2023
2023
Voucher dies as final weekend of 88th Legislature brings conflict between House and Senate
Date Posted: 5/30/2023
HB 100 was a casualty of a breakdown in communications between the House and Senate as the regular session drew to a close.
Statement on legislative impasse over teacher pay raise
Date Posted: 5/28/2023
ATPE thanks legislators who stood strong with public education students and educators during the 2023 regular legislative session.
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: May 26, 2023
Date Posted: 5/26/2023
Vouchers are still a threat and the attorney general faces impeachment in the final days of the 88th Legislature.
Apply for the TRS Retirees Advisory Committee by Aug. 15
Date Posted: 5/25/2023
The Teacher Retirement System (TRS) is seeking nominations for three vacant positions on its Retirees Advisory Committee (RAC).
Senate bills die in Texas House as another midnight deadline passes
Date Posted: 5/24/2023
Tuesday, May 23, 2023, was a critical deadline for Senate bills to pass the House in order to stay alive.
Texas Senate revives voucher, effectively killing teacher pay raise legislation
Date Posted: 5/24/2023
The Senate hastily resurrected a dead voucher bill this week, killing one of the last hopes for a teacher pay raise, an increase in school funding, and needed special education funding reform.
Statement on Senate Leadership’s Addition of a Voucher to HB 100
Date Posted: 5/22/2023
State’s largest educator association condemns squandering of historic opportunity to invest in public education.
Senate Education Committee advances school safety legislation
Date Posted: 5/17/2023
The committee held an impromptu meeting Tuesday, May 16, 2023, to vote on a handful of bills, including omnibus school safety legislation shepherded by Sen. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville).
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: May 12, 2023
Date Posted: 5/12/2023
A dramatic showdown in the House means public educators have the weekend to speak out against Senate Bill 8, an unvetted voucher/testing conglomeration.
ATPE’s Dirty Dozen Reasons to Hate SB 8
Date Posted: 5/12/2023
Learn about the voucher bill (now with more testing for public school students!) some Texas lawmakers are trying to rush through the Legislature with little transparency or educator input.
Senate Education Committee hears omnibus school safety package
Date Posted: 5/12/2023
The committee met Thursday, May 11, 2023, to consider several bills, including an omnibus school safety package.
Senate Education Committee moves HB 4545 cleanup bill closer to passage
Date Posted: 5/11/2023
The Senate Education Committee moved one step closer to passage of a bill intended to alleviate the burdens of accelerated instruction requirements imposed by House Bill (HB) 4545 from 2021.
Showdown over SB 8 on the House floor as deadlines loom
Date Posted: 5/11/2023
The Texas House had a tense and contentious evening Wednesday, May 10, 2023, as an attempt was made to force a quick vote on a voucher bill.
ATPE testifies against SB 9 before House Public Education Committee
Date Posted: 5/10/2023
Senate Bill 9 is a so-called “Teacher Bill of Rights,” but it’s not supported by ATPE or any other major teacher organization.
Rep. Bryan Slaton (R–Royse City) expelled from the Texas House
Date Posted: 5/09/2023
The Texas House voted 147-0 for HR 1542 Tuesday, May 9, 2023, to expel Rep. Bryan Slaton from the body following allegations of inappropriate behavior with a staffer under age 21.
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: May 5, 2023
Date Posted: 5/05/2023
Don’t forget to vote Saturday in the May 6 local election. Plus, the House will be tackling its first Saturday calendar, which means sine die is nigh.
20 House bills still pending in Public Education Committee as deadline nears
Date Posted: 5/04/2023
Twenty House bills, including the five voucher bills, have been left pending in the House Public Education (HPE) Committee as a key May 8, 2023, deadline approaches.
Senate Education Committee hears first set of House bills
Date Posted: 5/04/2023
The committee met briefly Thursday, May 4, 2023, to hear its first round of House bills this session.
Curriculum bill HB 1605 passed by Texas House
Date Posted: 5/03/2023
ATPE has concerns the bill’s financial incentives to districts would create a de facto mandated curriculum.
House Public Education hears bill to require display of Ten Commandments in public schools
Date Posted: 5/03/2023
The committee met Tuesday, May 2, 2023, to hear eight bills, including one that would require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom.
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: April 28, 2023
Date Posted: 4/28/2023
With one month to go, the House advanced major school safety, school finance, and teacher recruitment and retention legislation this week.
School finance and teacher recruitment & retention bills approved by House
Date Posted: 4/27/2023
The House passed two priority bills related to school finance and teacher recruitment & retention, respectively, on Wednesday, April 26, 2023.
