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

• Talarico proposes one of the largest educator pay raises in Texas history
• ATPE participates in Capitol Tonight debate on vouchers
• Texas Senate announces committee assignments
• SBOE holds first meeting with new members next week
• Register to attend ATPE at the Capitol, Feb. 20-21

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PAY RAISE PROPOSAL: Rep. James Talarico (D-Round Rock) filed House Bill 1548 Jan. 24. The bill proposes what would be one of the biggest educator pay raises in Texas history: a $15,000 increase for teachers and a 25% increase for support staff. ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter attended Talarico’s press announcement of the bill and was also interviewed by KXAN News regarding the proposal. “We are very hopeful that the Legislature will pass a significant pay raise for educators this session,” Exter told the Austin NBC affiliate, adding that this proposal would “be very meaningful to both certified educators and support staff.” ATPE and other public education advocates caution the Legislature, however, that educators would not be fooled by or accepting of a proposal that paired vouchers with a pay raise. Pay raises should not be used as a metaphorical “spoonful of sugar” to make the “medicine” of a voucher scheme detrimental to students go down.

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VOUCHERS: ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter participated in a debate on private school vouchers Jan. 25 on Spectrum’s Capitol Tonight. Watch this 7-minute, 31-second segment to hear Exter present the association’s long-standing position against any form of voucher program.

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SENATE COMMITTEES: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R) announced committee assignments for state senators this week. The newly restructured Education Committee will consist of 13 members, including Chair Brandon Creighton (R-Nacogdoches) and Vice Chair Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels). Returning members include Sens. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), Jose Menendez (D-San Antonio), Angela Paxton (R-McKinney), and Royce West (D-Dallas). Sens. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury), Peter Flores (R-Pleasanton), Phil King (R-Weatherford), Morgan LaMantia (D-Brownsville), Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville), Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound), and Drew Springer (R-Muenster) will join the committee as new members.

The Education Committee will now oversee policy from prekindergarten through higher education. Higher education bills will be considered as well in a separate subcommittee also chaired by Creighton, who chaired Higher Education when it was a separate committee. Read more about Senate committee assignments in this post by ATPE Senior Lobbyist Mark Wiggins.

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SBOE: The State Board of Education (SBOE) will meet Jan. 31–Feb. 3 in Austin. Gov. Greg Abbott (R) will kick off the meeting by swearing in newly elected SBOE members Melissa Ortega (R-El Paso), LJ Francis (R-Corpus Christi), Staci Childs (D-Houston), Julie Pickren (R-Pearland), Evelyn Brooks (R-Frisco), and Aaron Kinsey (R-Midland).

The board is scheduled to revisit the legislative priorities it passed at its final meeting in 2022, as well as rules limiting the ability of charter applicants to lobby SBOE members while their applications are under consideration. ATPE has previously reported on the unprecedented amount of money charter schools pumped into SBOE races during the 2022 election cycle, which ended with several charter-backed candidates winning seats on the board. Check out the full agenda for next week’s meeting and find a link to the livestream here.

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ATPE: Registration remains open through Feb. 10 for ATPE at the Capitol, our free political involvement training and lobby day event held during each legislative session. Exclusively for ATPE members, the event will take place Feb. 20–21 at the Austin Marriott Downtown and the Texas State Capitol. ATPE at the Capitol will feature training sessions, Q&A with a panel of legislators, opportunities to engage with the media, visits to legislative offices, and an optional evening fundraising event. There is no registration fee for ATPE members to attend. Learn more and register at atpe.org/aatc.