A flurry of bills filed in the Texas House on Thursday tackle public school funding, STAAR tests, teacher quality and a voucher-style program to funnel public money toward private school tuition. The slate of bills came amid a tense legislative session in which education is a central theme.

Conroe, comes as Texas educators have left the teaching profession in droves and the state has increased its reliance on instructors who lack formal classroom training. Gov. Greg Abbott declared teacher pay an “emergency item” earlier this month,

The Texas Senate Education Committee is set to hear comments on a bill that would increase teacher pay. The bill would create an evaluation system that would increase pay based on merit. The bill includes extra incentives for teachers in high-needs and rural areas.