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Urgent Call to Action: Texas House Public Education Committee Hearings on 08/12 and 08/13
The Texas House Public Education Committee is holding critical hearings on Monday, August 12 and Tuesday, August 13 on issues that are having or will have a profound impact on the future of public education in Texas. Perhaps most critically, the committee will consider the implementation of taxpayer-funded private school vouchers and the effect that the increasing quantity of uncertified...
Read MoreAFT Becomes First Union to Endorse Kamala Harris
Thousands of AFT members were energized by a visit from Vice President Kamala Harris on the last day of our 88th biennial national convention this past Thursday. AFT was the first labor union to endorse Vice President Harris after President Joe Biden’s stunning announcement this past Sunday that he would...
Read MoreSBEC Recap: Board Focus on Long-Range Planning and Stakeholder Engagement
The State Board for Educator Certification met in Austin on July 18-19. While this agenda was light on decision making, it was full of portents for future action by this body. Thursday, the SBEC conducted their annual work session. The day was divided into two major areas for discussion: Long-range...
Read MoreTransforming Student Debt: Major Relief for Public Service Workers
The Biden-Harris Administration has taken a significant step forward in addressing student debt, approving an additional $1.2 billion in relief for 35,000 public servants. This move is part of a broader effort to reform the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, which has historically fallen short in delivering promised debt...
Read MorePremium Reductions, New Plans, and Investment Strategy Discussed at TRS Board Meeting
Last week the TRS board of trustees convened in Austin to discuss the health of the pension fund, the fund’s investment strategy, and, perhaps most consequentially, the significant reduction of TRS-Care premiums from Medicare-eligible members. Texas AFT Retiree Plus Members also attended the meeting and provided public comment to the...
Read MoreSocial Security Fairness Act Gains 60 Co-Sponsors
The Social Security Fairness Act, which would repeal two federal provisions that cut public employees’ Social Security benefits, has reached a new milestone with 60 co-sponsors in the U.S. Senate, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), the bill’s author, announced this week. “Social Security is a bedrock of our middle class,” Brown...
Read MoreSounding the Alarm on Project 2025: The Far-Right’s Blueprint to Dismantle Public Education and Workers’ Rights
As the race for the November elections gains momentum, you may have heard Project 2025 mentioned in the news by those warning about the dangers of a second term should former President Donald Trump win the election. Project 2025 is...
Read MoreAdditional Irregularities, Possible Impropriety in Mike Miles Charter School Saga, Texas Observer Report Reveals
Coming off the heels of Spectrum News’ jaw-dropping report that uncovered a possible multi-million dollar scandal involving state-installed Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles’ former charter school, a new report from the Texas Observer has uncovered even more irregularities and possible...
Read MoreHurricane Beryl: Texas Impact, State Response, & Recovery Resources
Houston Federation of Teachers members hand out groceries in coordination with the Houston Food Bank on Thursday. HFT, Cy-Fair AFT, and Aldine AFT all opened their doors this week or hosted events for their neighbors in need after Hurricane Beryl. Jump to: Texas Disaster Relief Fund Resources for Recovery Hurricane...
Read MoreManufacturing Backlash: New AAUP Report Reveals Right-Wing Plan to Destroy Higher Education
A new AAUP report pinpoints Texas as a central battleground in the growing conflict over academic freedom in higher education.
Read MoreProfessional Development: Virtual Summit for Mexican American Studies
The National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies’ Tejas Foco Prek-12 Committee invites educators to attend the ninth-annual Mexican American Studies Virtual Summit on Saturday, July 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The purpose of the summit is to create a collective call to action with tangible steps...
Read MoreSBOE Preview: New Charter Schools up for Consideration
The State Board of Education (SBOE) convened in Austin from June 25-28 to consider new charter school applications, their funds distribution for the next biennium, and several topics related to work on continuing standards review. Instructional Materials Tuesday has become, more or less, “instructional materials day” in the boardroom. The...
Read MoreSupport the CHARTER Act: Protect Public Education
Recent analysis by Texas AFT has revealed the growing financial strain of charter school expansion on Texas public schools. In the 2023-2024 school year alone, Texas public school districts are estimated to have lost over $3.6 billion in revenue due to charter transfers, affecting at least 325 districts across the...
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