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. 

• 2026 Texas primary runoff results
• From CBS Austin: TEA rejects Austin ISD turnaround partnership plan for three middle schools
• From TASBO: Watch the “Beyond the Classroom” documentary
• Catch the latest episode of The ATPE Podcast: Holocaust Education and the Power of Student Connection
• Summit deadlines are approaching; plus, ATPE Summit closing keynote speaker, educator/comedian Devin Siebold, shares a message with ATPE members
• Use your teacher voice with ATPE’s member advocacy tools

RUNOFFS: Texas voters went to the polls Tuesday, May 26, to decide a series of primary runoff elections that determined the final nominees for this year’s November elections.  

In the U.S. Senate race, current Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) won 64% of the vote to unseat incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R). Paxton will face current State Rep. James Talarico (D–Austin) in November.   

Rep. Vikki Goodwin (D–Austin) defeated Marcos Velez, a labor leader from Houston, in Tuesday’s runoff election to become the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor. 

The frontrunners in both March primaries for Texas attorney general had advanced to a runoff. Texas Sen. Mayes Middleton (R–Galveston) defeated current U.S. Rep. Chip Roy (R) in the Republican race, and current Texas Sen. Nathan Johnson (D–Dallas) defeated former Galveston mayor Joe Jaworski in the Democratic race.  

ATPE Lobbyist Tricia Cave has more runoff results in this blog post. 

AUSTIN ISD: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has rejected Austin ISD’s proposal to partner with the Texas Council for International Studies (TCIS) to improve academic performance at Burnet, Dobie, and Webb middle schools. The district, which is set to allow TCIS to convert the three schools to International Baccalaureate (IB) campuses, had hoped the extra funding support received through an 1882 partnership would help boost student performance at the campuses, while also seeking to avoid possible state intervention at the district tied to repeated failing accountability ratings. In a letter to Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura, TEA wrote that the district’s application for partnership benefits under Senate Bill (SB) 1882 was denied due to “lack of operating partner capacity necessary to successfully turn around the campuses.” The letter also stated that TCIS failed to demonstrate a consistent track record of improving other struggling schools' academic performance. In making that claim, however, it is unclear whether TEA was comparing the years just prior to COVID and a major revision to the state’s testing and accountability system to the years just following those events, during which many schools that had received B and C ratings prior to the change received D and F ratings. 

ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter weighed in, telling CBS Austin: “The kids at those particular schools really could have used the extra funding and extra resources that come along with the type of agreement that TEA denied.” 

Read more from CBS Austin. 

TASBO: The Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) has released a new documentary titled Beyond the Classroom, which demonstrates public schools’ role in the communities they serve. The film highlights how public schools have risen to the occasion to support their communities in the face of natural disasters, public health emergencies, and other crises. Watch the documentary here.

PODCAST: In the latest episode of The ATPE Podcast, Elizabeth SoRelle from the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission joins ATPE Learning and Engagement Specialist Andrea Hutlock to discuss how immersive education experiences have transformed her teaching and career path and inspired meaningful student learning. Catch the episode on atpenews.org.

SUMMIT: Deadlines for the 2026 ATPE Summit are just around the corner. Delegate certification for the summit is open through June 12. If you would like to be a delegate this year, reach out to your local unit president (or region president if you are an at-large member). All members must register themselves, and this process is separate from the delegate certification process. Housing and early registration are also open through June 12.   

Plus: Watch a special video message from ATPE Summit closing keynote speaker, educator/comedian Devin Siebold. 

The ATPE Summit will take place July 14–16 at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. Learn more and register today at atpesummit.org.  

Artist’s appearance arranged by 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.