YOUR VOICE
Legislative involvement: You can make a difference There’s more to teaching than what you do in the classroom. You’re subject to state laws, such as those described in this guide, and you benefit from state funding. So not only should you keep up with state issues, it’s in your best interest to take an active role in influencing them. With continuing attacks on teacher rights and benefits, it is more important than ever to become politically active.
The best way to make the teaching profession more effective, attractive and professional is to partner with TCTA in maintaining relationships with your state lawmakers. Helping the “good guys” get elected, keeping them in office, and making sure they know what teachers are thinking are all crucial aspects to ensuring you have the tools you need to give your students the best possible education. This fall, teachers have a great opportunity to get involved by participating in state legislative elections. After November, it will be important to develop and maintain relationships with your elected lawmakers.
Campaign season
Campaign season is in full swing during the fall. If you’re aware of a candidate you would like to support, getting involved early is a great way to become known and establish the groundwork for a long-term working relationship. Cover all of “the basics” outlined below; if you would like to help a particular candidate get elected, take at least three actions in the “what’s next” section.
The basics Know your election dates. The general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020. The deadline to register to vote was Oct. 5. Whether you vote early, by mail or on Election Day, cast a ballot and make sure your vote is counted. You can find your polling location, early voting information and see what is on the ballot in your area at Vote411.org or VoteTexas.gov. Identify the candidates. Go to TCTA’s TexasTeachersVote.org website for information on the candidates for the Texas Legislature in your districts. The site includes links to candidate websites and social media, their responses to TCTA’s candidate survey and incumbents’ voting records on key education issues. Check candidates’ voting records and/or education issue positions. Look at the “Issues” page of the candidates’ websites and watch debates and town hall meetings to learn about their goals for public schools and teachers. Pay careful attention to the language they use. “School choice” means vouchers, “local control” or “deregulation” may mean a loss of teacher legal protections, and “payroll protection” means the end of your ability to pay for association dues via payroll deduction.
What’s next? Now that you’ve determined there is a teacher-friendly candidate
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tcta.org | 888-879-8282
CONTACT INFORMATION Gov. Greg Abbott
The Honorable Greg Abbott Office of the Governor PO Box 12428, Austin, TX 78711-2428 Information and Referral Hotline: 800-843-5789 Web-based email form: www.gov.texas.gov/contact
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
The Honorable Dan Patrick Office of the Lieutenant Governor PO Box 12068, Austin, TX 78711-2608 Phone: 512-463-0001 Web-based email form: www.ltgov.state.tx.us/contact/
All state senators
The Honorable (Full Name) Texas Senate PO Box 12068, Austin, TX 78711-2068 Web-based email form at senate.texas.gov (on senator’s page)
All state representatives
The Honorable (Full Name) Texas House of Representatives PO Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768-2910 Web-based email form at house.texas.gov (on representative’s page)
you would like to support, here’s how you can help: Contact the candidate to offer your assistance with the campaign. TCTA does not endorse candidates, so you will need to offer assistance as an individual, not as a TCTA representative. Spread the word. Tell your friends and family, colleagues, church acquaintances and others about the candidate and urge them to vote. Inform them of the candidate’s pro-education positions, and direct them to his/her campaign website. Join a postcardwriting campaign or man a phone bank for the candidate. Get local teachers excited and involved. Talk to your colleagues about how they can help the candidate’s campaign. Plan to carpool to your voting location and then proudly wear your “I VOTED!” sticker. Check to see if the candidate has requested a contribution and/ or mailing labels from ACT For TCTA (TCTA’s political action committee). TCTA does not endorse candidates, so campaign contributions and mailing labels are ways we can provide support for pro-education candidates.
