2025 S Referred to Education K-16

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Senate committee · Education K-16 · Final status: Died in committee

Subjects

Education--Primary & Secondary--Accountability

Education--Primary & Secondary--General

State Finances--Appropriations

State Finances--Management & Control

EDUCATION AGENCY, TEXAS

EDUCATION, COMMISSIONER OF

Text

The text as introduced · 358 words

89R5105 RAL-F

By: West, Miles
S.B. No. 2561

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the student success initiative

program by the Texas Education Agency and the award of grants under

that program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 29.935 to read as follows:

Sec. 29.935. STUDENT SUCCESS INITIATIVE PROGRAM; GRANTS.

(a) The agency, in collaboration with qualified experts in the

areas of child and youth mental health and education, shall develop

a student success initiative program based on evidence-based best

practices to:

(1) support youth well-being and educational

outcomes; and

(2) increase the number of students performing at

grade level by providing academic, community, and governmental

supports.

(b) From money appropriated or otherwise available for the

purpose, the commissioner shall provide technical assistance and

award grants to school districts and open-enrollment charter

schools that implement the program developed under Subsection (a).

(c) In awarding grants under Subsection (b), the

commissioner shall:

(1) award 75 percent of the amount available during

each school year to school districts that serve a population of

100,000 students or more; and

(2) prioritize school districts and open-enrollment

charter schools with high percentages of students who:

(A) do not perform satisfactorily on assessment

instruments administered under Section 39.023; or

(B) are educationally disadvantaged.

(d) The commissioner may use not more than 10 percent of the

money appropriated for purposes of this section to cover the cost of

administering this section.

(e) The agency shall annually submit to the legislature a

report on the impact of the student success initiative program and

best practices learned from the program.

(f) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to

implement this section, including rules establishing:

(1) application criteria for receipt of a grant under

this section; and

(2) allowable uses of grant money by a school district

or open-enrollment charter school under this section, which must

include supports for students such as tutoring, mentoring, and

other educational opportunities outside of the district or school.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.