The ATPE Governmental Relations team recaps the past week’s education news, legislative and election updates, and regulatory developments.

• How ATPE is fighting for educators in Washington, D.C.
• Seven school districts file suit over state’s rollout of new A-F accountability standards
• Students and educators may receive discounts on Texas Tribune Festival tickets
• ICYMI: The Fall 2023 issue of ATPE News is now available online
• Women’s Equality Day is Aug. 26

FEDERAL: Since 2004, ATPE and Austin-based law firm Hance Scarborough LLP have partnered to lobby for education policy change at the U.S. Capitol. Hance Scarborough has been working on federal legislation to address the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), two provisions in Social Security law that arbitrarily reduce the individual and spousal/widow(er) benefits, respectively, of public educators and other public employees who are also eligible for a government pension like that provided by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. Learn more about retirement benefits for Texas public school educators here. 

ATPE and Hance Scarborough also closely monitor and lobby the U.S. House and Senate Education Committees as well as the U.S. Department of Education on issues related to ESSA and federal accountability requirements and maintaining or increasing federal education funding, including protecting the Title 1 formula model for distributing federal money to local education agencies and schools. They also advocate against attempts by some in Congress to create a pilot voucher program or block grant federal funds that would divert funding away from the critical Title 1 program designed to help low-income and disadvantaged students. Find additional information about our advocacy efforts at the U.S. Capitol here.  

CUT SCORES: KUT reported Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, that seven Texas school districts had filed suit against Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath over changes to the state’s A-F accountability system. The lawsuit seeks to prevent Morath from “unlawfully lowering A-F performance ratings for the 2022–2023 school year by retroactively changing the rules in a way that will arbitrarily lower performance ratings for many school districts and campuses even though their performance improved.” We previously reported on these changes to the A-F accountability ratings in this blog post, noting how the timing of artificially lowering school accountability ratings lines up with Gov. Greg Abbott's (R) push to pass a voucher.  

TEXAS TRIBUNE FESTIVAL: Students and educators may purchase discounted tickets to The Texas Tribune Festival, which is happening Sept. 21–23 in downtown Austin. The event features 100-plus interviews and panel discussions with nearly 300 speakers. Tickets are $50 for students and $75 for educators—compared with $269 general admission. See the full program and purchase your tickets today. 

FALL 2023 ATPE NEWS: In this issue, we learn how scholastic esports programs could help engage students, discover how one school district is fighting the student homelessness crisis, and take a look back at the 2023 ATPE Summit. ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter also shares three steps for turning anger into action at the Capitol in Your Voice. 

WOMEN'S EQUALITY DAY: Women’s Equality Day celebrates the 19th amendment, which provided women with the right to vote, and raises awareness of their continuing fight for equality. Learn about the history behind Women’s Equality Day in this ATPE Blog post.