The ATPE Podcast

With the 88th Legislative Session soon coming to a close, lawmakers at the Capitol are battling over the future of public education policy. And with a historic budget surplus at their disposal, educators are hoping this will be the year the Legislature will approve a substantial across-the-board pay raise, but time is running out. Several bills have been proposed in both the Senate and the House t...

Once a year, Texas mandates that teachers receive a performance appraisal, and for most teachers, this is known as the T-TESS—short for Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS). By now, you have likely received at least one required 45-minute formal T-TESS observation or a walkthrough by your appraiser with written feedback. It’s important for you to familiarize yourself with the T-TES...

Recently, Texas legislative sessions have been increasingly focused on education issues. As lawmakers debate bills that directly impact your profession and your benefits, it is more important than ever that you engage with your elected representatives on these issues. Remember, you are the experts in the field of education. No one understands classroom challenges and opportunities better than you....

In the classroom, there are times when a student’s unruly, disruptive, or abusive behavior compels an educator to request the student’s permanent removal. The laws that govern this process were designed to protect both educators and students, but like most laws, they can be both complicated and highly dependent on circumstances. In situations regarding physical assault, drug possession, or other s...

You have likely heard rhetoric surrounding the vouchers debate, including terms such as “school choice” and “parental rights,” used to describe proposed voucher initiatives that promise families rights that they already have. The truth is that nothing in any of these bills would expand the rights of parents to choose where they send their child to school. Proponents of these bills would like to se...

Mandated reporter laws are extremely important for the health and safety of our students. These requirements apply to all educators because of their unique position to identify possible child abuse or neglect. In Texas, mandated reporters cannot delegate these duties to an administrator or counselor and failure to report within the prescribed timeframe may result in criminal and/or civil liability...

Throughout the 88th legislative session, lawmakers will determine how our state budget is spent for the next two years, and ATPE lobbyists will be working hard to shape public education policy to benefit our members and their students. As the voice of educators at the Capitol, ATPE’s goal is to educate lawmakers on your priorities and support your interests. This session, we expect vouchers and pr...

As an educator, establishing and maintaining positive student-teacher relationships is an important part of the job. Building this rapport is known to support student growth, motivation, and student learning outcomes. But sometimes these well-meaning connections can be misinterpreted or misunderstood, and perception is critical. So what does an appropriate educator-student relationship look like,...

Who are associate members, and what are their rights and entitlements under both state and federal law? In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Staff Attorney Lance Cain answers the legal questions most frequently asked by our associate members—those public school employees who are at-will. We break down concerns regarding pay, including overtime, comp time, and district compensation plans. We d...

The November election is right around the corner, and the time to register is now. With everything that is at stake for educators, it is so important that we make our voices heard at the polls. In Texas, there is no same-day registration, and you must be registered at least 30 days prior to an election to vote in it. The voter registration deadline is Oct. 11, so make sure that you are registered...

What exactly is a District of Innovation (DOI), and what does it mean for an educator to work in such districts? Since 2015, Texas school districts have been able to adopt the DOI designation in order to exempt themselves from certain legal requirements of the Texas Education Code. DOIs purport that this additional flexibility and local control allow them to better serve their students and even st...

The Teacher Retirement System (TRS) is a state agency that falls under the authority of the Texas Legislature, and the retirement benefits it provides are available to all public school employees. Social Security is a federal program providing benefits for which you may also be eligible at retirement, depending on your employment history. If you have paid into both systems, or your spouse has paid...

Educators often contact the ATPE Member Legal Services Department concerned they are victims of “targeting” by a supervisor or colleague—in other words, being bullied or harassed. In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp explains what distinguishes illegal behavior from bad but entirely legal behavior. The legal information provided here is for general purposes only. I...

In the final episode of a four-part series on educator contracts, ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp outlines what you can expect at the end of the school year when you are asked to sign a contract for the next school year. Important timelines apply—including deadlines that make it a good idea to go ahead and sign a contract for next year even if you’re not sure you want to return to the district. T...

What's the difference between a supplemental duty and an additional duty? Are additional duties always required? And is working the concession stand a reasonable expectation for an educator? ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp answers these questions and more in the third episode of a multipart series on contracts. The information provided here is for general purposes only. Individual legal situation...

In the second episode of a multipart series on teacher contracts, ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp explains the three types of educator contracts in Texas and what the renewal (and nonrenewal) process looks like for each. The information provided here is for general purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and listeners needing individual legal advice should consult directly with a...

In the first of a multipart series on teacher contracts, ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp explains the legal definition of contract, why the public education system relies on contracts, and why they are beneficial to both educators and school districts. The information provided here is for general purposes only. Individual legal situations vary greatly, and listeners needing individual legal advic...

It’s been called “The Great Resignation”: a massive number of individuals who are quitting their jobs due to the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public education is not immune to this phenomenon. The ATPE Member Legal Services Department is receiving a high number of calls from members who have been pushed to the brink by pandemic-era problems and new legislative requirements. So befor...

If you’re working in a Texas public school, you’re probably experiencing the effects of a pandemic-exacerbated staffing shortage. And based on the calls we’re receiving from ATPE members, there’s a good chance this staffing shortage is eating into your planning time. In the second episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Managing Attorney Paul Tapp explains what the Texas Education Code requires in terms...

House Bill 4545 during the regular session of the 87th Legislature requires "supplemental accelerated instruction" for students who fail the STAAR test. Such students can either be assigned to a master, exemplary, or recognized teacher, or they can be provided at least 30 hours of supplemental instruction. This raises many questions for Texas educators—most notably, where are the extra 30 hours su...