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. 

• ATPE testifies on discipline, early literacy and numeracy, and cell phone bans in House Public Education
• Senate passes two bills to insert religion in public schools
• Trump signs executive order to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education
• Eight ATPE members attend the latest ATPE Capitol Expedition
• Mark your calendar: Save Texas Schools Rally, April 5 at the State Capitol
• Member advocacy: Track bills, contact lawmakers and more using ATPE tools

HOUSE: The House Public Education Committee met Tuesday and heard multiple bills in one hearing for the first time this session. ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter and Region 13 ATPE Director Stephanie Stoebe both testified in support of House Bill (HB) 6 by Rep. Jeff Leach (R–Plano), which would expand a school’s right to use out-of-school suspensions to discipline students, expand the amount of time allowed for in-school suspensions, and create a virtual disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP) for students expelled from school. The bill would also provide some additional protections for students experiencing homelessness. (CBS Austin also interviewed Exter about this bill.) Exter also testified on HB 123, an early literacy and numeracy bill by Rep. Harold Dutton (D–Houston), and ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave testified on HB 1481 by Rep. Caroline Fairly (R–Amarillo). Learn more in Cave's blog post. 

SENATE: On Wednesday, the Senate passed two bills aimed at introducing religious elements into public schools: Senate Bill (SB) 10 by Sen. Phil King (R–Weatherford), which would mandate display of the Ten Commandments in every classroom, and SB 11 by Sen. Mayes Middleton (R–Galveston), which would allow school boards to adopt a policy requiring all campuses to set aside time during the school day for students and staff to pray or read the Bible (or another religious text). ATPE Lobbyist Heather Sheffield has more on these bills and more education-related Senate actions in this blog post. 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to close the U.S. Department of Education, the federal agency that oversees Title I funding, the provision of special education, and student loans. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged earlier in the day that shutting the agency completely down would require congressional action and that a smaller version of the agency would still be required to handle “critical functions.” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R), and Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) were all present for the signing. Read more in this blog post by ATPE Marketing & Engagement Director Kate Johanns. 

CAPITOL EXPEDITION: Thank you to the following ATPE members who participated in this week’s Capitol Expedition: Frank Alfaro, Alamo Heights; MaElena Ingram, McAllen; Region 13 ATPE Director Stephanie Stoebe, Round Rock; ATPE State Treasurer Teresa Millard, Woden; Kristel Sexton, Amarillo; Matthew Reisinger, Plano; Past State President/Region 10 ATPE Director Carl Garner, Richardson; and Miranda Flanary, McGregor. They not only visited with their specific elected officials but also attended Tuesday’s House Public Education Committee hearing. All of these members were eligible to attend because they have earned the ATPE Member Advocate Program (ATPE-MAP) State-Level Advocacy Microcredential. Although all Capitol Expeditions are now at capacity for the rest of the session, you may still earn your state-level microcredential, as well as the recently released ATPE-MAP Local Advocacy Microcredential. Learn more about atpe.org/member-advocate-program. 

Frank Alfaro, Alamo Heights; MaElena Ingram, McAllen; Region 13 ATPE Director Stephanie Stoebe, Round Rock; ATPE State Treasurer Teresa Millard, Woden; Kristel Sexton, Amarillo; Matthew Reisinger, Plano; Past State President/Region 10 ATPE Director Carl Garner, Richardson; and Miranda Flanary, McGregor

Matthew Reisinger points to “no vouchers” sign in Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos Rodriguez’s office

APRIL 5 RALLY: Save Texas Schools its next pro-public education rally from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. April 5 at the State Capitol. Find more information, including details about free transportation options from various areas of Texas, at savetxschools.org.  

MEMBER ADVOCACY: Now that we’re past the midpoint of the session, make sure to use ATPE’s multiple tools to help you stay on top of the latest from the Capitol. 

• The ATPE Bill Tracker: Find out the status of the major education bills moving through the Texas House and Senate, as well as ATPE’s position on each bill.  
• ATPE’s 2025 Legislative Priorities: Catch up on ATPE’s written and oral testimony from this session.   
• Advocacy Central: Get in touch with your elected officials. Current Advocacy Central campaigns allow you to thank House members for listening to their districts as well as urge lawmakers to improve the cell phone ban legislation.   
• ATPE Member Advocate Program (ATPE-MAP): Enroll in ATPE-MAP to earn the state-level and recently released local-level advocacy microcredential, as well as earn continuing professional education (CPE) credit. ATPE-MAP is included in your member benefits, so 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. (While you’re there, be sure to check out the latest Regional Advocacy Challenge (RAC) standings.)