Education Newsfeed

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

Featured news:

Three years into the HISD takeover, the costs are coming into focus.

Approximately three years after the state seized control of Houston ISD, Texas officials have increasingly held up the district as evidence that state intervention works. There’s numbers they can point to as HISD had 56 F-rated campuses before the takeover and has five this year, while many schools operating under state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles’ New Education System (NES) have posted significant gains under the state accountability system. But three years is also

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.

7 days ago

Check your voter registration now: What Texas’ suspense list means

News of Texas' suspense list has caused confusion as 1.2 million Texans are affected - here's what you need to know and how to check your registration.

Sep 10

Meta's new teen restrictions reinforce AFT's call for technology guardrails

An $18 billion Meta settlement has resulted in the implementation of many teen-safety features that should've been in place from the start. More needs to be done, and AFT's recommendations can be a blueprint.

Sep 4

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

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

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

How much further can Texas push religion into public schools?

Just when it seemed Texas lawmakers had exhausted every possible way to insert religion into public education, Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick is asking them to find more. What could possibly be left to do?

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

Ballot spotlight: Texas Agriculture Commissioner

We put a spotlight on the role the Agriculture Commissioner plays in public education and keeping our students healthy and well-fed.

Jun 20

Fortified Campuses, Fearful Classrooms: Texas Schools 2 Years After Uvalde

Two years have passed since the horrific shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, where 19 children and two teachers were tragically killed by a lone 18-year-old gunman armed with an AR-15 as hundreds of law enforcement officers waited nearby. As we mark this somber anniversary, it is disheartening that gun violence remains a pressing… [ more ]

May 23, 2024

Texas AFT Releases Vision for Thriving Public Schools in New White Paper

Imagine a Texas where every child, from the Panhandle to the Rio Grande Valley, had access to a fully funded, high-quality public education. A state where educators are respected and compensated fairly for their vital work, students’ diverse needs are met, and schools serve as community hubs that support the whole child. Sound like a… [ more ]

May 16, 2024