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

• Tell everyone you know: Monday is the last day to register to vote in the 2024 general election
• Houston-area lawmakers preview upcoming session at Tribune event; earn CPE credit for watching
• More details on the ATPE Member Advocate Program (ATPE-MAP)!

VOTING: Monday, Oct. 7, is the last day to register to vote in Texas in the 2024 general election. ATPE Senior Lobbyist Mark Wiggins has a special message for all Texas educators:

Please share this message far and wide! You can confirm your voter registration here. This short video explains how.  

If you’d like a more in-depth take on the importance of the educator vote, ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter and ATPE Managing Editor David George discuss this topic in the latest episode of The ATPE Podcast, including historical examples of good outcomes for public education following strong educator turnout at the polls. 

TRIBUNE: On Wednesday, The Texas Tribune hosted an “Inside the Interim” panel discussion at Rice University Wednesday featuring Houston-area Reps. Armando Walle (D–Houston), Christina Morales (D–Houston), and Charles Cunningham (R–Humble). The event, moderated by Tribune politics reporter James Barragan, was billed as a preview of what to expect in the 89th session. Unsurprisingly, given Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) singular focus on vouchers during the 2023 session, public education took up the bulk of the one-hour panel discussion. ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave has a full recap here, and you can also earn one hour of continuing professional education (CPE) credit by watching this session through the ATPE Professional Learning Portal. Learn more at atpe.org/tribune. 

Add "Introduction to Advocacy" to your ATPE Professional Learning Portal wishlist.

ATPE-MAP: Last week we introduced the new ATPE Member Advocate Program (ATPE-MAP), and this week we have additional details to share in a video conversation between ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter and ATPE Marketing and Engagement Director Kate Johanns. You can now add the first course in this microcredential program, “Introduction to Advocacy,” to your ATPE Professional Learning Portal wishlist so you’ll automatically receive an email notification when the course is released in a few weeks. To add a course, log in to the portal at atpe.org/cpe, then search the course catalog for “Introduction to Advocacy.” Click the three dots next to the course’s name to add it to your wishlist.