Featured News
SB 13: Deep Dive into New School Library Restrictions
During the 89th legislative session, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 13, which significantly changes how public school libraries across the state select, review, and manage books and instructional materials. The law, which took effect on Sept. 1, creates new barriers to access and hands greater decision-making power to school boards and external, ostensibly parent-dominated councils. Supporters argue that SB...
Read MoreUncertainty, Anxiety in Higher Education Following Trump’s Freeze on Federal Grant Funding
Last week, the Trump Administration issued an executive order that temporarily halted federal funding for grants in higher education, research, and programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The move, along with other education-related orders from President Donald Trump, sent shockwaves across universities and research institutions, as agencies like...
Read MoreFebruary is Career & Technical Education Month—And Now, It’s a Texas Emergency
Gov. Greg Abbott has declared expanding career training as an emergency item for the 89th legislative session, emphasizing the critical need to equip Texans for in-demand, well-paying jobs. This initiative aligns with Career & Technical Education (CTE) Month, highlighting the importance of vocational programs in our education system.
Read MoreThis Week in the Legislature: Abbott Designates Vouchers, Teacher Pay, & Career Training as Emergency Items
On Sunday, Feb. 2, Gov. Greg Abbott gave his State of the State address, outlining his priority items for the 89th Legislature. As expected, Abbott named private school vouchers one of his seven emergency items for the Legislature to consider...
Read MoreGov. Abbott’s State of the State priorities send mixed messages to parents, students, & educators
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Feb. 2, 2025 CONTACT: Nicole Hill, press@texasaft.org Governor who oversaw a year of school closures and layoffs directs the Legislature to prioritize teacher pay while also demanding lawmakers defund neighborhood schools with a private school voucher...
Read MoreJan. 31, 2025: Good news?!
Friday, Jan. 31, 2025 Via Texas AFL-CIO Good news?! In an exceptionally long and fraught January, here’s a glimmer of good news. This week, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its annual report on union density in the country, showing that the number of Texas union members is the...
Read MoreTrump Administration Eliminates Sensitive Location Protections for Public Schools and Churches in Immigration Orders
The Trump Administration has revoked long-standing sensitive location protections, allowing U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to arrest undocumented individuals on the grounds of schools, churches, and hospitals without prior approval. This move marks a drastic shift from policies...
Read MoreEducator’s Bill of Rights Spotlight: Secure Retirement in the 89th Legislature
Our educator workforce deserves to retire in dignity and security, and we can’t do that on the $2,199 per month the average teacher receives from the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS). Texas voters turned out in force in 2023 to support Prop A, the first statewide TRS cost-of-living increase...
Read MoreFund Schools First: North Texas Parents, Educators, & Community Leaders Organize for Increased Public School Funding
Across North Texas, parents, educators, and community leaders are coming together with a shared mission: ensuring that public schools receive the funding they need to support students and teachers. Fund Schools First, a grassroots movement, is advocating for increased public...
Read MoreThis Week in the Legislature: What We Heard at the Senate’s Voucher Hearing
The Texas Legislature meets for 140 days every two years*. It’s a slim window to pass legislation, and it’s actually slimmer than you think. Much of the action in the Texas House and Senate has yet to begin this session as both chambers wait for Gov. Greg Abbott to release...
Read MoreJan. 24, 2025: Ready to Work
Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 Leaders from Texas AFT K-12 and higher education local unions statewide visited legislators’ offices last week on the opening day of the 89th Legislature. In conversations with lawmakers and staff, they discussed the pressing need to pass our Educator’s Bill of Rights and fully fund our public...
Read MoreThis Week in the Legislature: 3 Things to Know
We are just over one week into the 89th Legislature and things are beginning to move. As we continue to advocate for the important bills supporting our Educator’s Bill of Rights, we are also watching the following developments:
Read MoreEducator’s Bill of Rights Spotlight: Bills to Support the Right to Fair Wages
Mass layoffs, school closures, and growing budget deficits continue to be the norm for Texas public schools. This is the price we pay for the Legislature’s failed bid in 2023 to pass a private school voucher program, a fruitless quest that killed a badly needed public school funding package in...
Read More