Featured News
Nov. 18, 2022: Results from Our Task Force; SBOE’s Final Meeting of the Year
Texas AFT offices will close for the Thanksgiving holiday on Wednesday, Nov. 23, and there will be no Hotline next week. We hope you and yours have a warm and restful break! Texas AFT Announces Respect Agenda for 88th Legislative Session Up to 70% of Texas teachers say they’re thinking of leaving education according to survey data collected in the...
Read MoreSBOE Lays Out Legislative Priorities, Gives Approval to Social Studies Standards
This week in Austin was the final meeting of the year for the State Board of Education (SBOE). Among their standard duties, the board agreed upon several legislative priorities that fell under some broad topics: charter school transparency, charter regulation, instructional materials, board support, and school funding/appropriations. Their specific priorities...
Read MoreEducator Perspectives from Working Conditions Task Force Guide Texas AFT’s Legislative Priorities
Over the past two months Texas AFT leaders and staff have met with members from across the state during biweekly meetings of the Working Conditions Task Force to hear first-hand accounts about their experiences as educators. The feedback from the Working Conditions Task Force will direct Texas AFT’s policy work...
Read MoreNov. 11, 2022: Recapping the Election; TEA Proposes Safety Changes
Texas AFT offices are closed Friday, Nov. 11, to commemorate Veterans Day. Today, we honor all who have served in the U.S. armed forces. If you are looking for ways to teach your students the true meaning of the holiday, take a look at Share My Lesson’s free lesson plans...
Read MoreTEA Proposes New Rules to Address Student Safety
Last week, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) proposed a new rule intended to increase school safety. TEA announced this sweeping new rule roughly five months after a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary in Uvalde. In the wake of the Uvalde tragedy, Gov. Greg Abbott specifically...
Read MoreCollin College Professor Reinstated After Free-Speech Lawsuit
Suzanne Jones, an education professor at Collin College, will return to the North Texas community college in January under a two-year contract and with a new salary. Jones was terminated last year due to her comments and actions on political issues, including criticizing Collin College’s response to COVID-19 on...
Read MoreNov. 4, 2022: Voting FAQs; TRS COLA would boost economy
More than 4 Million Texans Have Voted. Have You? Today is the final day to vote early for crucial elections in Texas. Not only are statewide offices, the Texas Legislature, and the State Board of Education on your ballot, but so are local and county offices, school boards, and important...
Read MoreNote from President Capo on This Election
The following message was sent from Texas AFT President Zeph Capo to members statewide on Wednesday, Nov. 9. Reflecting on This Election Yesterday’s election could have gone better for public education. But it also could have gone a lot worse. Do I wish we’d woken up this morning with a...
Read MoreTexas AFT responds to Lt. Gov. Patrick comments disparaging urban school districts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov. 7, 2022 CONTACT: Nicole Hill, 512-317-2232, nhill@texasaft.org Texas AFT responds to Lt. Gov. Patrick comments disparaging urban school districts Lieutenant governor blames school districts for problems his charter schemes created AUSTIN, Texas – In his comments last week pushing private school vouchers, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called urban school districts...
Read MoreLt. Gov. Patrick Backpedals on Vouchers, Attacks Teachers and Urban Public Schools
In an appearance on a Lubbock-based conservative radio show this Monday, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick continued to push his unpopular private school voucher scheme and took swipes at urban public schools and teacher unions. Private School Vouchers Patrick reiterated his support for private school vouchers but added a major caveat:...
Read MoreTRS Retirees Grow the Texas Economy, TRS ‘Value Brochure’ Show
This week, TRS released its annual “Value Brochure,” highlighting the value that TRS has brought to both its members and to the Texas economy over the past fiscal year. While TRS has had an increasingly positive impact on the Texas economy as a whole, TRS members who have retired since...
Read MoreVote for Pro-Public Education, Pro-Democracy Candidates TODAY!
Early voting for the Nov. 8 midterm election has begun in Texas. Public education is on the ballot across the state, and it is vital that public school educators and employees show up to the polls in full force. Who you vote for is secret, but whether you vote is...
Read MoreThey’re at It Again: Charter School PACs & Billionaires Pouring Money into Texas Elections
In February, Texas AFT reported that out-of-state billionaires were attempting to buy the State Board of Education to pave the way for more for-profit charter school chains in Texas. In many ways, they succeeded, with a number of their preferred candidates advancing to the general election. These billionaires are at...
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