The Hotline Newsletter

Every week, Texas AFT compiles important news, updates, and information on public education policy in Texas. The Hotline covers a wide range of topics, including statewide education news, updates from the legislative session, and our current union campaigns.

Featured News

July 11, 2025: Who’s on the side of working Texans?

Friday, July 11, 2025 Who’s on the side of working Texans?  Earlier this week — a week of tragedy for so many Texas families — the Texas AFL-CIO officially released its Pro-Worker Scorecard for our state representatives and senators.   This is BIG NEWS. By making this data publicly available, our labor family is giving Texans the information they need...

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July 18, 2025: Two Federal Threats to Public Schools

Friday, July 18, 2025 Two Federal Threats to Public Schools This week, Texas AFT hosted the first session of our Summer School briefings for public school employees and parents, trying to make sense of all the state and national changes affecting our schools, colleges, and universities.   On the call,...

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July 4, 2025: Summer School is in session

Friday, July 4, 2025 Summer School is in session We wish each of you a happy and safe Independence Day and holiday weekend. As it so often does, summer seems to be flying by. Before you know it, the school year will be here (sorry).   Between federal government actions...

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June 27, 2025: We’re All In.

Friday, June 27, 2025 We’re All In.  If there is one message you retained from our 2025 Biennial Convention, it is that our fight isn’t over; it’s just getting started. As many of our speakers pointed out, the forces we’re up against have strength that only money can buy.  ...

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June 13, 2025: The work of our union

Friday, June 13, 2025 Looking Back (from left to right): Brownsville Educators Stand Together members presenting a resolution to the school board, Spring AFT members unboxing books for a Reading Opens the World event, and Texas AFT United members meeting with legislative staff.   The Work of Our Union Next...

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June 6, 2025: A nightmare for Dreamers

Friday, June 6, 2025 Downloadable poster available with other immigration resources from AFT.  A nightmare for Dreamers On Wednesday, within hours of a federal lawsuit filed against Texas over our state’s decades-old DREAM Act, Attorney General Ken Paxton readily sold out the future of our state and urged the court...

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May 30, 2025: You Asked. We Answered.

Friday, May 30, 2025 You asked. We answered.  As we careen toward the end of the 89th Legislature (June 2), you’d be forgiven for feeling a bit lost on where major education bills stand. A record 8,607 bills were filed by the filing deadline, hundreds ran the gauntlet of committee...

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May 23, 2025: Ask Us Anything

Friday, May 23, 2025 Texas AFT members gather near the South Steps of the Capitol for a rally on March 10. Ask Us Anything: Education in the 89th Legislature This legislative session has been a rocky ride for public schools, from pre-K-12 all the way through higher education. Texas AFT...

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May 16, 2025: Public Education on the Brink

Friday, May 16, 2025 Public education on the brink Emboldened by Gov. Abbott’s voucher bait-and-switch in Texas, Republican leadership in the U.S. Congress is trying to fast-track a national school voucher plan through the budget reconciliation process.   The Educational Choice for Children Act would funnel public dollars into private...

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May 9, 2025: We Carry On

Friday, May 9, 2025 We carry on. Veteran teachers roaming the halls of the Capitol, asking lawmakers to fund their schools and to focus on bills that would help their students instead of harm them.   School librarians cut off from testifying against a book-banning bill at 3:30 a.m. but...

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May 2, 2025: An Educator’s Bill of Rights Win

Friday, May 2, 2025 An Educator’s Bill of Rights Win There is no shortage of bad news for public schools and educators, at the local, state, and national levels. But there is also reason to hope and to stay locked in the fight for schools that help our kids thrive....

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April 25, 2025: It never stops. Neither can we.

Friday, April 25, 2025 Post from AFT President Randi Weingarten on Bluesky  It never stops. Neither can we.   This week, President Donald Trump signed a flurry of executive orders regarding pre-K-12 and higher education. You would be forgiven for not being aware of half of them, as they’ve come...

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April 18, 2025: We Need Real Solutions

Friday, April 18, 2025 Can We Talk About Real Solutions?  There is no shortage of news out of the Legislature this week, and we will break down all that public school employees and parents need to know about this week’s votes on public school funding and private school vouchers.  ...

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