The ATPE Governmental Relations team recaps the past week’s education news, legislative and election updates, and regulatory developments. ATPE members: Share your thoughts and ask our lobby team questions in The Rotunda on the ATPE Online Community. 

• U.S. Supreme Court rules Texas can use controversial new congressional maps in March 2026 primaries
• SBEC discusses National Board Certification, development of new certification exam, and more
• Comptroller’s office announces final rules for the Texas voucher program
• SBOE covers jam-packed agenda with far-reaching implications at November meeting
• ATPE launches new partnership with the Texas Association of Rural Schools
• Don’t miss ATPE’s free Dec. 9 webinar, the 2026 ATPE Summit Call for Proposals, and more
• Use your teacher voice with ATPE’s advocacy tools

ELECTIONS: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Texas may use the new congressional district maps approved by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in August during the March 2026 primary elections. Redistricting typically occurs once every 10 years following the U.S. Census, but this midcycle redistricting was pushed by President Donald Trump with the goal of holding a GOP majority in the U.S. House during the upcoming midterms. The Texas redistricting fight set off quorum breaks and redistricting efforts on the other side of the aisle in blue states such as California. Learn more in this article from The Texas Tribune, and check out how your congressional district will change using this interactive tool from the Tribune. (The redistricting will not affect Texas legislative or State Board of Education districts.) The deadline for candidates to file to be on the March 2026 primary election ballots is Dec. 8.

SBEC: The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) met Thursday and Friday with a full agenda, including the appointment of a committee to review the content of National Board Certification materials to ensure they meet state requirements; discussion of changes to 19 TAC Ch. 227, 228, 230, 247, and 249 to align with new legislation; and an update on the development of the Texas Test of Teacher Proficiency, T-TEP, which will replace the Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) exam. Teach the Vote will have a full update early next week.

VOUCHERS: Acting State Comptroller Kelly Hancock (R) announced the final rules for the Texas voucher program, otherwise known as Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA), on Nov. 25. The rules officially set guidelines about Pre-K funding and upcoming windows for schools and families to begin applying for the program, as well as guidelines for special education funding. ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave takes a close look at the new program in this blog post.

SBOE: The State Board of Education (SBOE) met Nov. 18–21 in Austin and covered an agenda that was packed with decisions that will shape classroom practice, district planning, and educator workload for the 2026–27 school year and beyond. From IMRA approvals under HB 1605 to new Career and Technical Education (CTE) TEKS, graduation rule changes, and early steps toward the statewide literary works list, the board’s actions will carry real implications for public schools across Texas. Check out ATPE Lobbyist Heather Sheffield’s comprehensive wrap-up for more.

TARS: ATPE was honored to participate in the 2025 TAMS-TARS Legislative Conference, “Deep in the Heart of Texas,” Dec. 4–5 in Georgetown. The two-day conference about school finance, accountability, and lessons from the 2025 Legislature coincided with the launch of ATPE’s new strategic partnership with the Texas Association of Rural Schools (TARS) designed to strengthen support for rural educators and elevate their voices in statewide decision-making. Learn more in this blog post from ATPE Lobbyist Heather Sheffield.

ATPE: ATPE members will want to take note of the following news and opportunities:

• Join ATPE and The Social Institute at 5 p.m. CT Dec. 9 for “2025's Biggest Trends with Students, Tech, and Social Media,” a free live webinar examining student social media use. Members who attend the live webinar will earn one hour of continuing professional education (CPE) credit. Register here.
• The 2026 ATPE Summit Call for Proposals is now open. The Summit Programming Committee is seeking breakout session proposals on a variety of topics, including well-being and balance; meeting needs of neurodiverse educators; professional growth and reflective practices; innovation, creativity, and modern tools for educators; restoring joy and purpose; professional autonomy; and maximizing income/financial literacy. Learn about the call for proposals on atpenews.org. The submission deadline is Jan. 12.
• ATPE was honored to contribute to the 19th Annual Bragging Rights Issue of Texas School Business The publication highlights 12 Texas public school programs and initiatives that showcase innovative thinking, passion, determination, and strong leadership. Read the digital publication here.

MEMBER ADVOCACY: Even when the Legislature’s not in session, we urge you to stay informed and engaged. Here are a few advocacy resources to check out: 

• Advocacy Central: Get in touch with your elected officials about the legislation impacting your profession.  

• Judy: Chat with ATPE’s new AI assistant for Texas educators, ready to help you with all things ATPE and all things #txed.   

• ATPE Member Advocate Program (ATPE-MAP): Enroll in ATPE-MAP to earn state-level and local-level advocacy microcredentials, as well as earn continuing professional education (CPE) credit. ATPE-MAP is included in your member benefits, so be sure to check it out today.    

• ATPE Professional Learning (PL) Portal: Three sessions from the 2025 ATPE Summit are available in the ATPE PL Portal: an HB 2 compensation overview, the ATPE lobby team’s advocacy update and the closing keynote by Jonathan Alsheimer. Log in to watch the recordings and earn 1.5 hours of continuing professional education (CPE) credit. (Jonathan Alsheimer’s appearance arranged through Gotham Artists.) 
• The Rotunda: Don’t forget, members, that you can interact with your ATPE lobby team throughout the week when you log in to the ATPE Online Community.