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Survey Says: Educators Opposed to Governor’s Voucher Ambitions
Texas has become awash in dark money seeking to influence public education over the past several years. This dark money represents political and business agendas working to undermine our public schools and degrade the quality of public education in Texas and to advance privatization and vouchers.
Read More2021 constitutional amendment election in Texas: What you need to know
On November 2, Texans will have an opportunity to vote on eight propositions that would amend the state constitution and change state law. Early voting started Monday and runs to Friday, October 29. Election day is November 2. Election Day voting hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at all...
Read MoreOctober 15, 2021: Redistricting, fed aid to TRS healthcare, trans sports bill; Gov. enters vaccine fray again
Legislative Update: Before Tuesday when the Legislature’s third special session is required to end, the GOP leadership is hoping to push through bills that would discriminate against transgender student athletes, appropriate $16 billion in federal stimulus funds, and redistrict the...
Read MoreLegislative Update: redistricting, transgender sports bill, TRS healthcare funding
Before Tuesday when the Legislature’s third special session is required to end, the GOP leadership is hoping to push through bills that would discriminate against transgender student athletes, appropriate $16 billion in federal stimulus funds, and redistrict the state’s House, Senate, congressional, and State Board of Education maps. Gov. Greg...
Read MoreSBOE redistricting: unfairly taking away representation for people of color
Watch Sergio Lira—Houston Federation of Teachers member, former teacher, principal, and Houston ISD trustee— tell legislators that proposed SBOE maps will unfairly take electoral power from people of color. The Texas Legislature may take power away from communities of color for the next decade when the House is expected to...
Read MoreGovernor issues another executive order prohibiting vaccine mandates, adds issue to special session agenda
On Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott issued an order prohibiting any “entity” from requiring vaccinations for “any individual,” including “employees and consumers.” That directive would cover private employers and school districts—including banning required vaccinations for school employees and students. This order...
Read MoreOctober 8, 2021: Huge win on student loan debt!; #TxLege wrap of the week; Rules mulled on contract abandonment
Lawmakers move bills on transgender students in sports, redistricting, voting, and laundry list for federal pandemic aid expenditures Now in its third week of the third special session, the Legislature pushed through legislation that would discriminate against transgender student athletes...
Read MoreTransgender sports bill: ‘Mr. Wright, why does my own state hate me?’
"Mr. Wright, why does my own state hate me?" That's something one of my students, with tears in their eyes, asked me last week. That's how our transgender kids feel about Texas right now, and it should make us all angry. I am a lifelong Texan, the father of a...
Read MoreAction Alert: Help stop the power grab targeting State Board of Education elections
The Texas Legislature is poised to take power away from minority communities for a decade on the State Board of Education (SBOE). We could be at risk of losing diverse representation, especially in Houston. Why do the State Board of Education redistricting maps matter? They set the curriculum that teachers...
Read MoreLawmakers move bills on transgender students in sports, redistricting, voting, and laundry list for federal pandemic aid expenditures
Now in its third week of the third special session, the Legislature pushed through legislation that would discriminate against transgender student athletes and further suppress the vote. Last week Gov. Greg Abbott added a new item to the special session...
Read MoreRules on contract abandonment, virtual observations, and CPE take stage at SBEC meeting last week
Contract abandonment rules The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) last week gave initial approval to rules related to contract abandonment and the circumstances under which teachers may resign from an employment contract without penalty. Specifically, the rules implement HB 2519, authored by Rep. Drew Darby, to allow for reduced...
Read MoreTexas AFT testifies against two crucial accountability rule changes for charter schools: ESL and Special Education indicators
On Monday, Texas AFT Legislative Counsel Patty Quinzi testified at the Texas Education Agency about the proposed Charter School Performance Framework (CSPF) for charter schools. The indicators within the CSPF are supposed to evaluate each charter school’s compliance with federal...
Read MoreIDEA charter schools sues state to keep public records on extravagant spending hidden
IDEA charter schools sued Attorney General Ken Paxton last week to halt the release of records of its expense accounts sought by a local news outlet. The Progress Times—a publication covering the lower Rio Grande Valley—filed an open-records for those documents more than a year ago. In particular, it sought...
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