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

• Morath calls for classroom ban on cellphones during Senate Ed interim hearing
• Roundup of news on educator retirement benefits, including federal activity on Social Security reform
• TRS Board of Trustees, State Board for Educator Certification meet
• House Public Ed chairman’s comments at Dallas event offer preview of 2025 session

SENATE EDUCATION: During Wednesday’s interim hearing of the Senate Education Committee, Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath called for a ban on cellphones in classrooms as well as changes to the STAAR test. John Scott, the TEA chief of school safety and security, also testified on the implementation of House Bill (HB) 3, the 2023 Legislature’s primary school safety legislation. ATPE submitted testimony urging the Legislature to prioritize funding for school safety, as well as testimony pointing out the detrimental impact of the historic increase in the percentage of uncertified teachers. Read Senior Lobbyist Mark Wiggins’ full recap here.  

RETIREMENT: Educator retirement benefits were on the agenda in multiple arenas this week. Teacher Retirement System (TRS) Executive Director Brian Guthrie presented the agency’s appropriations request to the Legislative Budget Board, asking for an additional $450 million in state contributions to prevent TRS-Care premium increases of up to 20%. The House Pensions, Investments, and Financial Services Committee held an interim hearing, and there was even federal action on the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)—but with the dwindling days in the congressional calendar and the proximity of the election, bill passage seems unlikely. Find a roundup of retirement news in this blog post. 

BOARD MEETINGS: The Teacher Retirement System (TRS) Board of Trustees met Thursday and Friday in Austin to hear committee reports and vote on investment management, policy, benefits, compensation, and strategic planning. ATPE Lobbyist Heather Sheffield attended and reports in this blog post. The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) also met Thursday and Friday in Austin. The SBEC agenda included discussions of revisions to the teacher pedagogy standards, special education certification requirements, and rules regarding disciplinary procedures. ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave testified on the pedagogy standards revisions and special education certification requirements, and ATPE Managing Attorney Lance Cain testified on the disciplinary rules. Cave has a report on SBEC’s discussions and actions here.

BUCKLEY: House Public Education Committee Chair Brad Buckley (R–Salado) promised more school funding and a renewed push for Gov. Greg Abbott’s voucher proposal in the upcoming 2025 legislative session during remarks Tuesday in Dallas. Buckley and Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner Mike Morath participated Tuesday in a State of Public Education event hosted by the Dallas Regional Chamber. ATPE Senior Lobbyist Mark Wiggins reports in this blog post.