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

• ATPE House of Delegates elects state officers, adopts new legislative program with preamble
• SBEC to meet July 18–19 to discuss development of a Texas-specific Teacher Performance Assessment and revisions to teacher pedagogy standards
• TRS Board to meet July 17–18 to discuss lowering TRS Medicare Advantage rates and premiums
• House Public Education Committee schedules interim hearings on vouchers, uncertified teachers, and more

Our thoughts are with the more than 870,000 Texans who—as of this writing—are still without power following damage sustained during Hurricane Beryl on Monday. The hurricane weighed heavily on the minds of ATPE Summit attendees as some ATPE members left their homes in the hurricane’s path and the travel plans of others were disrupted.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES: The 44th annual meeting of the ATPE House of Delegates took place Tuesday during the 2024 ATPE Summit in Dallas. Delegates elected the following educators as ATPE’s 2024-25 state officers: State President Jason Forbis, Midway (12) ISD; State Vice President Jerrica Liggins, Paris ISD; State Secretary Eli Rodriguez, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD; and State Treasurer Teresa Millard, Woden ISD. Jayne Serna, Leander ISD, will serve as immediate past state president. 

In other actions, the HOD readopted ATPE’s 13 standing resolutions and adopted an honorary resolution recognizing 2023-24 Immediate Past State President Stacey Ward. Delegates’ primary debate and focus centered on the ATPE Legislative Program. At the recommendation of the 2023-24 ATPE Legislative Committee, chaired by Gayle Sampley of Humble ATPE, the HOD allowed the 2023-24 ATPE Legislative Program to expire in its entirety and adopted a reorganized program with a few minor changes in its place. The new program includes the following preamble: 

“As the preeminent group of educators in our state, the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) seeks, in partnership with parents, public officials, and other community members, to provide current and future generations of young Texans with a free and appropriate public education.  Texas students deserve the opportunity to receive a well-rounded education.  We believe it is the state’s constitutional duty to provide adequate funding for the provision of safe, modern schools and the resources required to meet the needs of all students and those who educate them.  We further believe educators are the single most important resource in Texas public schools and that the state must provide the compensation and support required to attract and retain highly qualified, caring professionals.” 

The new ATPE Legislative Program can be read here and will be posted on atpe.org in the coming weeks. 

2023-24 ATPE Legislative Committee Chair Gayle Sampley thanked her committee and other members who contributed to the passage of the new legislative program with the gift of a special Texas plate during the ATPE Summit.

SBEC: The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) will meet July 18–19 in Austin. (See the agendas for Thursday’s work session and Friday’s board meeting.) Thursday’s work session will include discussion about educator preparation program quality, the development of a Texas-specific Teacher Performance Assessment, and the future of the Educator Preparation Stakeholder Group, of which ATPE is a member. Friday’s discussion topics will include revisions to TAC Ch. 235, the teacher pedagogy standards; a draft of TAC Ch. 231 rules regarding special education teacher certification; and amendments to the newly adopted TAC Ch. 228 rules regarding educator preparation programs.  

TRS: The Teacher Retirement System (TRS) Board of Trustees will meet July 17–18 in Austin to welcome Caasi Lamb as the new TRS deputy director and John Rutherford as the newest board appointment by Gov. Greg Abbott (R). Trustees will hear updates from staff and committees on benefits, investment management, policy, strategic planning, budget, compensation, and an audit. The board will consider actions to adopt lower TRS Medicare Advantage rates and premiums, as well as the fiscal-year budget. View the TRS Board agenda, and watch live beginning at 8 a.m. July 17 at this link.

INTERIM CHARGES: The House Public Education Committee has posted two hearings for Aug. 12 and 13 on interim charges issued by Speaker Dade Phelan.  

During the Aug. 12 hearing, the committee will discuss: 

• Implementation of House Bill (HB) 1605 related to statewide open-source curricular materials, HB 2209 establishing the Rural Pathway Excellence Partnership (R-PEP) program, and Senate Bill (SB) 2124 related to advanced mathematics pathways in middle school. 
• Vouchers (“education savings accounts”). 

During the Aug. 13 hearing, the committee will discuss: 

• The impact of uncertified teachers. 
• Reading and math proficiency in prekindergarten through third grade students. 

In addition to direct engagement from the ATPE Governmental Relations team, educators from across Texas can share their feedback on these important issues through the House public comment system. Be on the lookout for additional details from ATPE on how to share your comments with legislators as the hearing dates get closer.