Senate Education Committee considers curriculum audit legislation
Date Posted: 4/27/2023
ATPE opposed SB 165 at the committee’s April 27, 2023, meeting because it is unclear how curricula would be evaluated or how TEA could feasibly audit the curricula of more than 350,000 teachers annually.
Statement on Passage of House Bill (HB) 11
Date Posted: 4/26/2023
State’s largest educator association is pleased with amendment to HB 11 that will protect public oversight of certification rule making.
Why You Can’t Overlook Your Local School Board
Date Posted: 4/26/2023
If voting in the May 6 local election isn’t already on your to-do list, it should be after you read this article.
House Public Education Committee hears first Senate bills
Date Posted: 4/25/2023
The House Public Education Committee heard 10 bills, including the Senate’s major school safety bill
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: April 21, 2023
Date Posted: 4/21/2023
With 38 days left until sine die, the pace is fast and furious and the agendas are long at the State Capitol. We’ve got news about vouchers, school safety, the budget, and more.
House Public Education considers accountability, virtual education bills
Date Posted: 4/21/2023
ATPE testified April 20, 2023, against bills that would expand full-time virtual schools and allow chaplains without certification to serve as school counselors.
Senate Education Committee hears voucher aimed at school employee misconduct
Date Posted: 4/20/2023
The committee met Wednesday, April 19, 2023, to consider several bills, including a private school voucher tied to school employee misconduct.
Parental rights headline Public Education Committee hearing
Date Posted: 4/19/2023
The House Public Education Committee met April 18, 2023, in its first of three meetings this week to discuss grievance procedures and various other parental rights bills.
From The Texas Tribune: In overnight testimony, Uvalde victims’ family members call on Texas lawmakers to raise age to buy semi-automatic guns
Date Posted: 4/19/2023
The families of Uvalde shooting victims waited hours to testify at a House committee hearing in support of House Bill 2744, which would raise the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic guns from 18 to 21.
Make your voice heard in your local election this May
Date Posted: 4/19/2023
With increased politicization of education in recent years, making your voice heard at the ballot box is the best way to ensure your school board works in the best interest of your school community.
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: April 14, 2023
Date Posted: 4/14/2023
ATPE members testified against vouchers during a marathon House hearing. Plus, TRS, school safety, and student discipline bills are moving.
Senate Education Committee considers discipline bill, special education voucher
Date Posted: 4/14/2023
The committee met Wednesday, April 12, 2023, to hear bills on classroom discipline, special education vouchers, and more, plus a vote on a major school safety bill.
Voucher legislation takes center stage in House Public Education Committee
Date Posted: 4/13/2023
ATPE members testified against vouchers during an April 11, 2023, hearing that stretched into the early morning hours.
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: April 7, 2023
Date Posted: 4/07/2023
Opposing votes on vouchers from the House and Senate cap off a jam-packed week of action at the State Capitol.
Texas House takes first record vote against vouchers during budget debate
Date Posted: 4/06/2023
Lawmakers adopted an ATPE-backed amendment to prohibit state funds from being used for private school vouchers during the floor debate Thursday, April 6, 2023.
From The Texas Tribune: Texas House vote foreshadows tough road ahead for education savings accounts
Date Posted: 4/06/2023
State representatives approved an amendment banning the use of state funds in school voucher programs — a bad omen for ESAs, which have become a top cause for Gov. Abbott.
Senate Education Committee discusses school safety and truancy bills
Date Posted: 4/06/2023
The committee discussed the Senate’s priority school safety bill along with a variety of miscellaneous bills Wednesday, April 5, 2023.
House Public Education tackles school finance bills
Date Posted: 4/05/2023
ATPE urges legislators to raise the Basic Allotment and fund an across-the-board pay raise before expanding other programs.
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: March 31, 2023
Date Posted: 3/31/2023
Another school shooting—this time at a private school—provides the backdrop for consideration of school safety bills. Plus, House and Senate committees dive into virtual education and curriculum.
Senate Education Committee considers virtual school, curriculum bills
Date Posted: 3/30/2023
The Texas Senate Education Committee considered bills on virtual schools, curriculum, and a variety of other subjects in a lengthy hearing Wednesday, March 29, 2023.
A Comparison of Major TRS Legislation
Date Posted: 3/29/2023
Check out ATPE's side-by-side comparison of this session's major TRS legislation, including SB 10, which passed out of the Senate March 29, 2023.
House Public Education Committee discusses virtual schools and more
Date Posted: 3/29/2023
The committee met Tuesday, March 28, 2023, and ATPE testified on several bills. Votes on pending bills were also taken.
House committee discusses school safety bills
Date Posted: 3/28/2023
The House Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety heard several bills Monday, March 27, 2023, intended to address school shootings.
