Teach the Vote's Week in Review: Oct. 30, 2026

The ATPE Governmental Relations team recaps the past week’s education news, legislative and election updates, and regulatory developments. ATPE members: Share your thoughts and ask our lobby team questions in The Rotunda on the ATPE Online Community.

• You've voted. Now what? Tips to turn out the vote in Texas
• You must be present to win: Don’t rely on turnout predictions
• Educators have a lot at stake in this election
• From atpenews.org: Teacher Incentive Allotment 101
• Listen to the latest episode of The ATPE Podcast: The Neurodivergent Educator 
• Use your teacher voice with ATPE’s advocacy tools

VOTING TIPS: Even if you’ve already cast your ballot, you can continue to help get out the vote leading up to Election Day. In this blog post, ATPE Grassroots Advocacy Specialist Sara Sturtevant shares tips and tricks that are easy, effective, and don't take much time out of your schedule. 

If you weren’t able to vote early, your last chance to do so is between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3. Check your county elections website for polling locations.

Plus: After you vote, send a selfie to comm@atpe.org for a chance to be featured on ATPE’s social media or in the ATPE Online Community. And be sure to mark yourself “Present to Win” through ATPE’s get-out-the-vote initiative!

TURNOUT: Political observers are already analyzing voter turnout numbers and making predictions for the general election, but predicting outcomes can distract and dissuade. Early vote forecasts account for the electorate’s past history, such as whether a voter participated in a prior primary election. Texas has open primaries, so voting history cannot accurately indicate how voters will—or whether they will—ultimately vote in the general election. ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave has more in this blog post.

ELECTION: The U.S. Senate race between Ken Paxton and James Talarico might be in the spotlight as Election Day approaches, but it’s the local and state races that will impact public education the most. These races will decide who’s in charge of testing and accountability, educator certification, school finance, and much more. Because educators see firsthand how these decisions affect students, families, and public schools, it’s important to get the word out to your friends and family to vote for pro-education policymakers. ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave has more in this blog post.

TIA: If you’ve got questions about the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA), Enhanced TIA, and more, you’re not alone. TIA offers a meaningful financial boost, but the biggest misunderstandings usually come down to timing, local rules, and employment status. In this atpenews.org article, ATPE Managing Attorney Lance Cain breaks down eligibility requirements, what happens once a teacher has earned a TIA designation, the difference between the Teacher Retention Allotment (TRA) and TIA, and more.

Plus: Earn one hour of continuing professional education (CPE) credit by logging in to the ATPE Professional Learning Portal and watching our recently revised course “Navigating Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) 2026-27.”

PODCAST: In honor of October’s ADHD, Dyslexia, and Learning Disability Awareness months, the latest episode of The ATPE Podcast explores neurodivergence in education—shifting the focus to educators themselves. ATPE Learning and Engagement Specialist Andrea Hutlock brings together guests Rebecca Engle and Miranda Flanary to discuss the necessity of building supportive, school cultures for neurodivergent adults leading some of our classrooms.

Alongside this podcast episode, ATPE has released a professional learning opportunity designed to help school communities and individual educators navigate neurodivergence in the profession. Log into the ATPE Professional Learning Portal to find “The Neurodivergent Educator.”

MEMBER ADVOCACY: As we gear up for the next legislative session, we urge you to stay informed and engaged. Here are a few advocacy resources to check out:  

• ATPE Mobile App: Check out the new ATPE Mobile App to conveniently access member benefits and advocacy tools.   
• Advocacy Central: Get in touch with your elected officials about the legislation impacting your profession.   
• Judy: Chat with ATPE’s AI assistant for Texas educators, ready to help you with all things ATPE and all things #txed.    
• ATPE Member Advocate Program (ATPE-MAP): Enroll in ATPE-MAP to earn state-level and local-level advocacy microcredentials, as well as earn continuing professional education (CPE) credit. ATPE-MAP is included in your member benefits, so be sure to check it out today.     
• The Rotunda: Don’t forget, members, that you can interact with your ATPE lobby team throughout the week when you log in to the ATPE Online Community.