This Week in the Legislature: Is This ‘Teacher Appreciation?’

On Saturday, surrounded by many of the Republican lawmakers he threatened along the way, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law his long-sought private school voucher program.
Read MoreOn Saturday, surrounded by many of the Republican lawmakers he threatened along the way, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law his long-sought private school voucher program.
Read MoreSenate Bill 37, the “Death Star” bill for Texas colleges and universities, had its last public hearing this past Tuesday (May 6).
Read MoreIn May 3 local elections, voters across Texas sent a powerful message: public schools should be focused on education, not pushing privatization or political interference.
Read MoreTEA fought for months to release 2022-2023 school accountability ratings. So why isn’t the state holding charter schools accountable for consistently poor scores?
Read MoreLast week, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board v. Drummond and St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond, two cases when taken together that could upend the separation of church and state and profoundly undercut public education across the country.
Read MoreNow that vouchers have been signed into law, there is no reason not to move a finance bill that meaningfully funds public schools. Texas has the means to invest in both educator pay and the basic allotment.
Read MoreToday, Texas AFT is calling on Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Education K-16 Chairman Brandon Creighton to set House Bill 2, the House’s school finance proposal, for a hearing.
Read MoreIt’s been a roller coaster for higher education this week. We had a major win, but unfortunately the fight against bad bills persists. For most of this legislative session, the House Higher Education Committee’s focus has been on addressing workforce shortages, expanding research funding, and improving access to higher education....
Read MoreDespite overwhelming bipartisan support in the Texas House for House Bill 2 — a comprehensive, if flawed, $7.7 billion investment in public education — the Texas Senate has yet to act on this critical legislation. Meanwhile, the Senate swiftly passed the House’s version of Senate Bill 2, establishing a $1...
Read MoreThe State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) met in Austin on April 25. After a year of hefty agendas filled with rulemaking on a variety of topics affecting the teaching profession, this was a comparatively light that laid a foundation for the work to come.. The meeting began with a...
Read MoreNorthside AFT-endorsed candidates for school board, Ric Galvan and Dr. Sonia Jasso, meet with voters during a weekend canvass with our members. Texas voters: tomorrow (Saturday, May 4) is your last chance to make your voice heard in crucial local elections across the state. From school board races to city...
Read MoreStarting May 5, the U.S. Department of Education will resume collections on defaulted federal student loans, ending a five-year pause that began during the pandemic. For over 5 million borrowers already in default, and another 4 million in late-stage delinquency, wage garnishments, tax refund seizures, and even Social Security offsets...
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