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Act now to help pass crucial aid to Texas in the HEROES Act!
Send your letter now asking your senators to support the HEROES Act, which will provide crucial funding for our K-12 and higher ed schools, and other state and local services. What the HEROES Act will provide Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell warned that the U.S. economy "could become stuck in a painful multiyear recession if Congress and the White...
Read MoreSome Victories in the Fight for Better Education Funding and Policy in the Texas House
(1) Rep. Donna Howard, Democrat of Austin, achieved a breakthrough on the House floor Thursday afternoon in the fight to tap the Rainy Day Fund for public education over the next two years. Her amendment to SB 2, a follow-up to the budget bill passed May 29, would use any...
Read MoreOnce More With Feeling: Tell Your State Rep What You Think, By Phone and By E-Mail! Key House Votes Thursday on School Finance, Class Size, Contract Rights, Layoffs
SB 1, a bill that permanently cuts state funding for local school districts by $4 billion, is scheduled for action on the Texas House floor shortly after 10 am Thursday morning, June 9. Also on the agenda is SB 2,...
Read MoreKey Texas House Votes Coming on School Finance, Class Size, Contract Rights, Layoffs—Tell Your State Representative What You Think, By Phone and By E-Mail!
SB 1, a bill that permanently cuts state funding for local school districts by $4 billion, is up for a vote on the Texas House floor Thursday morning. Also on the agenda is SB 2, a bill to adjust the...
Read MoreDay of Action Statewide Against Attack on Students and Teachers–“Because the Kids Are Worth It”
Texas AFT members came to the state capitol with parent and community allies on Monday to make their voices heard against a multi-pronged attack on Texas schools, students, teachers, and other school personnel. To a reporter who questioned why we...
Read MoreSenate Passes Bill to Undercut Pay Standards, Contract Safeguards—Permanently
The Senate majority by a vote of 18 to 12 Monday afternoon approved SB 8, a bill that permanently undercuts salary standards for Texas educators and that permanently undoes contract standards for teachers. Sen. Florence Shapiro, Republican of Plano, rejected an amendment by Sen. Wendy Davis that would have made...
Read MoreHouse Hearing Promotes Unpaid Furloughs, Attacks Minimum Salary Schedule, Pushes Vouchers
Texas AFT and allies fought three bad bills in the Texas House Government Reform and Efficiency Committee on Monday evening. HB 17 by Rep. Bill Callegari, Republican of Katy, would eliminate current pay floors in state law for teachers, counselors, nurses, librarians, and speech pathologists, save for a $27,320 minimum...
Read MoreAttacks on Class-Size Caps and on Contract Safeguards Get Committee Okay in Texas House
Repeated attempts by Rep. Rob Eissler, Republican of The Woodlands, to pass a broad attack on class-size limits, contract safeguards, and salary standards failed in the regular 2011 legislative session. Opposition from parents, educators, and concerned citizens reinforced resistance from many House members, who blocked Eissler’s HB 400 and equivalent...
Read MoreEnforcement Mechanism for Deep Cuts in School Aid Passes Texas Senate, 19 to 12
The Texas Senate passed implementing legislation to enforce $4 billion in cuts to state aid to school districts on Friday evening. It was a straight party-line vote with all 19 Republicans in favor, all 12 Democrats against. The next Hotline will recap the debate and the amendments to SB 1...
Read MoreSpecial Weekend Edition of Hotline Previews Texas AFT’s Action Agenda for Monday
Look for a special weekend Hotline on Sunday, previewing the multi-part agenda of actions you can take on Monday to fight back against the ongoing attack on students and educators.
Read MoreStrong Testimony Answers Attacks on School Funding, Teacher Pay, Contract Safeguards
Texas AFT testified against matching school-finance bills in the Texas House and Senate Thursday. The plans fall short on both adequacy and equity, and they would permanently enforce $4 billion in unprecedented cuts in public education. These bills, HB 1 and SB 1, would leave school districts uncertain whether they...
Read MoreSenate Leaders Push Quick Committee Action, Early Floor Votes on Bad Bills
With the powers that be in the Senate signaling a desire for fast action, the Senate Finance Committee quickly passed SB 1 late Thursday afternoon. The bill is already eligible for floor action when the Senate reconvenes at 3:30 pm Friday. No vote was taken on SB 8 in committee...
Read MoreHouse Committee Takes Up Bills Friday Undercutting Class-Size Caps, Contracts
Rep. Rob Eissler, the Republican from The Woodlands who chairs the House Public Education Committee, has scheduled a hearing at 9 am on Friday on four bills that would effectively nullify K-4 class-size limits and contract guarantees in state law. The bills are HB 18 by Eissler, HB 19 by...
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