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

• ATPE recaps the November 2024 election results
• Bipartisan Social Security bill killed in election night shenanigans
• Voters reject vouchers in Colorado, Kentucky, and Nebraska
• TRS offers limited-time enrollment opportunity in TRS-Care Medicare
• TEA releases final 2023-24 financial accountability ratings for schools
• ATPE members weigh in on our new Member Advocate Program (ATPE-MAP)
• Join fellow ATPE members in the brand-new online community
• Apply for ATPE state committee service by Nov. 17

ELECTION: In this blog post, ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave recaps the Nov. 5, 2024, election results that will have a statewide impact on Texas public education.  

Despite an anticipated tight U.S. Senate race between incumbent Ted Cruz (R) and Colin Allred (D), Cruz will remain in the role for the next six years.  

Republicans increased their majority in the Texas House, winning every race in which Gov. Greg Abbott (R) backed a candidate, including two battleground seats in San Antonio, as well as two seats in the Dallas area.  

The Texas Senate now holds a 20-11 Republican majority. The only competitive Senate seat this cycle, South Texas’ Senate District (SD) 27, will be filled by Adam Hinojosa (R), who defeated incumbent Sen. Morgan LaMantia (D–South Padre Island).  

The State Board of Education (SBOE) had eight seats up for election this cycle, including a special election in SBOE 13 to replace Aicha Davis (D), who was elected to represent House District 109; a race in SBOE 1 to replace outgoing member Melissa Ortega (D); and a race in SBOE 11 to replace long-time member Pat Hardy (R), who was unseated in the primary.  

SOCIAL SECURITY: The U.S. House Freedom Caucus eschewed protocol by using a parliamentary maneuver Tuesday night to kill—at least temporarily—House Resolution (H.R.) 82. The ATPE-supported bipartisan bill aims to fully repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), both of which lower Social Security benefits for those who worked at least part of their careers in jobs where they paid into a government pension, such as the Texas Teacher Retirement System (TRS), in lieu of paying into Social Security.   

During a brief seven-minute House floor meeting Tuesday night, U.S. Rep. Bob Good (R-VA), made a unanimous consent request to remove the bill from consideration without a direct vote. Because no one else was there on election night to object, the motion passed, effectively killing the bill. Congressional leadership has since indicated they plan to undo Good’s motion and bring the bill back to the floor for a vote next week. H.R. 82, which has over 300 coauthors, is expected to pass the House with bipartisan support, but it will likely face a more difficult path in the U.S. Senate.  

Read more in this blog post by ATPE Lobbyist Heather Sheffield. 

VOUCHERS: ATPE Marketing & Engagement Director Kate Johanns examines the trend in which voters across the country have rejected private school voucher programs on the ballot—indicating that support for a candidate does not mean voters are in lockstep with all the candidate’s positions. 

In Kentucky, the level of support for President-Elect Donald Trump (R), a voucher proponent, and opposition to the state’s proposed voucher program were nearly identical (64.6% and 65%, respectively). A similar story in Nebraska: Just over 60% of voters supported Trump, and 58% voted to repeal the state’s voucher program. 

Colorado voters, who largely voted for Vice President Kamala Harris (D), also rejected a constitutional amendment that would have declared that “each K-12 child has the right to school choice” and “that school choice includes neighborhood, charter, private, and home schools, open enrollment options, and future innovations in education.”  

Here in Texas, Gov. Abbott stated during an appearance at a Tyler private school Wednesday that he now has “more than enough members of the Texas House of Representatives [were] elected last night to make sure that school choice is going to pass.” ATPE Executive Director Shannon Holmes told the Houston Chronicle the relationship between candidate support and voucher support is not as clear-cut as voucher proponents often make it out to be, as evidenced by the Kentucky and Nebraska election results. 

MEDICARE: The Teacher Retirement System (TRS) has announced an opportunity for Medicare-eligible retirees and surviving spouses to enroll in TRS-Care Medicare Advantage through March 2026. Read more here.

FIRST RATINGS: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released its final financial accountability ratings for Texas public school systems for the 2023-24 school year. The School Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) calculates ratings for traditional school districts and public charter schools based on 21 financial indicators. Eighty-three percent of traditional school districts and public charter schools received an A rating. Read more in this TEA news release. 

ATPE-MAP: Don’t forget to sign up for the first course in the ATPE Member Advocate Program (ATPE-MAP), “Introduction to Advocacy.”  

Here's what members are saying about the course: 

“This is some of the BEST training I have ever received through ATPE. I was extremely impressed with all of the areas covered. Who knew I had a resource to find the likely bias of a news agency! Thank you for helping me to be a better advocate for my profession and myself.” 

“I knew how knowledgeable the ATPE lobby team are, but this really puts into perspective how many things they do on behalf of educators.” 

“I appreciate having the resource to share with others to see the bias of their news sources.” 

ONLINE COMMUNITY: Log in today and start connecting with other educators in the brand-new ATPE Online Community. Interact with the ATPE Lobby Team in the Rotunda, share ideas and strategies with fellow educators, and catch up on the latest Texas public education news. 

ATPE COMMITTEES: The deadline to apply for ATPE state committee service is approaching. If you did not apply or were not picked to serve on a standing or special committee this fall, you have another opportunity to participate in spring committee meetings. Sign up here by Nov. 17 to be considered for service on the Public Information, Resolutions, ATPE-PAC, Educator of the Year, or Leader of the Year Committee.