Pressroom

Press Release 12/17/2009 - ATPE honored for supporting public schools
ATPE was among 11 Texas employers honored at a recent meeting of the State Board of Education for their part in promoting employee volunteerism in neighborhood public schools ..."

Press Release 11/23/2009 - No 13th check for retired teachers, AG’s office says
Texas retired educators will not get a “13th check” this year, according to an opinion released today by Attorney General Greg Abbott ..."

Press Release 11/20/2009 - Teachers in best position to determine students’ grades
The following is a statement from Sam Spurlock, ATPE state president, regarding the lawsuit filed by six Texas school districts over TEA’s interpretation of the new minimum grading law ...

Press Release 10/08/2009 - SBEC to vote on major changes to educator prep program standards
"The State Board for Educator Certification will take its first vote tomorrow on major changes to the state’s accreditation system for all educator preparation programs ..."

Press Release 09/15/2009 - Political battle over curriculum not in the interests of Texas students
"..the State Board of Education’s attempt to write a rigorous and challenging social studies curriculum already appears to be dissolving into a partisan battle at the expense of the millions of Texas schoolchildren ..."

Press Release 08/27/2009 - Let teachers, not school districts, determine grades
Millions of Texas schoolchildren returned to school this week, and many of them will continue to receive grades that they might not have earned ...

Press Release 07/24/2009 - Olney teacher heads to DC to talk education issues
The president of the nation’s largest nonunion educator association led a team to Capitol Hill last week to discuss how federal regulations affect Texas public schools. Sam Spurlock, an Olney Junior High School science teacher and ...

Press Release 07/15/2009 - Top local units and campus reps named (pdf)
The winners of the Association of Texas Professional Educators 2009 Local Unit of the Year and Campus Representative of the Year awards were announced during a special ceremony at the association’s annual “Leader U” leadership workshop...

Press Release 05/27/2009 - Senate approves teacher pay raise (pdf)
The Senate approved a bill late yesterday that will give teachers in Texas public schools a much-needed pay increase. House Bill 3646, by Rep. Scott Hochberg (D-Houston), provides school districts with $1.9 billion in new funding...

Press Release 04/29/2009 - Important changes still needed in accountability (pdf)
The following is a statement by Jerry Bonham, a teacher with the Mesquite Independent School District and state president of the 112,000-member Association of Texas Professional Educators, regarding Senate Bill 3 by Sen. Florence Shapiro (R–Plano) and House Bill 3 by Rep. Rob Eissler (R–The Woodlands)...

Press Release 04/23/2009 - Compromise reached on bill to protect educator info (pdf)
Members of the House reached a compromise on a bill that would provide extra security for sensitive personal information of Texas educators that is maintained by school districts. House Bill 2491, by Rep. Diane Patrick (R-Arlington), was amended this afternoon to include provisions that would allow districts to release the birth year...

Press Release 04/23/2009 - Bill to protect teachers’ personal info heads to House floor (pdf)
Lawmakers in the House will debate a bill today that would provide extra protection against potential identity theft for thousands of Texas educators. House Bill 2491, by Rep. Diane Patrick (R-Arlington), would make the personal information of district employees confidential and give such employees the ability...

Press Release 04/14/2009 - Senate committee tackles curriculum adoption issues (pdf)
The Senate Education Committee discussed a bill Tuesday that would overhaul the process for adopting new curriculum and textbooks for Texas students. Senate Bill 2275, by Sen. Kel Seliger (R–Amarillo), transfers much of the authority to approve textbooks and curriculum...

Press Release 04/7/2009 - Voucher bills threaten Texas public schools (pdf)
Lawmakers on the Senate Education Committee will hear testimony today on three bills that promise to shift funding from public schools into private, unregulated hands by creating a private school voucher program. Under the guise of helping special needs students...