Following a disappointing Texas primary election in March, it appears the Texas House will be far less friendly to public education going forward. Some of these races have been tight, and in such a unique election season, we have seen millions of dollars poured in from out-of-state donors to spread anti-public education propaganda. Originally attracted to Texas races as voucher proponents, these non-Texans continue to run attack ad after attack ad against public education-friendly candidates on issues completely unrelated to public schools.

You’ve heard that voter turnout is the key to getting legislators to listen and take education issues seriously, so the maxim “You must be present to win” legitimately describes our situation in the May 28 runoff election. Educators need to consistently show up at the polls not just to support our candidates but also to send a message to lawmakers that our schools and educators deserve better funding and compensation, respectively.

So where can you find information on races and candidates in your area? And who can vote in which primary runoff race?

In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter explains the how, when, and why of voting pro-public ed in the upcoming runoff election.

You might be asking yourself, “Didn’t I just vote in March?” Well, we hope the answer to that question is yes, but public education is always on the ballot, and there are two more elections in the month of May that are just as important for Texas educators.

Early voting for the May 4 election runs from April 22–30, and depending on where you live, you might have a school board trustee, bond, and/or an appraisal district board election on your ballot.

Bond dollars finance maintenance, new buildings, sports stadiums, technology, and more. This can be especially important for school staff, too, because you don’t want to work in a building without proper air conditioning or heat. Contrary to popular belief, bond money does not pay teacher salaries, but school board trustees do make decisions regarding teacher pay, as well as approving curriculum and district policy.

Some of you will also have a primary runoff election May 28, and early voting for this will run May 20–24. And in this race, many of our pro-public education legislators will need your support.

With the huge impact that bond, appraisal, and school board trustee elections can have on our public schools, what more do you need to know, and what resources are available to prepare you for these elections?

In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE’s newest lobbyist Heather Sheffield discusses the upcoming May elections—specifically, the difference between school board and bond elections and why they matter for Texas educators.

In preparation for the launch of a new online community and professional learning platform, ATPE has hired a new engagement and learning specialist to spearhead these projects and foster opportunities for ATPE members to engage with each other and take part in high-quality professional learning. Andrea Hutlock joined the ATPE team in the Marketing & Communications department in January.

Many educators have struggled with making teaching a viable and successful career, and a common cause for concern—especially for teachers in rural or smaller districts—is the feeling of being siloed. Having access to a mentor or professional community that knows and understands your position is the key to finding the support you need.

Additionally, without a shared definition for professional development, the amount of value that individual educators take from these sessions can vary wildly. And with the potential for disparity between what many districts offer and what teachers really need, how can ATPE look to bridge that gap? In what ways can we provide members an opportunity to supply feedback and engage with each other on this problem in a professional setting?

In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE’s Engagement and Learning Specialist Andrea Hutlock describes her new column in ATPE News magazine, learning opportunities at the upcoming ATPE Summit, and other ATPE initiatives to rethink professional learning for educators.

The fourth special legislative session wrapped up Dec. 5 following a dramatic battle between lawmakers over Gov. Greg Abbott’s private school voucher agenda. Although the Legislature did not pass a voucher program, it also did not pass any increases in school funding, including funding for teacher pay raises or funding to help with the costs of implementing the regular session’s school safety bill.

So, what is the likelihood Abbott will call another special session, and is there any indication another vote on voucher legislation would turn out differently? And what ever happened to the school funding bills that received so much attention during the regular legislative session?

If anything is clear following the latest special session, it’s that the issues we face are driven less by policy than by politics and the only way to solve a political issue is at the ballot box. With the election rapidly approaching, this is the perfect opportunity to support public education by voting, engaging with your colleagues and community, and even thanking those lawmakers who helped stave off vouchers once again.

In this episode, ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter updates us on where we stand on vouchers and funding after the latest special session.

As the popularity of social networking has grown, so too has the potential for its misuse. As an educator, you are held to a high standard of conduct, even when you are engaging with social media platforms outside of school, and expecting teachers not to use social networking is not realistic or fair. There are many educational benefits to engaging with these platforms as well.

With all the issues educators encounter in this digital space, it is important to know what social media behavior is considered appropriate and what can get you into trouble, as there can be a fine line between exercising your constitutional right to free speech and violating your district’s policies. So how do educators navigate the intersection between their personal lives and their workplaces when online? Can you share your opinion about politics or district policies? And under what circumstances should an educator “friend” or “follow” their students on a personal social media account?

In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Staff Attorney Jeff Kelly reveals how educators can avoid violating the law and running afoul of district policies when using social media.

The legal information provided here is accurate as of the date of publication. It is provided here for informative purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

With the 88th regular legislative session ending months ago and a special session beginning soon, lawmakers continue to battle over the future of public education policy in Texas. Again, private school voucher legislation will be the focus, and the magnitude of educator engagement will likely determine the results.

In the regular session, ATPE testified on a number of bills and worked with legislators in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle to craft and pass meaningful legislation. With the help of engaged educators from all over the state, we were able to reduce accelerated instruction burdens caused by HB 4545 in the previous session with HB 1416, secure a much-needed COLA and extra check for our retirees, and end the session without a voucher.

In the upcoming special session, what other education issues are we likely to see addressed? Will we see legislation concerning teacher pay and retention, school funding, or even testing reform? And if we do, what is the likelihood that we get any of those things without a voucher attached?

In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave previews the upcoming special session, what educators can expect, and what you can do to be involved.

In June, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 133. This new law prohibits the physical restraint of public school students by peace officers and school security personnel under certain circumstances.

So what is meant by the phrase “physical restraint”? In this context, physical restraint involves an emergency situation where physical interaction is a last resort. Texas law defines “restraint” as the use of physical force or a mechanical device to significantly restrict the free movement of all or a portion of a student's body.

Physical restraint is an issue that has long been discussed in the Legislature, and it has largely become an issue that focuses on concerns from the special education community. How could this new legislation affect your classroom, and how will lawmakers handle this issue moving forward?

In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Managing Attorney Lance Cain and ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter break down both the legal and legislative sides of a new law regarding the physical restraint of students in the classroom.

The legal information provided here is accurate as of the date of publication. It is provided here for informative purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.

What do First Amendment rights look like for educators, and how much protection do those rights provide in schools and other public forums?

You’ll often see statements paraphrasing court opinions that educators and students don’t shed their First Amendment rights when they go to school. This may be true, but the protection the First Amendment provides isn’t absolute and can depend on the situation. Teachers and other educators are almost uniquely impacted by the First Amendment because not only are they individuals, but also they are employees, and their employer is a government entity. This can complicate situations for public school employees. From the perspective of a parent or student, the educator is part of a governmental body, so the educator may also be accused of infringing on someone else’s freedoms under the First Amendment.

In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Staff Attorney Jeff Kelly breaks down your First Amendment rights as an educator and the limited protection the First Amendment provides.

The legal information provided here is accurate as of the date of publication. It is provided here for informative purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and readers needing individual legal advice should consult directly with an attorney. Please note: Rights based on the Texas Education Code may not apply to all. Many Texas Education Code provisions do not apply to public charter schools, and public school districts may have opted out of individual provisions through a District of Innovation plan. Eligible ATPE members may contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department.