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Texas loses more education funding than any other Republican-led state in latest cuts to fund billionaires
The Trump Administration has announced that it will illegally freeze $6.2 billion in federal education funding nationwide across five federal programs that support our public schools.
Read MoreICYMI: The 74 Reveals New Biblical Content in State’s ‘High-Quality Instructional Materials’
On Wednesday, the Texas Education Agency revealed its first round of Open Education Resources mandated by House Bill 1605. The new curriculum, as reported by The 74, includes significant Christian references and materials.
Read MoreStatement on Texas Primary Runoff Election Results
What have we learned so far from this year’s election cycle in Texas? Very little besides what we already knew: if you’ve got enough money, you can buy whatever seat you want. Mostly.
Read MoreMay 24, 2024: Never Back, Always Forward
Friday, May 24, 2024 Houston Federation of Teachers President Jackie Anderson, AFT Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus, and Texas AFT President Zeph Capo at a fundraiser for the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) at HFT’s office on Wednesday. Never Back, Always Forward It was a remarkable week for...
Read MoreFact Check: Is everyone except Gov. Abbott to blame for public schools’ budget crises?
As the 2023-2024 academic year comes to a close, Texas public schools find themselves struggling with severe budget deficits that are jeopardizing their ability to deliver high-quality education to the state's 5.5 million public school students. In recent remarks quoted on Twitter/X, Gov. Greg Abbott sought to distance himself from...
Read MoreFortified Campuses, Fearful Classrooms: Texas Schools 2 Years After Uvalde
Two years have passed since the horrific shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, where 19 children and two teachers were tragically killed by a lone 18-year-old gunman armed with an AR-15 as hundreds of law enforcement officers waited nearby. As we mark this somber anniversary, it is disheartening that...
Read MoreEmpowering Educators: Spring AFT, Brownsville Educators Stand Together Officially Charter as Texas AFT Local Unions
Educators in Spring ISD and Brownsville ISD are celebrating a significant milestone, as Texas AFT organizing committees in each district officially voted to charter as full local unions. In the past week, both Spring AFT and Brownsville Educators Stand Together...
Read MoreTexas Ranks First in Nation for Food Insecurity
In a new report from the “Map the Meal” study from Feeding America, Texas has ranked No. 1 in the country for food insecurity. Furthermore, “the counties with the highest rates of food insecurity are disproportionately rural. Sometimes a free lunch at school may be the only meal a child...
Read MoreMay 17, 2024: Vote to Thrive
Friday, May 17, 2024 Vote to Thrive It has been a wild week in Texas education news, and we have lots of vital updates in this week’s Hotline. But before we dive in, a reminder: Early voting in primary election runoffs starts this coming Monday, May 20, and runs through...
Read MoreHouse Interim Charges Finally Released as School Funding Crisis Looms, Gaining Lawmakers’ Attention
As students, educators, and school employees across Texas wrap up the 2023-2024 school year, a high-stakes debate is brewing over the pressing challenges facing our public education system and the implications for our schools in the upcoming school year. On...
Read MoreTexas AFT Releases Vision for Thriving Public Schools in New White Paper
Imagine a Texas where every child, from the Panhandle to the Rio Grande Valley, had access to a fully funded, high-quality public education. A state where educators are respected and compensated fairly for their vital work, students' diverse needs are met, and schools serve as community hubs that support the...
Read MoreSpectrum News Exposes Texas Public School Dollars Being Sent to Mike Miles’ Former Colorado Charter Schools
On Wednesday, the Houston Federation of Teachers filed a lawsuit against state-installed Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles and the appointed board of managers for illegally developing and implementing a new teacher evaluation system, which determines teachers’ employment situation...
Read MoreSenate Higher Ed Subcommittee Convenes to Study DEI, Free Speech, & Antisemitism
Left: Texas AAUP-AFT President Brian Evans speaks to media Tuesday with allied groups and elected officials, including state Rep. Ron Reynolds (D-Houston) and state Sen. Jose Menendez (D-San Antonio). Right: Educators, students, and community allies march from the UT Austin campus to the Texas Capitol. This Tuesday, the Senate...
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