Happy Friday! Here's a review of some education stories that made the news this week.

• Read about ATPE's lobbying efforts on Social Security.

• The Texas Tribune reports that some experts anticipate a school finance ruling in early 2016.

• Submit your comments to SBEC on proposed changes to superintendent certification rules.

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This week ATPE Lobbyist Josh Sanderson provided an update on our efforts to address federal laws that reduce educators' Social Security benefits. Sanderson writes, "The cost of completely repealing the GPO and WEP has proven to be prohibitive, and no federal legislation that would repeal either provision has ever been successful." However, working alongside U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX) and the Texas Retired Teachers Association, ATPE is lobbying in D.C. for a bill that Sanderson explains "would repeal the existing arbitrary WEP formula and replace it with one that actually reflects the contributions employees have made to Social Security."

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We republished an article yesterday from The Texas Tribune's Kiah Collier about the pending school finance litigation. Collier writes that "the consensus among experts and insiders is that a decision will come early next year and likely will require a 2016 special legislative session because it will favor, at least in part, the 600 school districts suing the state. That could mean that a school finance fix is in place before the next school year." The article also discusses the impact of the 2016 elections on the timing of such a ruling and a possible special session.

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Don't forget that the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) is still accepting public comments on its proposal to allow superintendents to become certified despite having no prior experience as a teacher or principal. You may submit written comments via e-mail to SBEC now through Oct. 5. Click here for more details.

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View additional stories you may have missed from Teach the Vote, ATPE, and other public education supporters on social media this week: