Power in Numbers—How Voting in the General Election Benefits Public Education

Whether you’re a teacher, an administrator, a student, or a parent, your voice matters, and this upcoming election is not just about picking a new president; it’s also about making decisions that affect our education system, funding for schools, teacher salaries, and essential programs.

While Texas educators help to shape the future of Texas, our elected officials, primarily the Legislature, help to shape the present and future of the Texas education system. The policies and budget that lawmakers pass affect almost every part of the school system, and districts all over the state need more resources to serve student populations, fund essential programs, and provide better benefits and pay for teachers.

History tells us that a large turnout in voting among parents and educators in a pro-public education fashion can make a huge impact on education policy in Texas. After a rough 2017 legislative session for public education, the 2018 election saw a huge turnout among educators and public education allies. This show of force set up a much more successful legislative session in 2019, when lawmakers passed a historic school finance bill as part of an $11.6 billion school finance measure.

So how can you make sure you’re registered to vote in the county where you live? And how can you as an educator and voter identify candidates who prioritize public education issues?

In this episode of The ATPE Podcast, ATPE Governmental Relations Director Monty Exter discusses the importance of registering to vote and showing up to the polls in the November general election.