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.  

• Governor announces members of new Texas Classroom Commission
• Conversation continues on future of National Board Certification within Teacher Incentive Allotment
• Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announces new Senate interim charges
• Second ATPE member appointed to State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)
• Join ATPE and Devin Siebold Aug. 11 for a Back-to-School Bash!
• Use your teacher voice with ATPE’s advocacy tools

COMMISSION: Three ATPE members are among 22 educators appointed to the newly created Texas Classroom Commission (TCC) to make legislative and policy recommendations on teaching, school climate, and student achievement.  

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced the slate of members in a July 29 press release, which claims the TCC will build on the work of the Teacher Vacancy Task Force (TVTF), which Abbott created during his last reelection campaign. It should be noted that many of the TVTF’s recommendations have not yet been implemented even though two legislative sessions have taken place since the task force’s creation in 2022. ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave has more in this blog post. 

SBEC: The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) voted at its July 23-24 meeting to require content changes in National Board materials by Nov. 2 to align with Texas law. A final vote on whether National Board Certification should remain a tier within the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) is expected in December.  

The board also discussed educator preparation program (EPP) evaluation processes and continued discussing redesign of certification exams as part of a broader effort to ensure assessments better measure whether candidates are prepared to be effective classroom teachers. Read more in this blog post by ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave. 

INTERIM CHARGES: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) announced seven more Senate interim charges Monday, including two that at least minimally touch public education. Patrick directed the Texas Senate Select Committee on Religious Liberty to study ways to educate Texans concerning their rights on religious liberty, including in education. While this charge does not appear directly aimed at identifying new classroom instruction-related legislation, it could certainly bleed into how schools interact with students and parents. Additionally, Patrick asked the committee to monitor implementation of SB 1049 by Sen. Phil King (R–Weatherford), which allows students to have an excused absence from school to attend a released time course, which is private religious instruction off school grounds. The Senate is expected to hold interim hearings this fall.  

ATPE MEMBER APPOINTED TO SBEC: Congratulations to Amarillo ATPE member and campus rep Cassidy Estes on her appointment to the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)! Gov. Greg Abbottt selected Estes and Kathy Ward of Plano as his most recent appointments to serve on the 15-member board. They will begin their six-year terms at the September SBEC meeting. Estes joins National Board Certified Teacher Bobbie Lynn Weir from Richardson ISD as the second ATPE member on the current SBEC board. 

BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH: Kick off the 2026-27 school year at the statewide ATPE Back-to-School Bash, an exclusive online event featuring former educator and comedian Devin Siebold! Gather your crew and join educators across Texas at 5 p.m. CDT Tuesday, Aug. 11, for a few much-needed laughs. Expect great comedy, games, and a few fun surprises. Learn more and sign up at atpenews.org. 

Devin Siebold’s appearance is arranged through Gotham Artists. 

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:  

• ATPE Mobile App: Check out the new ATPE Mobile App to conveniently access member benefits and advocacy tools.   

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

• Judy: Chat with ATPE’s 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.     

• 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.