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ATPE Press Releases
The latest news from ATPE
ATPE is the voice of more than 100,000 Texas public educators. See how we are making headlines in these recent press releases.ATPE Statement on Passage of Raney Amendment to HB 1
Nov. 17, 2023: Thank you to the House members who stood strong with their constituents and withstood political pressure to do what is right by the more than 5.4 million students in Texas public schools.
ATPE Statement on Expanded Special Session Call
Oct. 31, 2023: Nothing has changed on opposition to vouchers in the public education community.
ATPE Statement on HB 1
Oct. 20, 2023: No matter what sweeteners are added, ATPE opposes any bill that includes a voucher.
ATPE Statement on HB 177, the Fully Fund Our Future Act
Oct. 19, 2023: Proposal highlights all we could accomplish by bringing Texas public schools up to the national average in per-pupil funding instead of squandering resources on vouchers.
ATPE Statement on Gov. Greg Abbott’s Special Session Call
Oct. 9, 2023: Call for "education savings accounts for all Texas schoolchildren" would dramatically increase burden on taxpayers and ignores real funding issues in Texas public schools.
ATPE Statement on House Select Committee on Educational Opportunity and Enrichment Report
Aug. 14, 2023: Public educators believe a compromise on vouchers would compromise the future of Texas public schools.
ATPE Statement on House Select Committee on Educational Opportunity and Enrichment
June 12, 2023: Largest educator association in Texas reminds House members that tying vouchers to either educator pay or the accountability system has proven to be a nonstarter with the public education community.
ATPE Supports HR 5342: Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act of 2023
Sept. 6, 2023: We urge the entire Texas delegation to sign on as co-sponsors to this bipartisan legislation that replaces the Windfall Elimination Provision in Social Security law.
Statement on Legislative Impasse Over Teacher Pay Raise
May 28, 2023: ATPE thanks the legislative champions who stood with public education for their unwavering commitment to Texas public school students and educators.
Statement on Senate Leadership’s Addition of a Voucher to HB 100
May 22, 2023: Largest educator association in Texas condemns squandering of historic opportunity to invest in public education.
Statement on Passage of House Bill (HB) 11
April 26, 2023: Largest educator association in Texas is pleased with amendment to HB 11 that will protect public oversight of certification rule making.
ATPE Statement on House and Senate Votes on Vouchers
April 6, 2023: ATPE thanks legislators in both chambers who courageously stood up for Texas public school students during votes on an anti-voucher budget amendment and SB 8
ATPE Statement on Passage of SB 9
April 6, 2023: Educators are being asked to take trade-offs in exchange for a meager one-time $2,000 stipend for only some teachers
A voucher is bad for public school students
March 21, 2023: A week of pro-voucher public relations does not change the facts.
ATPE applauds filing of House teacher retirement bills
March 9, 2023: Largest educator association in Texas supports House leadership approach to ensuring the financial security of retired educators.
State’s largest educator association reacts to TEA’s newly released Teacher Vacancy Task Force report
Feb. 24, 2023: ATPE Executive Director Shannon Holmes offers the following statement in response to the Teacher Vacancy Task Force report released by the Texas Education Agency Feb. 24.
Hundreds of Texas educators to meet with legislative offices Tuesday
Feb. 16, 2023: Largest educator association will visit the Capitol to express opposition to vouchers and advocate for school safety, better pay, retiree benefits, and more.
State’s largest educator association reacts to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s legislative priorities
Feb. 13, 2023: ATPE Executive Director Shannon Holmes offers the following statement on the legislative priorities set forth by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
An Education Savings Account Is a Voucher
Feb. 1, 2023: Support for this voucher scheme overlooks reality of sending taxpayer dollars out of the public school system.
ATPE Statement on Special Education Funding Commission’s Legislative Recommendations
Dec. 16, 2022: Largest Educator Association in Texas Reiterates Opposition to Vouchers in Any Form and Reminds Lawmakers of the Protections Provided to Students with Special Needs in a Public Education Setting.
Public Servants to Visit Capitol Dec. 14 to Exhort Congress to Act on Social Security WEP Reform Before Congress Ends
Dec. 8, 2022: Leadership change, retirement of ranking member Brady mean the clock is ticking on potential for bipartisan change.
ATPE Statement on Lt. Gov. Patrick’s Legislative Priorities
Nov. 30, 2022: Largest educator association in Texas urges legislators to engage public educators as they turn big concepts into bills.
ATPE Signs on to Amicus Brief in Case of Abbott v. Doe
Sept. 2, 2022: Largest Educator Association in Texas Urges Court to Consider Effect Its Ruling Will Have on Legal Duty to Report Child Abuse.
SBOE Decision to Delay Social Studies TEKS Revision Disrespectful to Educators
Sept. 2, 2022: ATPE Executive Director Shannon Holmes provides the following statement regarding the SBOE decision to delay the larger overhaul of the Social Studies TEKS to 2025.
A-F accountability ratings are cause for pride in our Texas public school community
Aug. 15, 2022: ATPE Executive Director Shannon Holmes offers the following statement on the 2022 A-F accountability ratings.
ATPE Statement on New TEA “Chief of School Safety and Security” Position
June 9, 2022: An appointed agency position will bring needed coordination, but its impact will be driven by the policies it is directed to implement.
ATPE Statement on Governor’s Request for Special Legislative Committees to Address School Safety and Mass Violence
June 2, 2022: Largest educator association in Texas urges lawmakers to put politics aside.
ATPE Statement on Shooting at Uvalde CISD’s Robb Elementary School
May 24, 2022: ATPE Executive Director Shannon Holmes offers this statement following the fatalities resulting from an active shooting incident in Uvalde.
ATPE statement on Gov. Greg Abbott’s May 9 campaign remarks on “school funding following the student”
May 10, 2022: Statement from ATPE Executive Director Shannon Holmes re: May 9 campaign remarks from Gov. Greg Abbott on school funding following the student.
Use of COVID-19 relief funds to offset rising health insurance costs welcome news
April 28, 2022: Largest educator association in Texas thanks TRS and state leaders for this decision.
Don’t Florida Our Texas, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
April 5, 2022: Statement from ATPE Executive Director Shannon Holmes on campaign proposal from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for Florida-style parental rights legislation.
ATPE Executive Director: Funding Flexibility a Welcome Announcement for School Districts
March 29, 2022: Largest educator association in Texas has been advocating for this type of consideration all school year.
WEP Reform Now! It’s Time to Cut a Deal
March 16, 2022: Texas public educators and retirees join with Massachusetts retirees to push Social Security compromise.
ATPE Executive Director: Expansion of Teacher Vacancy Task Force Shows TEA Is Listening to Our Concerns
March 16, 2022: Statement from ATPE Executive Director Shannon Holmes on the expansion of the Teacher Vacancy Task Force.
ATPE: Governor’s “Parental Bill of Rights” Wouldn’t Give Parents Any New Rights
Jan. 21, 2022: Largest educator association in Texas implores voters to ignore political grandstanding and remember personal experiences with the schools at the center of Texas communities.