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

• TEA releases 2024 STAAR scores for grades 3–8
• Congressional committees hold hearings on Social Security insolvency
• Hear the latest on ATPE’s GPO/WEP-related advocacy at the 2024 ATPE Summit

STAAR: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) released 2024 STAAR scores for grades 3-8 Friday. Parents can view their child’s STAAR scores here using their child’s unique six-digit code. In its press release, TEA announced varying scores for reading-language arts (RLA), with grades 3, 5, and 8 dropping by 2%, while grades 4 and 6 rose 3 and 4 points, respectively. Social studies scores remained steady, while math and science scores dropped across all grade levels.  

It is important to note, however, that TEA is again highlighting a standard other that the passing standard when discussing STAAR scores. TEA took a similar tactic in its press release announcing 2024 end-of-course (EOC) STAAR results. ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave analyzed that press announcement in this Teach the Vote blog post.  

When comparing the grade 3-8 data for this year with pre-COVID data, the agency is quick to highlight the math scores—which, like all scores dipped following the pandemic, have not yet returned to pre-COVID levels. The agency fails to point out, however, that RLA scores have bounced back and are now above pre-COVID levels. Additionally, looking at raw STAAR scores alone does not account for many factors affecting these scores. Although COVID had the most obvious and long-lasting impact, test redesign and moving the test online also had an impact on scores. Another significant but little discussed factor following COVID is that teachers were regularly pushed to perform beyond their sustainable capacity levels. With many unable to maintain the same level of strenuous workloads for a fourth year in a row, it is little wonder we are seeing a slight dip in scores following three years of steep gains. This fatigue has been exacerbated by some legislators and state leaders who—in addition to causing the state to shirk its duty to fund public schools—have manufactured a culture war around public education and educators. As a result, districts, schools, and teachers across the state have been asked to do more with less all while under attack.  

SOCIAL SECURITY: School may be out for the summer, but congressional hearings on Social Security have been heating up as federal lawmakers look for ways to avoid Social Security insolvency. The Senate Finance Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions, and Family Policy held a hearing in Ohio June 7 titled “Keeping the Promise of Social Security for Ohio’s First Responders and Public Servants.” The hearing was not broadcast, but the second panel of invited testimony included a retired teacher, a special needs bus driver, and a school secretary. They all spoke on the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). Retired teacher Diane Gibson testified that: “WEP and GPO are hurting retired educators and making it hard for the schools we spent our careers in to attract teachers at times of record teacher shortages. Congress must finally act and pass your bill (the Social Security Fairness Act) so that educators, law enforcement, firefighters and their families can finally receive the full Social Security benefits they deserve.” 

ATPE SUMMIT: If you want to hear the latest on ATPE’s advocacy efforts to reform the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), you need to attend the 2024 ATPE Summit, July 8–10 at the Sheraton Dallas. ATPE’s federal contract lobbyist, David Pore of Hance Scarborough LLP, will join the ATPE Lobby Team for the July 9 Advocacy Update & Awards general session. Although the early bird registration and delegate certification deadlines have passed, you can still register for the summit through June 28. ATPE members may register for $235 and nonmembers for $285, and your registration includes the opportunity to earn up to seven hours of continuing professional education (CPE) credit. Learn more and register at atpesummit.org.