Teach the Vote's Week in Review: Jan. 28, 2022
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Educator Preparation | Certification Congress | Federal COVID-19 Elections TEA | Commissioner | SBOE
Date Posted: 1/28/2022
The ATPE Governmental Relations team recaps this week’s education news, legislative updates, and regulatory developments.
- SBOE approves ATPE-backed changes to contract abandonment rules
- Register by Monday to vote in the March 1 primary election
- Education is “a wedge issue” in upcoming elections
- TRS covering at-home COVID-19 test kits
- U.S. Education Secretary Cardona outlines “Vision for Education in America”
- Student loan payments will resume May 1
- ATPE shares a message of support to Texas educators
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SBOE: The State Board of Education (SBOE) held its first meeting of the year this week, voting today to approve changes to the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) rules on educator contract abandonment. The result of three years of negotiations, the ATPE-supported rule changes may help more educators stay in the classroom by giving SBEC increased flexibility to consider reducing sanctions for educators who resign from their positions in challenging situations.
Prior to the full board’s deliberations, the SBOE Committee on School Initiatives voted Thursday to recommend that the SBEC rule changes be approved. Read more about Thursday’s action in this blog post by ATPE Lobbyist Mark Wiggins, who testified virtually before the committee. On Friday, the full SBOE voted 12-3 to take no action on the SBEC rule changes, thereby allowing them to take effect March 3.
Also Friday, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath updated the SBOE on changes to the STAAR test being developed in response to 2019 legislation. These include transitioning to online testing and modifying the format of the test to reduce the emphasis on multiple-choice items. Read more about Friday’s SBOE meeting in this blog post by Wiggins.
ELECTIONS: Monday, Jan. 31 is the LAST DAY to register to vote in the March 1 primary election, which is when the outcome of many of this year’s high-profile Texas races will be determined. Read more about registering to vote and the significance of the primaries in this post on the ATPE Blog.
Dates to remember:
- Jan. 31 – Last day to register to vote
- Feb. 14 – First day of early voting ♥
- Feb. 18 – Last day an application to vote by mail can be received
- Feb. 25 – Last day of early voting
- March 1 – Texas Primary Election Day
Candidate profiles on Teach the Vote include contact information for the campaigns, responses to the ATPE Candidate Survey, and incumbent legislators’ voting records from 2021 and earlier. Remember: If candidates in your districts have not yet responded to our survey, encourage them to contact government@atpe.org for a link to the survey.
Related: Raise Your Hand Texas (RYHT) is hosting “For the Future” Candidate Forums around the state from Feb. 3-24. Check out the RYHT forum page to find an event near you.
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The federal government is also distributing four free over-the-counter, at-home tests per household upon request. Learn more and order your free tests here.
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LOANS: The pause on federal student loan payments is set to end in just a few months. Borrowers will resume payments on May 1 and should start preparing for the additional responsibility. Check out this reporting from NPR for tips on preparation.
FRIENDS: ATPE wants to share a message of support and thanks to Texas educators. Click the link below to watch a video message from Leslie Milder, co-founder of Friends of Texas Public Schools.
CONVERSATION
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Yes, Leslie! That teacher voice that makes people sit up and pay attention!!! We HAVE to use it in these elections! And, educators, you ARE amazing!!!!!!!