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This Week in the Legislature: Inside the Turbulent Fights Over Vouchers, School Finance
Over the past two weeks, the Texas House has witnessed dramatic and defining developments in the fight over school finance and the introduction of private school vouchers. We have a breakdown of where things stand on those fronts, along with your recap of good and bad bills heard and voted on in both the House and Senate education committees.
Read MoreWhy Are Billionaires Still Trying to Buy Our Schools?
Credit: www.littlesis.org Despite Gov. Greg Abbott and billionaire donor Jeff Yass pouring millions into pro-voucher campaigns, the public remains firmly against privatizing our schools. Texas AFT President Zeph Capo brought the receipts this week to a press conference with Local Progress Texas, a coalition of local government officials and community...
Read MoreSubmit Public Comments to the Texas Legislature
A great way to make your voice heard on bills in the state Legislature is to leave a public comment online. These comments, which you can write from your home, are distributed to representatives on House committees and become part of the public record on a bill - so be...
Read MoreThis Week in the Legislature: Abbott’s Voucher Push, Movement on Student Behavior Bills
Governor Abbott Continues to Push Voucher Scam Despite Public Opposition Despite two-thirds of Texans opposing his private school voucher program (29% support, 65% oppose), Gov. Greg Abbott held a press conference this week alongside Lt. Gov.Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows, declaring he had the votes to pass House...
Read More‘Don’t Arizona Our Texas’
In his relentless quest to pass a private school voucher scheme in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott is calling in reinforcements.
Read MoreMarch 21, 2025: Heard, loud and clear
Friday, March 21, 2025 Heard, loud and clear Over the past two weeks, close to 800 of our members have come to the Texas Capitol. They have testified before committees, met with lawmakers, and spoken with members of the media, all with a clear message: they need fully funded public...
Read MoreTexas Senate Passes Several ‘Solutions’ That Will Become Their Own Problems
This week, the Texas Senate passed several bills including Senate Bill 10, which would require the posting of the Ten Commandments in all Texas classrooms.
Read MoreThis Week in the Legislature: Good Bills, Bad Bills, & Some That Could Go Either Way
Last Friday, March 14, was the deadline for lawmakers to file bills for this legislative session. And, like in so many classrooms across the state, there was a flood of last-minute activity; over 1,000 bills were filed on Friday alone.
Read MoreSenate Committee Hears SB 37, a State Takeover of Public Colleges & Universities
On Thursday, the Senate Education K-16 Committee heard its first higher education bills of the session, including Senate Bill 37, Sen. Brandon Creighton’s omnibus bill.
Read MoreWith Texas Leaders Looking on, President Trump Signs Executive Order Dismantling the Department of Education
On Thursday, the Trump Administration released a long-anticipated executive order, commanding newly confirmed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to take steps to pave the way for closing the Department of Education (DOE).
Read MoreTexas AFT’s SECOND Public Education Advocacy Day Brings Hundreds More Pre-K-12, Higher Education Employees to the Capitol
For the second Monday in a row, Texas educators spent their Spring Break fighting for their students and their schools.
Read MoreTexas AFT Statement on Gov. Abbott’s Appearance at Department of Education Executive Order Signing
“It makes perfect sense for Gov. Greg Abbott to be on hand for the dismantling of the Department of Education. It was the only governmental entity holding his administration accountable for guaranteeing parents’ and students’ rights to a free and...
Read MoreTexas AFT, Texas AAUP-AFT Statement on Senate Bill 37
Senate Bill 37 is a sweeping attack on faculty governance and the freedom to learn, teach, and research in Texas public higher education institutions, which will be heard in the Senate Education K-16 Committee today:
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