Dr. Fatima La'Juan Muse

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Survey Responses

RESPONSES TO THE 2026 ATPE CANDIDATE SURVEY:

1. If elected, what are your top priorities for Texas public education?

Please describe any specific goals or legislative initiatives you would pursue to strengthen the state’s public education system.

My top priorities are ensuring robust funding for public schools, firmly opposing voucher programs that divert resources, and raising teacher pay so educators are valued and supported.

2. Public Education Funding:

The 89th Legislature passed an $8 billion school funding bill, HB 2. However, despite years of unanswered “inflationary challenges, a large majority of that funding was earmarked to specific programs and did not supply districts with significant flexible funding, leaving the majority of Texas students in districts with deficit budgets and other significant funding challenges. Do you believe Texas public schools should receive additional funding? If so, how should the state pay for it, and should that funding be earmarked at the state level or provide districts with flexible dollars?

Yes, I believe Texas public schools need more funding to address inflation and current needs. I support ensuring those funds are allocated in ways that give local districts flexibility. We can pay for it by reviewing our state budget priorities, ensuring public education is at the forefront, and considering revenue solutions that do not burden working families.

3. ESA Vouchers:

Education savings accounts (ESAs) redirect public funds to private or home schools. How do you believe Texas should fund public schools, traditional and charter, alongside ESA vouchers? How should ESA spending be held accountable to taxpayers?

I believe public funds should stay in public schools—both traditional and charter. I do not support funding private or home schools. I oppose ESA vouchers, as public dollars should remain within public education. If ESA programs exist, they must be fully transparent and accountable. My priority is ensuring strong, flexible funding for all public schools.

4. Teacher Recruitment and Retention:

Under HB 2, passed in 2025, all educators in core content courses (math, English, science, and social studies) must be certified by 2030. While this is a good start, more can and should be done to ensure high-quality teachers continue to enter the classroom. What are your suggestions to improve the quality of the new teacher pipeline?

We need to invest in robust teacher preparation programs—partnering with universities and providing mentorship pipelines. We should offer strong ongoing professional development, competitive salaries to attract top talent, and policies that respect and retain educators. Quality thrives when teachers are supported and valued.

5. Educator Pay and Benefits:

The 89th Legislature passed legislation creating a new mechanism to provide only classroom teachers with tiered raises based on early years of service and their district’s student enrollment. While the raises were significant, they did not apply to all campus educators, and the program created a significant negative funding stream at the district level due to unfunded increased costs for non-salary compensation tied to payroll, such as TRS retirement contributions. Do you support a state-funded across-the-board pay raise for all Texas educators? How would you ensure that compensation keeps pace with inflation and remains competitive with other professions?

Yes, I support a state-funded across-the-board pay raise for all educators—teachers, support staff, everyone. To keep up with inflation and competitiveness, we must tie regular pay reviews to cost-of-living adjustments and ensure school budgets are fully funded, including covering associated costs like retirement contributions. Educators deserve stable, competitive compensation at every level.

6. Educator Health Care:

The high cost of health insurance for active and retired educators continues to reduce take-home pay, with educators shouldering the vast majority of their ever-increasing heath care costs. How would you address the affordability and sustainability of educator health care, particularly the TRS-ActiveCare and TRS-Care programs?

We must reduce the burden on educators. I’d advocate for increased state contributions to TRS ActiveCare and TRS Care, ensuring affordable premiums and comprehensive coverage. By leveraging state-level budget priorities and potentially pooling resources more efficiently, we can keep educator healthcare both affordable and sustainable long-term.

7. Retirement Security:

Do you believe the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) should remain a defined-benefit pension plan for all current and future members? If not, what is your plan to provide a secure retirement for Texas educators, particularly considering that state law has been set up such that most districts do not participate in Social Security?

Yes, I support keeping TRS as a defined benefit pension—it ensures a stable, predictable retirement. Since most districts don’t have Social Security, we must protect and fully fund TRS. If any reforms are ever needed, they should guarantee the same level of security and not leave educators at risk.

8. Accountability and Assessment Reform:

The Legislature has passed a new “through-year” multi-test model under HB 8. What role should standardized testing play in evaluating students, teachers, and schools? Should test results continue to determine A–F accountability ratings or teacher pay?

While standardized tests can offer some data, they have limits. Too often, they narrow teaching to ‘teaching to the test,’ restricting teachers from addressing their students’ real needs. Instead of tying ratings or pay to these tests, we need a broader, more holistic set of measures. Let’s empower teachers to innovate and meet students where they are, while still ensuring accountability reflects the whole picture.

9. Parental Rights and Community Voice:

Recent legislative debates have focused on “parental rights” in education. In your view, what is the appropriate balance between accommodating the often conflicting wishes of individual parents while maintaining policies that reflect the broader community’s educational priorities and still providing consistency and an appropriate level of professional deference to educators?

i absolutely respect parents’ voices in their children’s education. At the same time, we need consistent policies. Parents, educators, and the community must collaborate, and we need to listen to teachers, who are on the front lines. They know what students need academically and behaviorally. By trusting their expertise, while honoring community priorities, we strike the right balance: mutual respect, consistency, and giving teachers the support they need.

10. School Safety:

HB 3 (2023) imposed new school safety requirements but did not fully fund them. Although the 89th Legislature increased the School Safety Allotment, many districts continue to face substantial unfunded staffing and facility costs associated with school safety laws. How would you make schools safer and ensure the state provides adequate funding to meet safety mandates?

School safety is a priority, but mandates must be fully funded. I’d push for state funding to match every requirement—so districts aren’t left struggling. We should invest in mental health support, infrastructure improvements, and trained personnel, while ensuring local input on how best to meet safety goals. Safety and funding must go hand in hand.

11. Curriculum and Local Control:

What do you believe is the proper role of the State Board of Education, the Texas Education Agency, and local school districts in setting curriculum standards and selecting instructional materials?

The State Board of Education should set broad standards to ensure quality and consistency. The Texas Education Agency can provide guidance and resources. But local school districts should have flexibility to select instructional materials that fit their community’s needs. It’s a partnership: state sets the framework, but local educators tailor it to their students.

12. Educator Rights and Professional Associations:

State law allows educators and other public employees to voluntarily join professional associations such as ATPE and have membership dues deducted from their paychecks at no cost to taxpayers. Do you support or oppose allowing public employees to continue exercising this right? Why or why not?

I fully support public employees continuing to exercise this right. Voluntary membership in professional associations gives educators a voice, professional development, and support. Since it’s no cost to taxpayers and it strengthens our education system, it’s an important right to protect.