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As school districts across Texas continue to work around budget shortfalls, members of American Federation of Teachers-Texas hope the latest version of the school funding bill before lawmakers will help.

House Bill 2, which has passed the Senate, includes money for overhauling special education and funding full-day pre-K.

Nicole Hill, communications director for the American Federation of Teachers-Texas, said the bill also includes much needed pay increases.

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"In addition to dedicated teacher pay raises there is now a support staff allotment that will guarantee that everybody who helps our kids every day from our bus drivers to our custodians to our counselors, will also get pay raises out of this deal," Hill outlined.

The $8.5 billion funding bill now goes back to the House and if approved, it will go to Governor Greg Abbott for his signature.

The measure is one of the largest education investments in the state's history and includes an increase in the amount of funding available per student. Hill noted while they are happy with the increases, there is still more to do.

"It does meet some needs," Hill acknowledged. "It is a good step forward but it's not going to solve all the problems districts are facing. And we're still going to have districts in tricky situations where they are debating school closures or layoffs or cuts to student programs."

Lawmakers have already approved a $1 billion voucher program, which will allow families to use public taxpayer dollars to fund their children's private school tuition.