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

• SBEC tackles ranges of EPP and certification exam issues during Thursday work session before its Friday meeting
• TRS Board announces three TRS-Care program updates, including lowered TRS-Care Medicare Advantage premiums
• U.S. House Republicans move plan to cut Title I dollars forward
• ATPE Summit Advocacy Update now available on demand through ATPE Professional Learning Portal
• Opportunities to comment on proposed TEA rules

SBEC: The State Board for Educator Certification met Thursday and Friday in Austin. On Thursday, the board met in a work session to tackle a range of issues, including the Effective Preparation Framework (EPF) and Continuous Approval Review (CAR) process for Educator Preparation Programs (EPPs); progress in developing a Texas-specific Teacher Performance Assessment (TxTPA); implementation of legislation requiring updates to standards under the board’s purview; and potential revisions to the Educator Preparation Stakeholder Group (EPSG) stakeholder group, of which ATPE is a member. ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave recaps the work session in this Teach the Vote blog post. On Friday, the board’s agenda included discussion of revisions to discipline standards, teacher pedagogy standards, and special education certification requirements, among other items. Look for a full recap of Friday’s SBEC meeting on Teach the Vote next week.

TRS: The Teacher Retirement System (TRS) Board of Trustees met July 18–19 and announced three TRS-Care program updates, including the lowering of TRS-Care Medicare Advantage premiums for the 2025 plan year, as well as a limited-time enrollment opportunity (Oct. 1–March 31, 2026) for Medicare-eligible TRS retirees and their eligible dependents to enroll in or rejoin TRS-Care Medicare Advantage. Retirees eligible for TRS-Care may also enroll in new dental and vision plans between Oct. 1 and Dec. 7. The plans are available to all eligible retirees, regardless of whether they participate in TRS-Care medical and pharmacy coverage, and you can choose dental, vision, or both. Look for a full report next week on Teach the Vote.

FEDERAL BUDGET: On July 10, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee approved a Republican-led plan for the federal fiscal year 2025 budget that would cut the U.S. Department of Education budget by $11 billion or 13% overall, including $4.7 billion from the Title I grant program. The plan in front of the House Appropriations Committee was approved in a 31-25 party line vote. ATPE Lobbyist Heather Cave has more in this blog post.

ADVOCACY UPDATE: The ATPE Governmental Relations team’s Advocacy Update from the 2024 ATPE Summit is now available for on-demand viewing through the ATPE Professional Learning Portal. ATPE members may earn one hour of continuing professional education (CPE) credit for watching the session, which covers the 2023 legislative and special sessions and the governor's unsuccessful attempt to pass private school vouchers. ATPE lobbyists also look ahead to the upcoming November election and the 2025 legislative session while discussing how the retirement and recent primary defeat of several public education allies will shape those events. To view the session, log in to the portal at atpe.org/cpe, then search for "Advocacy Update Recording" to enroll in the course.

PROPOSED RULES: TEA released three proposed new or amended rules Friday:

• Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 89, which affects special education students. The proposed amendments touch on a range of issues, from graduation requirements to the use of tasers and chemical irritants.
• New rule 19 TAC 103, impacting placement of a student in a disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP). This proposed rule would allow swapping out a student placed in a DAEP for a non-violent offense with a student who has committed a violent offense in the case where the DAEP is full.
• New rule 19 TAC Chapter 153, implementing mental health training required by House Bill (HB)3, 88th Texas Legislature. The bill, and subsequent rule, requires each school district employee who regularly interacts with students enrolled in the district to complete an evidence-based mental health training program designed to provide instruction to participants regarding the recognition and support of children and youth who experience a mental health or substance use issue that may pose a threat to school safety.

Each of these rule rules is open for public comment through Aug. 19. Comments can be submitted directly to TEA using the agency’s online submission form. In addition, there will be public hearings on the proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 89 on July 30 and 31. The public may participate in either hearing virtually by linking to the hearing at https://zoom.us/j/98935357757. Anyone wishing to testify must be present at 9:30 a.m. and indicate to TEA staff their intent to comment and are encouraged to also send written testimony to sped@tea.texas.gov.