As Texas school districts get ready to open their doors for the 2025-2026 school year, educators and families have much to contend with and understandable levels of anxiety. On many fronts, public education in Texas and nationwide under attack. In response, our union is doing the only thing we can: stand up and fight back.
We are all in for public schools. Lately, that means we’re in court for public schools, taking every action that we can to ensure federal and state dollars make it to our schools to support our students and pay our educators what they’re worth.
Trump Administration Releases $6 Billion in Withheld Funding
In July, Texas AFT joined several school districts, parent groups, and education unions in a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for unlawfully withholding nearly $6 billion in federal funding for public schools.
Two weeks later, we are proud to report that the administration has released those funds, and our coalition of plaintiffs has withdrawn our motion for a preliminary injunction.
This is a resounding victory as our students, families, and educators get ready to return to campuses statewide.
“The release of these funds is a reminder that we are stronger together and that standing up to bullies matters, whether they’re on the playground or in the White House. School districts, educators, and parents acted urgently and in unison for our kids’ best interests. That is a lesson to remember and replicate as the chaos continues at the Department of Education and the federal government,” said Texas AFT President Zeph Capo in a statement. “It is also a reminder that funding our schools should not be a partisan issue. We are grateful for the Republican representatives who spoke out against this unlawful funding freeze alongside Democrats. Texas AFT will fight every effort to undermine or penalize the 5.5 million kids who attend Texas public schools. We dream of a day when a Texas Republican in Congress might show that level of bipartisan outrage.”
Legal Action Continues Against Houston ISD over State-Funded Teacher Raises
Last week, we reported that the Houston Federation of Teachers filed a lawsuit against the Houston ISD Board of Managers and state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles. The issue at hand is the district’s plan to divert the across-the-board raises for teachers from House Bill 2 to HISD’s new pay-for-performance compensation plan.
Building on its members’ wishes for how that money be distributed, HFT went to court, seeking a temporary restraining order. That initial request was denied, but the legal battle is not over. In its effort to exhaust every legal remedy to protect employee wages, HFT is now seeking a temporary injunction to halt the district from following through on its plan.
For more updates as the fight continues, subscribe to email and text updates from the No More Harm coalition.