Here is your weekly education news wrap-up, the special session preview edition:

• Join ATPE for Monday's pro-public education rally at the Capitol!
• Patrick lays out his proposal to address Abbott's call for a teacher pay raise
• Proponents of payroll deduction still hiding behind lies

ATPE and other public education allies are sponsoring a pro-public education rally on Monday, July 17 at the Capitol! The rally will begin at 1:30pm, bringing together educators, parents, students, and all public education advocates to rally in support of Texas public education ahead of the special session.

ATPE's own Gary Godsey will speak at the rally alongside several other guest speakers and live entertainment. Join us to show support for public education as we head into a special session that features calls for vouchers, dismantling of educators' rights, and other potentially troubling public education bills. Help us show lawmakers that public education needs their support! Show up and wear your red for public ed! We look forward to seeing you there.  

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick outlines special session proposals.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick laid out his vision for satisfying Gov. Greg Abbott's special session call to give all teachers a $1000 pay raise, or require districts to give all teachers a pay raise. Based on his press conference yesterday, it seems Patrick mostly agrees that the best approach to a teacher pay raise is to require it within existing school budgets and money dedicated to public education.

ATPE Lobbyist Mark Wiggins was at the Capitol for the press conference and has more on Patrick's teacher pay raise plan as well as a plan to provide a bonus to retirees. More on the press conference can be read in this Austin American Statesman article where ATPE Lobbyist Monty Exter gives additional perspective and in this KXAN Austin story featuring an ATPE member and Mesquite, Texas educator.  

Gary Godsey

Despite efforts by educators and some lawmakers to clarify the rampant misinformation regarding the reasons for banning payroll deduction for educators, proponents continue to spread these lies in an effort to deflect from what's really behind the purely political effort: silencing educators' collective voice. ATPE Executive Director Gary Godsey sets the record straight this week in an editorial featured in the Houston Chronicle.

"This legislation aims to specifically deny teachers the ability to voluntarily deduct membership fees directly from their paychecks," Godsey said, "with the hope that reducing convenience and security will lead to fewer teachers joining groups that advocate inside the Texas Capitol for classrooms and children."

Check out and retweet this video for more on the truth about payroll deduction. ATPE members can also visit Advocacy Central to send a message to state legislators about this needless attack on educators who choose to join professional organizations that advocate for them and for our public schools. We also encourage educators and other stakeholders to contact their legislators on the other education issues on the special session agenda. Legislators need to hear from you!