A teacher joins a protest against possible cuts in education funding. (credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM) – Many Texas teachers are getting behind a legislative bill that could spare cuts in education funding.

On Wednesday, the Alliance American Federation of Teachers announced their support for state Senate Bill 2.

The measure would take extra, unexpected state revenues, and funnel them into the education budget.
The Texas House gave the okay to use up to $2 billion in additional revenue from the “Rainy Day Fund” to offset $4 billion in cuts to schools.

Shelly Potter, of the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers, says public opinion is on their side. “Eighty-seven percent of the public says they oppose these drastic cuts to public education.”

Teacher groups say Tea Party members are lobbying senators to reject the compromise. Potter says senators have do decide if they stand with them or with education.

The teachers group would like the public to tell Austin lawmakers how they feel about the measure by contacting their state representative at (888) 836-8368.

A new poll shows Texans have been paying attention to the debate over the $4 billion reduction in state aid for schools. Twenty-three percent of all respondents to the poll, conducted by University of Texas professor Daron Shaw for the nonpartisan leadership group Texas Lyceum, said education was the most important issue facing the state.

Click here to find out more about the efforts of the Texas American Federation of Teachers.