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: March 24, 2023
Date Posted: 3/24/2023
ATPE testifies against vouchers at marathon Senate Education Committee hearing, plus House committees hear bills on student restraint, curriculum, pre-k certification, and more.
Senate receives overwhelming opposition to vouchers
Date Posted: 3/23/2023
The Texas Senate Education Committee heard overwhelming opposition to school vouchers in a marathon hearing Wednesday, March 23.
House Public Education Committee considers bills on curriculum, library review
Date Posted: 3/23/2023
The pace at the Capitol noticeably increased this week, including in the House Public Education Committee where ATPE testified on several bills.
Physical restraint bill considered by House Select Committee on Youth Health and Safety
Date Posted: 3/23/2023
After learning of potential language changes related to banning prone and supine restraint, ATPE testified neutrally and asked that HB 459 move forward as originally filed.
Potential school closures highlight statewide funding issue
Date Posted: 3/22/2023
Facing financial challenges, districts across the state are discussing potential school closures in an effort to cut costs.
A voucher is bad for public school students
Date Posted: 3/21/2023
A week of pro-voucher public relations doesn’t change the facts.
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: March 17, 2023
Date Posted: 3/17/2023
The ATPE lobby team looks back at another busy legislative week and previews next week's big committee hearings on private school vouchers, TRS, teacher pay, and more.
House Public Education Committee holds first votes of 88th session
Date Posted: 3/17/2023
The committee met Tuesday, March 14, to consider bills on issues ranging from health screenings to assessment of special needs students.
State formally announces its takeover of Houston ISD effective June 1, 2023
Date Posted: 3/15/2023
Education Commissioner Mike Morath will appoint a new superintendent and board of managers to replace HISD’s elected board of trustees.
Senate Education Committee discusses virtual school expansion
Date Posted: 3/15/2023
The committee considered nine bills Wednesday, including a proposal to lift the moratorium on full-time virtual schools in Texas.
Texas Senate reveals priority voucher bill
Date Posted: 3/13/2023
The Texas Senate filed its priority voucher bill in the form of an education savings account (ESA) program within Senate Bill 8 by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe).
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: March 10, 2023
Date Posted: 3/10/2023
On final day of bill filing, Texas lawmakers rush to file legislation on vouchers, teacher pay, and more.
ATPE applauds filing of House teacher retirement bills
Date Posted: 3/09/2023
State’s largest educator association supports the House leadership’s approach to ensuring the financial security of retired educators.
House Public Education Committee meets for first consideration of bills during 88th session
Date Posted: 3/09/2023
Tuesday marked both the committee’s first consideration of bills in the 88th session and the first time for ATPE’s newest lobbyist, Tricia Cave, to testify on behalf of the association.
ATPE defends requirement that school counselors have classroom experience
Date Posted: 3/08/2023
The association submitted testimony Wednesday to the Senate Education Committee defending the requirement that school counselors have teaching experience.
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: March 3, 2023
Date Posted: 3/03/2023
Morath pushes off-the-shelf curriculum materials during House and Senate committee hearings, and the governor continues his pro-voucher PR tour. Plus, connect with ATPE at SXSW EDU.
Senate Education Committee promises teacher bill of rights, pay raise
Date Posted: 3/01/2023
The Texas Senate Committee on Education vowed to pass a pay raise and a “teacher bill of rights” in its first meeting of the 2023 legislative session.
House Public Education Committee holds first hearing
Date Posted: 3/01/2023
The House Public Education Committee held its first hearing of the 88th Legislature Tuesday, Feb. 28.
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Article III holds first hearing
Date Posted: 3/01/2023
The Subcommittee on Article III (Public Education) met Monday, Feb. 27, to discuss budget recommendations for TEA, TRS, the Permanent School Fund, and more.
Teach the Vote's Week in Review: ATPE members gather in Austin for ATPE at the Capitol event
Date Posted: 2/24/2023
Our lobby team attended the ATPE at the Capitol event along with ATPE members this week. We'll post our next Week in Review summary Friday, March 3.
State’s largest educator association reacts to TEA’s newly released Teacher Vacancy Task Force report
Date Posted: 2/24/2023
ATPE Executive Director Shannon Holmes offers the following statement in response to the Teacher Vacancy Task Force report released by the Texas Education Agency Feb. 24.
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: Feb. 17, 2023
Date Posted: 2/17/2023
The governor declared his emergency issues for the legislative session, and ATPE heads to the Capitol next week. Read more of the week’s news.
Governor declares vouchers an “emergency item” in State of the State address
Date Posted: 2/17/2023
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pressed lawmakers to allow public funds for private schools during his Feb. 16 speech.
From The Texas Tribune: In audio, high-ranking TEA official admits public school funds could drop with voucher-like programs
Date Posted: 2/15/2023
“School districts, what they have to do if they lose a student, [is] be smart about how they allocate their resources and maybe that’s one less fourth grade teacher,” said TEA's Steve Lecholop in a recorded call.
