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April 19, 2024: In the Room
Friday, April 19, 2024 This past Tuesday, April 16, the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security held a meeting to discuss the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), two provisions that heavily penalize many Texas educators and public employees. AFT members from across the country were there, meeting with legislators and observing the proceedings....
Read MoreThis Monday, Texas AFT Summer School Is In Session — and Respect Is on the Agenda
With a return to school approaching, districts across the state still have hundreds and hundreds of teaching vacancies to fill — not to mention shortages of staff in other crucial areas. It’s no surprise. Our union has been sounding the alarm for months, since 66% of our members told us...
Read MoreAdvisory: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: Solving the Educator Retention Crisis Press Conference
There are solutions to the teacher shortage crisis in Texas, but state leaders must have the political will to act on them. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 22, 2022 CONTACT: press@texasaft.org MEDIA ADVISORYMONDAY, July 25 at 9 a.m. CT HOUSTON, TX – On Monday, July 25, Texas AFT will host a press...
Read MoreSummer School Is in Session: Join Us for the Launch of Our Statewide Campaign for Respect
All Texas AFT members are invited to attend the official launch of our union's statewide campaign for respect on Monday, July 25 from 10 a.m.–noon. You can join us in person at the Houston Children's Museum Houston or you can join via Zoom. Use our online registration form to register...
Read MoreRep. Escobar Cosponsors Bill to Fully Fund Special Education
Last week, Socorro AFT members met with U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-El Paso), and she agreed to sign on to and cosponsor the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) Full Funding Act. IDEA, originally passed in 1975, was intended to provide children who have cognitive and physical disabilities with the...
Read MoreFederal Action on Gun Safety Becomes Law After President Biden Signs Bipartisan Legislation
Late last month, President Biden signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act gun safety bill that was passed by Congress. This legislation comes after yet another devastating mass shooting that occurred in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 students and two teachers. After years of stalling and debate in Congress and countless mass...
Read MoreRegister for Texas AFT’s Student Debt Relief Clinics This Summer
Handling student debt can feel frustrating, time-consuming, and complex. Texas AFT is here to help you with student debt relief. Our union has organized four student debt relief clinics that are available to all members for free. These clinics are virtual over Zoom and have a duration of 90 minutes. ...
Read MoreTexas to Begin “Random Intruder Detection Audits” this Coming Academic Year
In this coming academic year, Texas State University's Texas School Safety Center (TXSC) will conduct random intruder audits in every school district across the state. The stated goal of these exercises will be to identify weak access points on 75% of Texas school campuses. Gov. Greg Abbott approved this new...
Read MoreLatest Update on Social Studies TEKS Revisions Highlights the Need to Remain Vigilant
Last week, reports surfaced that the State Board of Education (SBOE) received a draft recommendation from their appointed K-2 social studies working group to refer to the kidnapping and brutal transport into bondage of Africans not as “slavery” but as “involuntary relocation.” The draft recommendations, which have not been published...
Read MoreTexas AFT Retirees seek nomination to TRS Board of Trustees
Texas AFT Retiree+ members Craig Adams and Phyllis Ruffin are seeking the nomination for two open positions on the Teacher Retirement System of Texas’ Board of Trustees. The TRS Board of Trustees is responsible for administering TRS and making decisions regarding TRS’ $200 billion investment fund. Though the TRS Board...
Read MoreJuly 1, 2022: Finance Committee hears mental health testimony; Abbott allocates money to school safety, mental health
Senate Finance Committee hears testimony on state mental health services Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium (TCMHCC) Presiding Officer Dr. David Lakey testifies in front of the Senate Finance Committee on the state of the consortium. The Senate Finance Committee...
Read MoreSenate Finance Committee hears testimony on state mental health services
Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium (TCMHCC) Presiding Officer Dr. David Lakey testifies in front of the Senate Finance Committee on the state of the consortium. The Senate Finance Committee convened for over 7 hours this past Tuesday to discuss and accept public testimony relating to the state’s mental health...
Read MoreGovernor Abbott announces $105.5 million allocation for school safety, mental health
Governor Greg Abbott announced that he would be transferring $105.5 million to support school safety and mental health initiatives through August 31, 2023. $5.8 million, less than 5.5% of the transfer, will be sent to statewide initiatives by the Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT) and only $4.7 million,...
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