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Webinar on returning to school campuses: Know your options and rights!
We know there is a lot to consider going into the new school year with the pandemic, and Texas AFT wants to arm you with the information you need to make the best decision for you and your family. Please join us for a free Zoom webinar on educator options for those considering not returning to the classroom or those needing...
Read MoreHouse Members Should Oppose Bills to Take Away Contract Rights of Teachers—Action Item Number Three
Two bad bills are up for a vote on the House floor on Tuesday. HB 20 deprives teachers of reasonable notice that their term contracts will not be renewed. HB 21 takes away the last shred of seniority protection under...
Read MoreAmendment to Tap Rainy Day Fund for Schools Survives Counterattack
An attempt was made Friday to strip from SB 2 Rep. Donna Howard’s amendment earmarking any increases in the Rainy Day Fund to cover the $2.2 billion cost of school enrollment growth. The last-minute attempt by Rep. Phil King, Republican of Weatherford, was blocked by a bipartisan coalition of all...
Read MoreClass-Size Bill Amended to Maintain Essentials of Current Law—Parent/Educator Pressure Worked
Parents and educators have teamed up all year long to thwart repeated attempts by Rep. Rob Eissler, Republican of The Woodlands, and others to gut the state’s 22-to-1 class-size limit in grades K-4. On Friday afternoon, the concerted resistance to the attack on class-size caps achieved a signal success. Eissler...
Read MoreSB 1, Cutting $4 Billion from State Aid to School Districts, Passes House 83 to 62
Thanks to an amendment added Thursday by Republican Rep. Diane Patrick of Arlington and Democratic Rep. Scott Hochberg of Houston, the school-finance plan in SB 1 no longer contains permanent funding cuts, but the bill still will do major damage to school funding for the coming two years. The vote...
Read MoreBills Attacking Teachers’ Contracts Postponed
The expected attack on educators’ contract rights fizzled out Friday afternoon, as one bill had to go back to committee to correct procedural errors and action on two others was postponed. The House can take these bills up when it meets again next Tuesday. The next Hotline will report further...
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...
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