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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 MoreHigher Education in Focus: Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education Interim Hearing
After the Texas Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education covered Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, combating antisemitism on Texas college campuses, and campus free speech in its May 2024 interim hearing, advocates were expecting the committee to take up the rest of its interim charges – including the second wave recently issued...
Read MoreOur Advocacy Never Stops: Updates on Your Right to a Secure Retirement
Texas AFT continues to be busy at the Texas Capitol and before our state agencies advocating on a variety of issues. Continuing our coverage from last week’s Hotline, today we will focus on the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) joint budget hearing, interim House Pensions, Investments, & Financial Services...
Read MoreSBEC Recap: Texas Teachers of Tomorrow Secures Agreement
The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) met in Austin September 19-20. Perhaps the most consequential event of the meeting came early Thursday afternoon.
Read MoreElection 2024 Spotlight: Preserving an Anti-Voucher Vote in HD 121
After the bruising battles of last year’s voucher-focused Texas Legislature and amid an equally unsettling back-to-school season, we know how critical this November’s election is.
Read MoreSept. 20, 2024: The Right to Academic Freedom
Friday, Sept. 20, 2024 The Right to Academic Freedom No. 6 in Texas AFT’s Educator’s Bill of Rights, our union’s agenda for the 89th Legislature, is the right to academic freedom. Our members have told us that ending classroom censorship by repealing book bans and limitations on classroom instructional materials...
Read MoreA (Very) Full Week at the Capitol
To say this was a busy week for interim hearing work at the Legislature would be an understatement. This week alone, and in addition to two statewide board meetings, Texas AFT was monitoring and providing testimony in the following committees: House Select Committee on Youth Health & Safety Senate Education...
Read MoreNew Poll Warns of Impending Faculty Crisis at Texas Universities Following Legislature’s Attacks on Higher Education
Texas AAUP-AFT, the Texas chapter of the American Association of University Professors, and the Texas Faculty Association (TFA) released a new poll of Texas university and college faculty, and the findings are clear and bleak.
Read MoreSBOE Recap: A Long Week with No Shortage of Controversy
The State Board of Education (SBOE) began what proved to be a very long meeting on Tuesday, Sept.10, in Austin. The most anticipated item was the public hearing regarding proposed materials for the inaugural instructional materials and adoption (IMRA) process, but there were significant decisions made throughout the week.
Read MoreSept. 13, 2024: No More Harm
Friday, Sept. 13, 2024 No more harm. Just 53 days separate us and Election Day. We already know the stakes; from the presidency all the way down to control of our school boards and our municipal offices, the fate of democracy is on the ballot. Look no further for an...
Read MoreRecap: What We Heard at the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival
At this year's exhilarating TribFest 2024, The Texas Tribune brought Texans closer to politics, policy, and the day's news from Texas and beyond. Texas AFT was a proud sponsor of this year's TribFest, bringing together legislators and community members from both sides of the aisles to discuss what matters most...
Read MoreCharles Butt Foundation Poll Shows 70% of Texas Teachers Aren’t Paid a Living Wage, 78% Want to Quit
The Charles Butt Foundation has released the latest results from its annual survey of Texas teachers, and the findings are as dire as you’d expect.
Read MoreSBEC Preview: Certification, Sanctions, Standards Dominate the Agenda
The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) will meet in Austin next Thursday and Friday, Sept.19-20. Some action items are anticipated, but most of the agenda will continue with discussions on topics that we have seen at the last few meetings.
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