top of page
Education Newsfeed
Texas public education news and updates on our union's work, written and edited by Texas AFT staff.
Featured news:


Senate Education hearings: the fast and the furious
Interim Senate hearings on the state of education and the voucher rollout leave a lot to be desired as we careen towards the start of bill filing.


THECB meeting moved to after election day, postponing critical reports
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) was slated to meet next week but moved their quarterly meeting from Oct. 21 to Nov. 16, after the midterm elections. It’s no coincidence that highly anticipated reports on the SB 37-mandated General Education Curriculum (GEC) changes and the SB 17 implementation impact study were set to be published and presented during the now-postponed meeting. SB 37 charged the THECB with creating the General Education Advisory Commit
1 day ago


Texas Comptroller reveals the four school districts it intends to audit.
Governor Abbott requested a report detailing a financial audit of four representative Texas school districts, including some big and small names.
Oct 9


A budget is a moral document.
A budget serves as a statement of our values: what are we willing to put genuine money behind? TEA's answer: more to TIA and Bluebonnet.
Oct 2


Federal student loans and Title IX take hits this week
The U.S. Department of Education is rolling out new degree requirements for student loan funding while rolling back Title IX protections.
Oct 2


AI is in our schools. AFT and Microsoft want guardrails with teeth.
AI is the defining issue of our culture in 2026, and AFT is taking steps towards accountability and responsibility - but more remains to be done.
Sep 18


Ballot Spotlight: Texas Governor
Renewed attention on vouchers and public schools as a result of funding shortfalls combined with recent about-faces on policy begs the question: is Greg Abbott in greater danger than expected as he seeks an unprecedented 4th term as Texas Governor?
Sep 11


SBOE Preview: Social Studies may soon be history
The State Board of Education's agenda next week will include considerations over social studies material, but the lack of public transparency has led to confusion and unresolved questions.
Aug 28


SB 571 is in full effect. Here’s what Texas educators need to know.
SB 571 and its long tail of regulatory and accountability changes have caused some confusion about what educator misconduct means and concerns over due process.
Aug 21


A look under the hood: TEA gets an audit
A legislature-mandated audit of TEA from the Texas State Auditor's office reveals management bloat and dodgy oversight of charter schools.
Aug 21


TEA's accountability ratings release: what they are and how they might affect Austin ISD
A primer on TEA's accountability ratings: their history, why they're used, why they're not the best barometer for a school's performance and what that all means for Austin ISD.
Aug 13


First voucher report raises more questions than it answers
The first annual demographic report on Texas voucher accounts (TEFAs) reveals a complicated portrait of who's actually benefitting from these taxpayer-funded handouts.
Aug 7


Texas AFT launches Open Letter to Our Elected Officials campaign
This week, we at Texas AFT launched our Open Letter to Our Elected Officials campaign, which will serve as our focus for the 2026 back to school season, November elections, and the 90th legislative session to come in 2027. The Open Letter covers a range of issues including school funding, wages, paperwork, freedom to teach, gun safety, behavioral support, mental health counseling, and more.
Aug 7


Accountability and TIA jeopardy: SBEC Recap
July's SBEC meeting focused on several policy decisions from the future of National Board Certification to the rejection of an educator preparation program in the RGV.
Jul 31


A tale of two districts and the question of local control
Midland ISD is taking aim at recapture and Austin ISD is fighting shake off a potential TEA takeover. While their goals are different, both these challenges signal broader disgruntlement over local control and state intrusion.
Jul 24


Gov. Abbott launches Classroom Commission as educators look for action
The announcement of Abbott's TX Classroom Commission might be an opportunity for educators to have a seat at the table, but many ask whether policymakers will listen.
Jul 10


Texas AFT urges serious action after Governor Abbott’s announcement of a Texas Classroom Commission
Texas AFT's response to the creation of the Texas Classroom Commission.
Jul 8


Lone Star Online Academy's closure and virtual education's growing pains
A high-profile virtual school closure has parents, employees, and students scrambling, raising questions about standards and stability.
Jul 2


Guess who’s souring on test-based accountability?
25 years after No Child Left Behind, some education thinkers are second-guessing testing as an indicator of public school outcomes.
Jul 2


Texans are getting more skeptical of data centers and that matters for school funding.
Polling shows growing concern about data center construction in the Lone Star State. Data centers can be a drain on local resources - including school funding.
Jun 26


Texas earned an F in public education. Are state leaders paying any attention?
Texas received an F from the Network for Public Education for its commitment to public schools. Here's why.
Jun 20
bottom of page
.png)