The Texas Teacher Retirement System Board convened this week for its last meeting of 2021, hearing good news about the value of the pension fund and reviewing changes coming to ActiveCare premiums in 2022-23.

For the first time in its history, the market value of the TRS pension fund is more than $200 billion. With investment returns of nearly 25% between Sept. 1, 2020, and Aug. 31, 2021, the greater-than-expected gains helped to paint a rosy picture of the fund’s financial health. The fund’s improving financial position increases the likelihood that retirees could receive an ongoing benefit increase in the near future, as opposed to the one-time bonus checks that have been approved in recent years (such as the one to be distributed in January 2022). An ongoing increase would require legislative action; the next regular session begins in January 2023.

The Board was also briefed on a new model for determining how much health insurance will cost TRS-ActiveCare participants beginning with the 2022-23 school year. TRS is moving to a system of “regional ratings” that will differentiate ActiveCare premiums according to where participants live. Health care costs vary greatly across the state, and lower cost areas will benefit from the change.

Districts that are considering leaving or entering ActiveCare for the next school year (for at least a 5-year period) must make a decision by Dec. 31, 2021. TRS will not adopt ActiveCare premiums for 2022-23 until the April 2022 Board meeting. Click here to read more from the TRS December meeting, including plans for an office in El Paso.

TCTA testified before the State Board for Educator Certification in support of draft rules that reduce the number of mandatory CPE topics for teachers and cap the number of CPE hours required for the remaining mandatory topics. The board gave initial approval to the rules at its meeting today.

TCTA worked closely with TEA staff in developing the draft rules, after successfully encouraging the board at its October meeting to reject a proposed option to add the deleted topics to another place in SBEC rules. We will continue to be involved in the process as the rules move toward final adoption.

TCTA also joined a broad coalition of stakeholders in expressing concerns to SBEC about a proposal to substitute a performance assessment for the current Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities exam for teacher certification. Click here to read more.

The State Board for Educator Certification gave final approval to amend rules related to contract abandonment and the circumstances under which teachers may resign from a contract without penalty.

Testimony at October's meeting prompted revisions to the proposed rules, and those changes were discussed prior to today's vote. TCTA staff attorney Julie Leahy urged flexibility with regard to sanctions when a change in the teacher’s personal situation or workplace occurs in which the teacher feels unsafe or experiences unsatisfactory working conditions.

After vigorous discussion, SBEC members voted 4-3 to adopt the proposed rule changes. However, the proposed rules do not become final until they are approved by the State Board of Education. Click here to read more.

When TCTA's Representative Assembly convenes Feb. 26, only official delegates will be able to vote on statewide officers and association business.

Local association presidents will be mailed packets containing their projected delegate counts and rebate information next week. Those delegates will be selected according to local bylaws.

Active-level members who teach in districts with no TCTA local affiliate may serve as voting delegates-at-large. Delegates are allocated on the basis of one delegate per district for each 50 Active members-at-large. If you are interested in serving as a delegate-at-large, fill out this form by Dec. 28 to notify TCTA.

Student members may serve as nonvoting delegates, and delegate status is allocated on the basis of one delegate for each 50 student members. If you are interested in serving, fill out this form by Dec. 28 to notify TCTA.

We will release more information about the Feb. 26 meeting schedule and registration on TCTA's 2022 Annual meeting webpage in January.

This week, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory to highlight the urgent need to address the nation’s youth mental health crisis.

One in three high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, a 40% increase from 2009 to 2019, he said. Suicide rates went up 57% among youth ages 10 to 24 in that period, and the pandemic has exacerbated the issues behind the crisis.

"This is a critical issue that we have to do something about now," Murthy told NPR's Morning Edition. "We can't wait until after the pandemic is over."

In his advisory called "Protecting Youth Mental Health," Murthy also cites gun violence, the specter of climate change, racism and social conflict as sources of stress. Click here to view the full report.

TCTA attorneys Dohn Larson and Michael Currie explained key provisions of Chapter 37 of the Texas Education Code related to student discipline and answered questions from members during our Tuesdays with TCTA webinar on Dec. 7. Click here to watch the recording.

At 6 p.m. Jan. 11, TCTA attorneys will provide an update on mask mandates in schools, review appraisals and contract renewals, then answer questions from members. Click here to register and submit questions.

Keller ISD appears to be the first district investigated by the Texas Education Agency over whether it gave students access to books with “sexually explicit content,” according to a letter sent to the district that was obtained by the Dallas Morning News.

This comes about a month after Gov. Greg Abbott asked TEA to investigate criminal activity related to "the availability of pornography" in public schools. Abbott also asked TEA, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and the State Board of Education to develop statewide standards preventing "obscene content in Texas public schools." Click here to read more.

A state representative asked several districts to review library shelves for inappropriate content. While many have refused the request, North East ISD pulled about 400 books from shelves pending further evaluation.

Killeen ISD's Board of Trustees has approved an incentive program to help retain and recruit teachers. During Tuesday's meeting, TCTA State President Sherry Miller applauded the decision as she addressed board members. “This indicates the determination from KISD that all employees are important in this district,” Miller said.

Killeen ISD employees hired by Dec. 7 who remain employed through May 27, 2022, would be eligible for a one-time payment of $1,000 for full-time employees or $500 for part-time employees. Substitutes will also receive a stipend based on the number of days worked during the 2021-22 school year.

District employees who refer new teachers to the district will be eligible for recruitment stipends as well, with $500 for the first referral and $1,500 for each referral after. Employees receiving incentives must commit to remain with Killeen ISD for three years. Click here to read more.

The Teacher Incentive Allotment program allows eligible classroom teachers with a National Board certificate to earn a recognized designation and generate funds for their district ranging from $3,000 to $9,000. To ensure they are eligible for the designation, National Board certified teachers must update their directory information to show their employment in a Texas public school by Jan. 31.

Designations for newly certified National Board teachers will be awarded in April 2022 and will be retroactive to the beginning of the 2021-22 school year.

School districts and charter schools may also request reimbursement of eligible fees paid to the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards for teachers who certified or renewed in 2019 or later. The annual application window runs from Jan. 3 to March 31. Click here for more information.

The Texas Education Agency is seeking input on what local school board members should know about special education. If you’re struggling with the number of inclusion students in your classroom or think an aide should be assigned in certain circumstances, now is your chance to let policymakers know what would improve instruction for your students. Responses from an anonymous survey will be used to develop recommendations and resources for training board members. Click here to complete the survey by Jan. 7.

“Other duties as assigned” are words found in the contracts of almost all instructional coaches. Coaches may find these other duties include a variety of tasks, even assignment to classrooms as the teacher of record or as a long-term sub for either all or part of their day. During a free webinar at 2 p.m. CST Thursday, Dec. 16, hear from instructional coaches who have found ways to cope, manage and thrive while coaching during “other duties as assigned.” Click here to learn more and register.

It's not too late to encourage your colleagues to join TCTA. Give them your member number and ask them to include it in the Take 2, Make $25 box on the application. You can earn $25 for every two eligible First-Time Active members who join by Dec. 31. Find all the details at tcta.org/take2.