ATPE News is the official publication of the Association of Texas Professional Educators, the largest educator association in Texas. The magazine addresses the most important issues affecting public education in the state. Learn more at ATPE.org.
Issue link: https://atpe.epubxp.com/i/435977
ATPE Membership Categories You must join in the appropriate insured category in order to qualify for coverage. ATPE reserves the right to determine eligibility for the appropriate membership category. Commissioned peace ofcers are eligible for public membership only. Professional and Associate membership is open to persons employed in Texas by a public school district, institution of higher education, Regional Education Service Center, State Board for Educator Certifcation or the Texas Education Agency. If you have a question about the eligibility of job descriptions not listed below, call (800) 777-2873. Insured Categories Uninsured Categories • Administrator/ Supervisor • Athletic Director/ Coordinator • Athletic Trainer • At-Risk Coordinator • Audiologist • Band/Choral Director • Coach • Counselor • Curriculum Director • Dean of Instruction • Department Head/ Chair • Diagnostician • Instructional Officer • Intern Teacher • IT Director/ Coordinator • Librarian • Nurse (RN) • Parent/Community Coordinator • Principal/Asst. Prin. • Regional Service Center Staff • School Psychologist/ Associate • Social Worker • Superintendent/Asst. Supt. • Teacher • Therapist/ Pathologist • University Professor • Visiting Teacher PROFESSIONAL MEMBER ($145)/FIRST-TIME PROFESSIONAL MEMBER ($80) • Aide to position in Professional category • Alternative Center Aide • Bus Driver • Cafeteria Worker • Clerk–General • Computer Programmer/Entry • Custodial Worker • Deaf Interpreter • Educational Aide/ Technician • Maintenance Worker • Nurse (LVN) • Regional Service Center Aide • Secretary • Security Guard (Unarmed) • Substitute Teacher ASSOCIATE MEMBER ($70) TEACHER TRAINEE MEMBER (FREE) • Student teacher in Texas COLLEGE STUDENT MEMBER (FREE) • Non-teaching college student RETIRED MEMBER ($10) • Retired former school employee PUBLIC MEMBER ($10) • Friend of public education What does the Liability and Employment Rights Defense Insurance cover? Insurance coverage applies to your activities as a Professional or Associate member in the course of your duties of employment with an educational insti- tution, or to your activities as a Teacher Trainee member in the course of your duties as a student in a teacher education program in an accredited college or university. Coverage is underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa. ALL COVERAGE IS SUBJECT TO THE EXPRESS TERMS OF THE MASTER INSURANCE POLICY ISSUED TO ATPE AND KEPT ON FILE AT THE STATE OFFICE. View a detailed summary at atpe.org. The policy applies only to activities that begin during the period when coverage is efective and does not apply to activities that predate the coverage period. When is insurance coverage efective? Insurance coverage begins on the later of 8/1/14 or your Membership Date and expires on 8/1/15 except for the following: COVERAGE IS EFFECTIVE ON 8/1/14 IF YOU RENEW MEMBERSHIP ANYTIME DURING AUGUST OR SEPTEMBER 2014, AND EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS DEFENSE INSURANCE IS NOT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 30 DAYS AFTER YOUR MEMBERSHIP DATE IF YOU JOIN AFTER 9/30/14 AND WERE ELIGIBLE FOR MEMBERSHIP FROM AUGUST 2014 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2014. Eligibility for membership benefts is contingent upon receipt of the entire membership dues amount for your appropriate membership category. A disruption in payments to an authorized payment plan may result in discon- tinuation of such benefts, including cancellation of insurance coverage for the entire membership year, retroactive to Aug. 1 or your membership date. For further information, call (800) 777-2873. How does ATPE spend my membership dues? • $3.32 pays for a subscription to ATPE News (published four times per year) and includes all state and local sales taxes. • Up to $26 of Professional and Associate member dues and up to $6 of Teacher Trainee member dues pays for the Educators Professional Liability Insurance Policy. * When is my ATPE membership efective? For paper applications, your membership date is established when your applica- tion is received in the state ofce, or when your application is received, signed and dated by a designated ATPE representative. For online applications, your membership date is established at 12:01 a.m. CST on the date following success- ful transmission of your online application and payment at atpe.org. Are ATPE membership dues tax-deductible? ATPE membership dues are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes but may be deductible as miscellaneous itemized deduc- tions, subject to IRS restrictions. Approximately 95 percent of your dues dollar is considered deductible; 4.6 percent is used for lobbying activities and is therefore not deductible. What does ATPE-PAC do? The ATPE Political Action Committee (ATPE-PAC) accepts voluntary donations from members to advocate for ATPE's legislative priorities. ATPE-PAC does not endorse political candidates. Donations to ATPE-PAC are not a condition of employment or membership. A member may donate more or less than the suggested amount or may choose not to make a donation without it afecting his or her membership status, rights or benefts with ATPE. Donations are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. What does the ATPE Foundation do? The ATPE Foundation is dedicated to the advancement of public education and the success of Texas schoolchildren and relies on donations to support its literacy, technology, and educator recruitment and retention programs. The foundation accepts donations from all friends of Texas public education; donations are not a condition of employment or membership. A member may choose to donate without it afecting his or her membership status, rights or benefts with ATPE. Donations are deductible for federal income tax purposes. The ATPE Foundation is registered in Texas as a nonproft corporation and is a public charity exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Questions You Might Have About ATPE Membership