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This Week in the Legislature: Is This ‘Teacher Appreciation?’
On Saturday, surrounded by many of the Republican lawmakers he threatened along the way, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law his long-sought private school voucher program.
Read MoreUnmasking Vouchers: Abbott’s Out-of-State Fundraising Haul
The sources of a politician’s campaign donations say a lot about their priorities and the interests to which they are beholden. As we have covered previously, Texas is awash in outside money seeking to influence our politics, and Gov. Greg Abbott is a primary beneficiary. Abbott is known as one...
Read MoreFeb. 5 Voter Registration Deadline Quickly Approaching
The clock is ticking, Texas! Ensure your voice is heard by registering to vote or verifying your voter registration status before the crucial deadline on Feb. 5. The upcoming March 5 primary elections are a pivotal moment for public education, with hotly contested races across the state, and your participation...
Read MoreRoundup: Voucher Developments Across the United States
Thanks to Texas AFT member activism, taxpayer-funded private school vouchers did not pass in Texas, despite a push by Gov. Greg Abbott and monied special interest groups across five separate legislative sessions. While Texas avoided the voucher scam last year, Arizona, Georgia, Tennessee, and Indiana are in various stages of...
Read MoreTexas Book-Banning Bill Partially Blocked by Appeals Court in Unanimous Ruling
This Wednesday, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a decision by a lower court to temporarily block the implementation of part of House Bill 900 by Rep. Jared Patterson (R-Frisco), a bill intended to ban certain materials from the shelves of public school libraries. This decision by the...
Read MoreEl Paso AFT Files Grievance Against District, Alleging Retaliatory Wage Theft
Results from a recent survey by El Paso AFT show that 71% of employees who responded said El Paso ISD has changed for the worse in the past two years. Last week, El Paso AFT President Ross Moore filed a collective grievance with El Paso ISD against Deputy Superintendent Vince...
Read MoreJan. 12, 2024: Planning Ahead
Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 With the drop in temps, we hope you stay safe this weekend. If you’re looking for ways to bundle up, now would be a great time to pick up a new hoodie from store.texasaft.org. Every purchase is a donation to our union’s Committee on Political Education...
Read More5 Things to Watch for in 2024
In December, we looked back at the year that was — and all the highs, lows, and whoas for public education 2023 provided. Now we’re ready to look ahead to what promises to be a busy, uncertain year for our Texas public schools. 2024 is a presidential election year, with...
Read MoreNew Report Shines Light on Dark-Money Voucher Push
This past fall, Common Cause Texas, the state affiliate of the national democracy watchdog group, released a report highlighting the outsized influence that a small group of monied donors have on Texas politics, including public education policy. The report, “ALEC-tioneering: Unmasking Money and Influence in Texas Politics,” primarily focuses on...
Read MoreBill Targeting Diversity in Texas Higher Education Takes Effect
At Stephen F. Austin State University, a maintenance worker removes references to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from display to comply with SB 17’s censure of DEI programs at Texas public universities. On Jan. 1, Senate Bill 17 by Sen. Brandon Creighton, which prohibits diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs...
Read MoreTexas Schools Win Federal Grants for Clean School Buses
The Clean School Bus Program, a pivotal part of President Joe Biden’s infrastructure bill, will allow the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to invest $5 billion over the next five years to achieve more modernization in school bus fleets nationwide. Both the Department of Energy and Department of Transportation have prioritized...
Read MoreIDRA Study Highlights Ongoing Struggles Faced by Middle School Counselors
A decade after the Texas Legislature watered down graduation requirements through Texas House Bill 5, middle school counselors continue grappling with the challenges and demands required by this policy. A new study from IDRA, “School Counselors on College Advising Constraints,” highlights the repercussions of HB 5 for both counselor workloads...
Read MoreDec. 15, 2023: Looking Back, Looking Forward
Friday, Dec. 15, 2023 What a Year We are wrapping things up for 2023. Texas AFT offices will be closed from Thursday, Dec. 21 through Friday, Jan. 5. After one regular legislative session, four special sessions, and an election, we are all ready for a long winter’s nap. This will...
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