State’s largest educator association reacts to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s legislative priorities
Date Posted: 2/13/2023
ATPE Executive Director Shannon Holmes offers the following statement on Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s legislative priorities.
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: Feb. 10, 2023
Date Posted: 2/10/2023
ATPE Governmental Relations recaps today’s SBEC meeting, new Texas House committee assignments, the State of the Union, and more.
SBEC discusses performance assessment, teacher residency programs at first 2023 meeting
Date Posted: 2/10/2023
The State Board for Educator Certification met Friday, Feb. 10, in Austin.
In Senate committee testimony, ATPE urges legislators to increase school funding, teacher pay, and retiree benefits
Date Posted: 2/10/2023
ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter testified at the Senate Finance Committee’s hearings this week on the state budget.
Buckley to chair Texas House Public Education Committee
Date Posted: 2/08/2023
Rep. Brad Buckley (R-Killeen) will chair the House Public Education Committee charged with oversight of preK-12 education policy, according to committee assignments announced today.
Op-Ed: Misuse of Charter School Funds Portends Issues with Vouchers
Date Posted: 2/07/2023
Northside (20) ISD Superintendent Brian Woods and Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Superintendent Mark Henry have a powerful op-ed in the Feb. 6 San Antonio Express-News.
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: Feb. 3, 2023
Date Posted: 2/03/2023
The SBOE squeezed a four-day meeting into two, and most legislative activity was canceled this week due to a winter storm. Read more from ATPE Governmental Relations.
SBOE holds first meeting of 2023, debates private school vouchers
Date Posted: 2/03/2023
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott swore in six new members at the State Board of Education’s February 2023 meeting.
Guest Post: The Fight Over Parents’ Rights in Schools Misses the Point of Public Education
Date Posted: 2/01/2023
"The public good? Sounds like Marxism." Read more from guest writer Joel Nihlean.
An Education Savings Account is a voucher
Date Posted: 2/01/2023
ATPE says Gov. Greg Abbott’s support for an ESA voucher scheme overlooks the reality of sending taxpayer dollars out of the public school system.
From The Texas Tribune: With full state coffers and bipartisan support, Texas teachers are hopeful they’ll get a raise this year
Date Posted: 1/30/2023
The pandemic, inflation and burnout have pummeled teachers in the last few years. Lawmakers from both parties agree they should get a pay bump — but it won’t happen without negotiation.
Teach the Vote's Week in Review: Jan. 27, 2023
Date Posted: 1/27/2023
Teacher pay and voucher bills are generating media attention, and Texas senators received their committee assignments this week.
Senate announces committee assignments for 2023 legislative session
Date Posted: 1/23/2023
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) announced Senate committee assignments Monday for the 2023 legislative session.
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: Jan. 20, 2023
Date Posted: 1/20/2023
Texas state leaders were inaugurated this week and previewed their priorities for the legislative session now underway. Read more from the ATPE lobby team.
During inaugural ceremony, top Texas leaders vow to pass private school voucher legislation in 2023
Date Posted: 1/17/2023
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick used the Jan. 17 event to announce he is “all in” with Gov. Greg Abbott on passing a voucher bill this session.
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: Jan. 13, 2023
Date Posted: 1/13/2023
We’re off to the races! Catch up on a busy week of ATPE advocacy as the 88th Texas Legislature officially gets underway.
From The Texas Tribune: Texas lawmakers will have $188.2 billion available for the next budget after record-breaking revenue growth
Date Posted: 1/10/2023
It’s more money than legislators have ever had at their disposal, with an increase in available funds that dwarfs previous jumps between cycles. It’s also more than they can constitutionally spend.
Phelan reelected Texas House Speaker as 2023 legislative session begins
Date Posted: 1/10/2023
The 88th Texas Legislature convened Jan. 10 at noon in Austin. Soon thereafter, the House reelected Rep. Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) as its presiding officer.
Governor Abbott appoints Allred and Williams, reappoints Elliott to Teacher Retirement System of Texas Board of Trustees
Date Posted: 1/09/2023
Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Brittny Allred and Elvis Williams and reappointed John Elliott to the TRS board for terms to expire Aug. 31, 2027.
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: Jan. 6, 2023
Date Posted: 1/06/2023
Happy New Year! ATPE is counting down the hours until the start of the 88th Texas Legislature. Catch up on the latest advocacy developments.
ATPE's Legislative Priorities for the 88th Texas Legislature
Date Posted: 1/05/2023
Texas lawmakers will convene in Austin Jan. 10. Take a look at ATPE's priorities for the 2023 regular session.