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Texas AFT 2025 Biennial Convention: All in for Public Schools
The Texas AFT 2025 Biennial Convention in Dallas brought members, delegates, and staff together for a weekend of action, awards, learning, and fun! The festivities kicked off with a march to Senator Ted Cruz’s downtown office to oppose his federal voucher legislation. You can view the rally here, including the moment when our two selected delegates were denied entry into...
Read More“Broken Promises’: A Chronicle of Charter School Failures
Given the recent approvals of four new charter schools by the State Board of Education this summer, we want to revisit the important research that has informed Texas AFT’s continued insistence on a charter school moratorium in this state. First, let’s start with the national education policy think tank...
Read MoreJuly 26, 2024: Cross-Country Solidarity
Friday, July 26, 2024 Cross-Country Solidarity In recent years, it feels like public education in Texas has made headlines for all the wrong reasons: stagnant public school funding, book bans, or the threat of privatization, and more. But this week Texas educators made the front pages of newspapers across the...
Read MoreUrgent Call to Action: Texas House Public Education Committee Hearings on 08/12 and 08/13
The Texas House Public Education Committee is holding critical hearings on Monday, August 12 and Tuesday, August 13 on issues that are having or will have a profound impact on the future of public education in Texas. Perhaps most critically, the committee will consider the implementation of taxpayer-funded private school...
Read MoreAFT Becomes First Union to Endorse Kamala Harris
Thousands of AFT members were energized by a visit from Vice President Kamala Harris on the last day of our 88th biennial national convention this past Thursday. AFT was the first labor union to endorse Vice President Harris after President Joe Biden’s stunning announcement this past Sunday that he would...
Read MoreSBEC Recap: Board Focus on Long-Range Planning and Stakeholder Engagement
The State Board for Educator Certification met in Austin on July 18-19. While this agenda was light on decision making, it was full of portents for future action by this body. Thursday, the SBEC conducted their annual work session. The day was divided into two major areas for discussion: Long-range...
Read MoreTransforming Student Debt: Major Relief for Public Service Workers
The Biden-Harris Administration has taken a significant step forward in addressing student debt, approving an additional $1.2 billion in relief for 35,000 public servants. This move is part of a broader effort to reform the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, which has historically fallen short in delivering promised debt...
Read MorePremium Reductions, New Plans, and Investment Strategy Discussed at TRS Board Meeting
Last week the TRS board of trustees convened in Austin to discuss the health of the pension fund, the fund’s investment strategy, and, perhaps most consequentially, the significant reduction of TRS-Care premiums from Medicare-eligible members. Texas AFT Retiree Plus Members also attended the meeting and provided public comment to the...
Read MoreJuly 19, 2024: What could go wrong?
Friday, July 19, 2024 What could go wrong? In an average year, 3,996 people die and 5,556 are wounded by guns in Texas, according to 2023 data collated by Everytown for Gun Safety. And the problem is growing worse. The rate of gun deaths in Texas increased 46% from 2012...
Read MoreSocial Security Fairness Act Gains 60 Co-Sponsors
The Social Security Fairness Act, which would repeal two federal provisions that cut public employees’ Social Security benefits, has reached a new milestone with 60 co-sponsors in the U.S. Senate, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), the bill’s author, announced this week. “Social Security is a bedrock of our middle class,” Brown...
Read MoreSounding the Alarm on Project 2025: The Far-Right’s Blueprint to Dismantle Public Education and Workers’ Rights
As the race for the November elections gains momentum, you may have heard Project 2025 mentioned in the news by those warning about the dangers of a second term should former President Donald Trump win the election. Project 2025 is...
Read MoreAdditional Irregularities, Possible Impropriety in Mike Miles Charter School Saga, Texas Observer Report Reveals
Coming off the heels of Spectrum News’ jaw-dropping report that uncovered a possible multi-million dollar scandal involving state-installed Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles’ former charter school, a new report from the Texas Observer has uncovered even more irregularities and possible...
Read MoreJuly 12, 2024: We take care of us
Friday, July 12, 2024 Houston Federation of Teachers and Aldine AFT members hand out groceries at distributions events for their neighbors in need after Hurricane Beryl. We take care of us In the initial aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, Texas AFT has worked with our local unions to distribute care packages...
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