The ATPE Governmental Relations team recaps the past week’s education news, legislative and election updates, and regulatory developments. 

• One month from voter registration deadline, and primary election campaigning is in full swing
• Star-Telegram examines real-world impact of legislative inaction on teacher pay
• Update on TRS communications to eligible annuitants re: COLA
• TEA releases 2022-23 federal report cards, including educator certification data

PRIMARY ELECTION: Feb. 5 is the voter registration deadline for the 2024 primary elections. That’s one month from today, and the campaigns are already in full swing. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) is using his X/Twitter feed to target Republican House members who stood with public education by voting against private school vouchers, starting with a tweet against Rep. Justin Holland (R–Rockwall) and another against Rep. Hugh Shine (R–Temple). Early voting runs Feb. 20–March 1 for the March 5 primaries. To start preparing, confirm your voter registration online, and then read this blog post by ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave, which explains the lay of the land. This Texas Monthly article is also a good read, taking a deep dive into the complicated politics within the Texas Republican Party at present due to the impeachment proceedings against Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) and the private school voucher debate. 

TEACHER PAY: Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporter Eleanor Dearman takes a close look in this article at the real-world impact of the Legislature’s failure to pass a teacher pay raise. The article quotes ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave as well as Fort Worth-area ATPE members. “I think it’s time for teachers in Texas [to receive a significant pay raise],” Region 11 ATPE Director Christopher Adams says in the article.  

TRS COLA: Teacher Retirement System (TRS) annuitants who are eligible for the cost-of-living adjustment authorized by Senate Bill (SB) 10 and House Joint Resolution (HJR) 2 as passed by the 88th Legislature should be on the lookout for a mailed letter the week of Jan. 22 from TRS showing the amount of their new monthly annuity payment. The increase will begin with the January 2024 payment issued Jan. 31. The 2023 TRS Retiree Benefits Enhancement webpage on the TRS website offers helpful information, including COLA FAQs.

FEDERAL REPORT CARDS: The Texas Education Agency has released 2022-23 Federal Report Cards as required by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). These report cards include state-, district- and campus-level data on standardized testing, English language proficiency, student discipline, educator certification, and more. The state-level data reported to the U.S. Secretary of Education shows that 16.2% of teachers across Texas are considered “inexperienced”; 4.2% are teaching with emergency or provisional credentials; and 11.8% are teaching outside their certification area.