Coming Soon: The ATPE Member Advocate Program (ATPE-MAP)

Are you ready to make a difference for your students as a public education advocate but aren’t sure where to start? In the coming weeks, ATPE will launch a new benefit that will jumpstart your ability to advocate for public education at the local and state levels: the ATPE Member Advocate Program, aka ATPE-MAP.

This comprehensive advocacy experience will equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to make a real difference. It’s not just about advocating at the State Capitol but also about empowering you to advocate locally, statewide, and beyond. Included in your ATPE membership, ATPE-MAP will allow you earn up to three hours of continuing professional education (CPE) credit as well as the ATPE Member Advocate Program Microcredential with either a Local Advocacy or State-Level Advocacy focus. You can also earn both microcredentials, if you like, which also means you’ll earn an additional two hours of CPE credit.

How ATPE-MAP will work

ATPE-MAP will offer a flexible, personalized approach with online courses tailored to your specific advocacy interests. Your first course will be an Introduction to Advocacy Course (one hour CPE credit). Then, you’ll choose one of two microcredential pathways: Local Advocacy or State-Level Advocacy.

• Local Advocacy will cover advocating at the community level, including skills and strategies for engaging with leaders on your campus, at central office, and on the school board, as well as with community organizations and local media.
• State-Level Advocacy will focus on advocacy at the State Capitol and with state agencies and boards. Those who complete the State-Level Advocacy pathway are eligible to apply to attend “Capitol Expeditions” during the legislative session (see below).
• As you complete the courses and put your advocacy skills into practice, you will be eligible to earn the prestigious Master Advocate Program credential awarded to our most dedicated advocates.

The Introduction to Advocacy Course will be available through the ATPE Professional Learning Portal by mid-October. Watch ATPE communications and social media for the release!

Capitol Expeditions: Our new approach to in-person member advocacy at the Texas Capitol

Instead of bringing several hundred members together for one mass Capitol visit early in the session, as we did with our prior Lobby Day and ATPE at the Capitol events, Capitol Expeditions will be a series of small, targeted advocacy events offering ATPE-MAP program participants the opportunity to testify at hearings, visit legislators, and shape the future of public education in Texas! This targeted approach is generally the most impactful in terms of effecting change in policy.

The ATPE Governmental Relations team will map out (pun intended) the strategy for these expeditions and invite Member Advocates to participate. In general, Member Advocates will arrive in Austin on Monday in time for dinner with the rest of their expedition team. This time will serve as an icebreaker and an opportunity for the ATPE lobby team to brief you on Tuesday’s activities. On Tuesday, you’ll attend Capitol meetings and relevant committee hearings, with the ATPE Governmental Relations office located next to the State Capitol as your home base. Following a debrief, you will either head home or back to the hotel, depending on your travel needs. Travel costs will be covered by ATPE.

Together, through ATPE-MAP, we can navigate the path to positive change for Texas public education! If you have questions, please contact ATPE Governmental Relations at government@atpe.org.