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. 

• Learn where the candidates stand on public education
• Register to vote in the March primary election by Feb. 2
• The 2026 ATPE Summit Call for Proposals is open through Jan. 19
• Stay in the know and take action with ATPE’s member advocacy tools

CANDIDATES: In December, ATPE sent candidate survey invitations to candidates running in 2026 for select statewide and all legislative and State Board of Education seats. We’ve heard directly from many candidates seeking to shape the future of Texas public education. Check out their candidate profiles here on Teach the Vote and review positions, compare viewpoints, review incumbent voting records, and make informed decisions. Stay tuned for updates as we receive more surveys. 

ELECTIONS: The voter registration deadline for the March primary election is less than a month away. Here are the key upcoming election dates for 2026:  

• Voter registration deadline for the Primary Election: Feb. 2  
• First day of Early Voting: Feb. 16  
• Last day of Early Voting: Feb. 27  
• Primary Election Day: March 3  
• Primary Runoff Election (if needed): May 26  
• General Election Day: Nov. 3  

SUMMIT: The 2026 ATPE Summit Call for Proposals is now open through Jan. 19. 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.  

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.