Featured News
Texas AFT Files Federal Lawsuit to Protect Educators’ Constitutional Rights
On January 6, Texas AFT filed a federal lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency and Commissioner Mike Morath, challenging their unconstitutional investigation of more than 350 educators for exercising their constitutionally protected First Amendment rights on their personal social media.
Read MoreTexas AFT endorses Gina Hinojosa for Texas Governor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 9, 2025 CONTACT: Marco Guajardo, press@texasaft.org AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas American Federation of Teachers endorses state Rep. Gina Hinojosa for Texas Governor, as approved by its Executive Council on Saturday, Dec. 6. “Gina Hinojosa is not only our best chance at flipping the governor’s mansion for public education, she’s also the best choice for governor. Period,” said...
Read MoreStatement on the announcement of a “partnership” between Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Turning Point USA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 8, 2025 CONTACT: Nicole Hill, press@texasaft.org Statement from Texas AFT President Zeph Capo on the announcement of a "partnership" between Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Turning Point USA to launch chapters of the organization on...
Read MoreDec. 5, 2025: Bad ideas and a good IDEA
Friday, December 5, 2025 A Great IDEA turns 50 IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, celebrated its 50th anniversary this November. The act, signed into law by President Gerald Ford as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (renamed in 1990), transformed the educational experiences of millions of children with disabilities in this country, and it remains an indispensable...
Read MorePolitical Pressure Builds Across Texas Universities
Over the past month, a new wave of challenges has swept across public higher education, targeting funding, course content, academic freedom, and the speech rights of faculty.
Read MoreTen Commandments Update: New Class-Action Lawsuit
More parents across Texas are joining the diverse legal effort to stop the implementation of Senate Bill 10, the state law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom.
Read MoreFinal Rules for Texas Voucher Program Released
This past week, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Kelly Hancock announced the final rules for the $1 billion private school voucher scheme passed by the Texas Legislature.
Read MoreFederal Reshuffle of the U.S. Department of Education: What Happens When Core Functions Are Scattered
When the U.S. Department of Education (ED) quietly signed six interagency agreements on Nov 18, transferring major functions to agencies including the Department of Labor (DOL), the Department of the Interior (DOI), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of...
Read MoreNov. 21, 2025: What We’re Thankful For
Friday, November 21, 2025 The Strange Place We Find Ourselves There is perhaps nothing more emblematic of the hot-and-cold nature of the politics of Texas public education than this week’s contrasting updates on Senate Bill 10 (the Ten Commandments bill). On Tuesday, a federal judge ruled that SB 10...
Read MoreRecap: 2025 Texas Tribune Festival
For the past three years, Texas AFT has been a proud sponsor of the Texas Tribune Festival in Downtown Austin. We are grateful to participate in an event that educates and builds excitement around top issues in our state, drawing attendees from around the country to bring attention to priorities...
Read MoreIn Grief & Gratitude: What Texas AFT Is Thankful for This Year
Our work advocating for stronger Texas public schools, colleges, and universities is not easy, and it comes with a variety of setbacks and more than its fair share of mourning. But there is always progress — because there are always people fighting to make it happen. This year is no exception.
Read MoreSBOE Recap: Instructional Materials & Social Studies
The State Board of Education (SBOE) met in Austin on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 9 a.m. CT, and concluded Friday, Nov. 22. At this regular meeting, the board took up several items, most notably the adoption of instructional materials for reading and math and the consideration of topics for the...
Read MoreFriends of Texas Public Schools Summit: A Member’s-Eye View
Education Austin member and Austin ISD teacher Rachel Preston represented her union this year at the Friends of Texas Public Schools summit in Waco. Here, she shares her reflections on the experience. As educators, it’s important to remember that we are not alone. Across the state, groups in our communities want to support...
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