Featured News
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 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...
Read MoreCypress-Fairbanks ISD Board Votes to Censor Science Textbooks
It seems germane to preface the following bizarre installment in textbook censorship that Cy-Fair ISD is facing a $138 million budget shortfall for the 2024-2025 academic year. What should have been an innocuous item on textbook adoption after several hard budget decisions took an unexpected turn when a single board...
Read MoreFederal Probe Targets Katy ISD’s Gender Policy for Potential Discrimination
Photo Credit: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has launched an investigation into Katy Independent School District (Katy ISD) to determine if its recently enacted gender identity policy discriminates against students. This investigation follows reports that Katy ISD disclosed the gender identities...
Read MoreMay 10, 2024: We Appreciate You
Friday, May 10, 2024 Now is as good a time as any to remind you that you can find this meme and more by following Texas AFT on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or X/Twitter. 'Teacher Appreciation’ In theory, this week is Teacher Appreciation Week. But you wouldn’t have guessed it from...
Read MoreNew Report Defines ‘Thriving’ Public Schools in Texas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 13, 2024 CONTACT: press@texasaft.org New Report Defines ‘Thriving’ Public Schools in Texas As school districts announce layoffs & program cuts, Texas AFT set to release report on the public education system that Texas’ record-breaking budget can and should buy. AUSTIN, Texas — The 88th legislative session...
Read MoreDecisive Victory for Public Education: Spotlight on North East ISD School Board Sweep
On May 4, Texas voters cast their ballots in several important municipal elections across the state. High among our most-watched races was the high-stakes North East ISD board election in San Antonio, with both moderate and ultra-conservative candidates vying for control of San Antonio's second-largest school district. The outcome would...
Read MoreTexas Senate Subcommittee to Consider DEI, Free Speech, & Antisemitism Next Week
Sign up for Texas AFT's testimony training ahead of next week's hearing! Next Tuesday, in the wake of significant unrest on college campuses across the state and across the country, the Texas Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education will convene to address the issues of free speech, antisemitism, and DEI (diversity,...
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