Education Newsfeed

Texas public education news and updates on our union's work, written and edited by Texas AFT staff.

Featured news:

Labor Day: a celebration of worker power

Labor and unions are on the upswing in the 2020s. After decades of suppression by governments and misinformation from think tanks, Americans are waking up to their collective power and joining unions all over this great country.

Abbott wants H-1B teachers out of Texas public schools. Districts say they’re filling jobs Texans aren’t.

H-1B visa holders make up less than half a percentage point of all Texas teachers, but they fill important gaps in urban districts - the Governor's proposal is unnecessarily cruel and solves no problems while making the staffing crisis worse.

Aug 28

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

SBEC preview: Exams and Then Some

The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) will meet in Austin on July 23 & 24. After powering through several chapters of rulemaking in order to implement the Preparing and Retaining Educators Through Partnerships allotment as required in House Bill 2, the board will entertain a lighter agenda this month. However, they will also engage in the annual work session where they will preview the year ahead. Texas AFT will be watching a few items next week. First, the board

Jul 17

SBEC: Off-cycle meeting Recap

Texas Education Agency staff showcased the new and publicly available Educator Misconduct Dashboard. We have written extensively about Senate Bill (SB) 571--its reporting requirements and misconduct consequences. One feature of the bill was a requirement to establish an internet portal that aggregates this information. Broadly, the portal exhibits the number and types of reports (violence, inappropriate relationships, etc.), progress on investigations, and sanctions imposed.

May 22

SBEC Recap: HB 2 and disciplinary changes

The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) met in Austin Friday, Apr. 24 for it’s second regular meeting of the year. The actions of the board will have broad impacts and consequences for educator preparation and discipline in the coming months and years.

May 8

SBEC Recap: Discipline and Educator Preparation

The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) met in Austin on Dec. 4 and 5 for a lengthy agenda. We provide a deep dive into their discussions regarding educator preparation programs and the impacts of House Bill 2 plus some educator discipline rules.

Dec 19, 2025

Statement on the announcement of a “partnership” between Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Turning Point USA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 8, 2025 CONTACT: Nicole Hill, press@texasaft.org Statement from Texas AFT President Zeph Capo on the announcement of a “partnership” between Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Turning Point USA to launch chapters of the organization on every Texas high school campus: “Do you know what I’d like to see on every high school… [ more ]

Dec 9, 2025