Teach the Vote's Week in Review: July 23, 2021

Educator Preparation | Certification Texas Legislature Congress | Federal COVID-19 Elections
Date Posted: 7/23/2021 | Author: Jennifer Mitchell and Mark Wiggins
Catch up on the latest education news, legislative updates, and regulatory developments from the ATPE Governmental Relations team:
- SBEC discusses contract abandonment, considers ATPE input
- Campaign finance reports show big haul for governor
- Mask debate reignites ahead of new school year
- Special session continues with little movement

The board held its regular meeting Friday, welcoming new SBEC members; beginning the process of implementing SBEC-related legislation passed earlier this year; approving a new alternative certification provider; and discussing how to approach ratings for educator preparation programs amid the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. For full details on the SBEC meetings this week, read this blog post from ATPE Lobbyist Andrea Chevalier.
CAMPAIGNS: ATPE Lobbyist Mark Wiggins reports that candidates for state office submitted their July semiannual campaign finance reports this week, which cover the period from January through June of this year. State law prohibits lawmakers from fundraising during the legislative session, so these reports primarily cover contributions made during the ten-day period between June 20 and June 30.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) raised just over $5 million, bringing his cash on hand total to $23.6 million. House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) raised about $1 million, bringing his cash balance to $3.7 million. Despite the large hauls for the “Big Three,” fundraising numbers for the rest of the Legislature were largely unimpressive. This is likely due in part to uncertainty over the composition of voting maps heading into the 2022 election cycle making traditional donors hesitant to invest in non-statewide races before the redistricting process is complete.
COVID-19: Amid soaring cases of COVID-19, including the highly contagious delta variant, in Texas and other parts of the country, the debate over mask mandates is again taking center stage. The American Academy of Pediatrics issued recommendations Monday that everyone in school over the age of two should wear a mask, regardless of their vaccination status. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has not gone as far with its latest guidance, recommending indoor mask-wearing principally by unvaccinated individuals over age two, but noting that local conditions may warrant a more stringent approach to mask mandates.

Gov. Greg Abbott told reporters this week he will not impose any statewide mask mandate, and his May 2021 executive order prohibiting local governments from enforcing their own mask requirements remains in effect. Asked about the upcoming start of the school year, Abbott emphasized parental choice, adding, “Kids will not be forced by government or by schools to wear masks in school.”

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