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SBOE Holds Special Meeting to Review Social Studies TEKS
Texas AFT Policy Analyst Kelsey Kling testifies at Monday's SBOE meeting. On Monday, the State Board of Education held a special meeting to conduct a public hearing and discussion on the revised social studies TEKS. Invited testifiers included Texas Supreme Court Justice Nathan Hecht, who spoke about the need for civics education and Sen. Bryan Hughes, author of SB 3,...
Read MoreStatement on Gov. Abbott’s ‘School Choice’ Press Conference
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Aug. 11, 2022 CONTACT: Nicole Hill, 512-317-2232, nhill@texasaft.org Texas AFT President Zeph Capo commented today after Gov. Greg Abbott held a press conference to discuss “school choice” at The King’s Academy, a private “Christ-centered” school in Dallas: Source: Texas Parent PAC poll of likely Texas voters, May 2022...
Read MoreOil Tycoons spent millions to replace Public Schools with Private Schools, according to new report
Two West Texas oil tycoons have been donating millions of dollars to influence Texas politics, with the intention of completely replacing all public schools across the state with Christian private schools, according to a new report from CNN. Tim Dunn, Farris Wilks, and their wives have collectively donated over $29...
Read MoreBeto Emphasizes Support for Increased Education Funding
This past week, Texas AFT-endorsed candidate for governor, Beto O’Rourke, emphasized his support for increasing public education funding at a town hall in Bowie, Texas. When asked by a retired educator how he planned to increase teacher salaries as governor when salary schedules are set by local school boards, O’Rourke...
Read MoreJuly 29, 2022: Collier Stands with Educators; House Hears from One Teacher
Texas AFT Launches Statewide Campaign for the Respect Teachers, School Employees Deserve On Monday, Texas AFT gathered members on Zoom and in person at the Children’s Museum of Houston to officially launch our Respect Us or Expect Us campaign for the 2022 midterm elections and 88th legislative session next year....
Read MoreTexas AFT Launches Statewide Campaign for the Respect Teachers, School Employees Deserve
On Monday, Texas AFT gathered members on Zoom and in person at the Children’s Museum of Houston to officially launch our Respect Us or Expect Us campaign for the 2022 midterm elections and 88th legislative session next year. The launch included a press conference revealing the findings of a series...
Read MoreMarathon Meetings of the House Public Education Committee
In back-to-back late night hearings on Monday and Tuesday, the House Public Education Committee heard invited and public testimony on a number of interim charges. Monday’s agenda was a pick-up agenda from an early adjournment on May 24 due to the Uvalde tragedy. The committee hosted panels on the implementation...
Read MoreMike Collier Defends Public Education Funding; Stands with the majority (53%) of likely Texas voters that are against taxpayer-funded private school voucher programs
Last week, Texas AFT’s endorsed candidate for Lt. Governor Mike Collier was attacked by far-right politicians and pundits when he asserted his support for public schools. In a clip taken from his speech at the Texas Democratic Convention and then...
Read MoreNew Study Provides Solutions for Texas’ Teacher & School Staff Retention Crisis
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 25, 2022 CONTACT: Nicole Hill, 512-317-2232, nhill@texasaft.org New Study Provides Solutions for Texas’ Teacher & School Staff Retention Crisis Meanwhile, the House Public Education Committee meets for two days without invited testimony from Texas educators. HOUSTON – Nearly 43,000 Texas teachers left their job in the...
Read More2022 Texas Democratic Convention Recap: Candidates Flocked Texas AFT’s Respect Educators Caucus
Last weekend, dozens of Texas AFT members attended the 2022 Texas Democratic Convention in Dallas. Introducing the Respect Slate A number of Texas AFT’s endorsed candidates took the stage, including Beto O’Rourke, Mike Collier, and Rochelle Garza — all members of what we call the “Respect Slate,” a full ballot...
Read MoreLegislature’s Investigative Report on Uvalde Shooting Details Failed Law Enforcement Response, Inadequate School Safety
Memorial to the students and teachers killed in the Uvalde shooting outside the Texas Capitol. On Sunday, the Texas Legislature's investigative committee released a thorough and damning report regarding the tragic mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas. The...
Read More2022 AFT Convention Recap: Texas AFT Members Recognized for Wage Victories, Union Growth
Last week, AFT members from across the country met in Boston, Massachusetts, for AFT’s 87th Biennial Convention. Texas AFT was represented at the convention by more than 30 delegates, led by Texas AFT President Zeph Capo. Delegates participated in a wide array of programming, including special recognition of certain locals...
Read MoreJuly 22, 2022: AFT and Texas Democratic Convention Recap, TX Ledge Report on Uvalde
This Monday, Texas AFT Summer School Is In Session — and Respect Is on the Agenda With a return to school approaching, districts across the state still have hundreds and hundreds of teaching vacancies to fill — not to mention shortages of staff in other crucial areas. It’s no...
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