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

May 10, 2024: We Appreciate You

Friday, May 10, 2024 Now is as good a time as any to remind you that you can find this meme and more by following Texas AFT on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or X/Twitter.   'Teacher Appreciation’  In theory, this week is Teacher Appreciation Week. But you wouldn’t have guessed it from recent education headlines in Texas.   If you want to know...

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March 3, 2023: Celebrating Maintenance Workers & Women’s History Month

Friday, March 3, 2023 ‘Respect for Those of Us Who Are the Foundation of Every School’ Saturday, March 4, is Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day, an important time to recognize the too-often-ignored contributions of the support staff who keep schools safe, clean, and usable for our kids. Too many of our...

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Feb. 24, 2023: Teacher Vacancy Task Force Report Is Finally Out

Black T-shirt with a design on the front that says "Nothing about us without us" in the shape of Texas

Friday, Feb. 24, 2023 Strong Public Schools Need Empowered Educators No decisions about Texas school employees should be made without the input of Texas school employees. That’s our message to the Texas Legislature, and it's the subject of our newest union T-shirt! Buy yours at store.texasaft.org and help fuel our...

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Feb. 17, 2023: TEA Deputy Says the Quiet Part Out Loud

Friday, Feb. 17, 2023 The Campaign to Defund Public Schools Picks Up Steam This has been a whirlwind week in the world of Texas education. We’ll cover much of it in this newsletter (TEA scandal! State of the State! Dan Patrick’s priorities!), but the main theme: vouchers and their impact...

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Feb. 10, 2023: 89% of School Counselors Don’t Feel Respected by Texas

Text says, "National School Counselor Week: 89 percent of school counselors say they don't feel respected by the state of Texas."

This week's Hotline is sponsored by Texas AFT corporate supporter Horace Mann.  Friday, Feb. 10, 2023 Shining a Spotlight on School Counselors To honor National School Counseling Week, we’ve given the top spot in today’s Hotline to a Texas school counselor. My name is Jessica Pecina Lopez, and I am...

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Feb. 3, 2023: The Fight Against Defunding Public Schools

This week's Hotline is sponsored by Texas AFT corporate supporter Horace Mann.  Friday, Feb. 3, 2023 Gov. Abbott Ups the Ante on ‘School Choice’ Debate Despite National Voucher Horror Stories State funding for public education is under siege on several fronts. The specter of school privatization threatens the foundations of...

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Jan. 27, 2023: Raises for All Texas School Employees

Friday, Jan. 27, 2023 As Texas public schools beg for funding, Texas charter schools … buy luxury horse ranches. This year, National School Choice Week fell just a week after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick proclaimed before the Legislature that he and Gov. Greg Abbott are “all in” on “school choice.” ...

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Jan. 6, 2023: Education Bills, a COLA, & Student Debt Relief

2023 in fireworks

Friday, Jan. 6, 2023 Welcome to 2023, and the 88th Texas Legislature Happy new year! For those on their way back to classrooms, buses, and school campuses, we wish you a soft landing and a happy return. In Austin, Texas AFT is gearing up for another return — of the...

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