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Action Needed: Special SBOE Meeting Dec. 13 on Instructional Materials, Library Books
The State Board of Education (SBOE) is holding a special called meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 13, to take action on a few issues before the end of 2023. First, the board intends to review and approve the rubrics for the new Instructional Materials Review and Adoption Process (IMRA) required by House Bill 1605. The public comment portal is open through...
Read MoreTexas AFT announces first round of primary endorsements
Texas AFT is proud to make its first round of endorsements for State House, State Senate, and State Board of Education for the March 1 primaries. We are particularly proud of the AFT member activists that are standing up for their communities by running for office. Public education is at...
Read MoreNew TEA Covid-19 Public Health guidance released, possibly impacting return times for quarantining staff
On January 7, the Texas Education Agency announced new public health guidance in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. TEA’s guidance impacts various aspects of public education’s operations for educators and staff, such as on-campus instruction and UIL extracurricular activities. ...
Read MoreJanuary 14, 2022: Take our Omicron survey; New TEA guidelines released; Get ready to vote; Cy-Fair trustee blasted for racial remarks
Omicron is making a hard job even harder We know how hard Texas school employees work every day, especially during this pandemic. And no matter what the talking heads might say, we...
Read MoreStatement on racist comments from Cy-Fair School Board Member
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 12, 2022 CONTACT: Nikki Cowart, 281-787-9935, nikki@cyfairaft.org Vile comments from Cy-Fair School Board member should not go unchallenged School Board Member Scott Henry Cy-Fair AFT President Nikki Cowart commented today on statements from Cy-Fair ISD School Board Member Scott Henry while at a School Board work session...
Read MoreTRS members set to receive 13th check January 14
TRS Graphic This week the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) announced that retired teachers will be receiving their one-time supplemental benefit check (commonly referred to as a “13th check”) next Friday, January 14. Those using direct deposit to receive TRS pension checks will likely receive the deposit that same...
Read MoreJanuary 7, 2022: 13th check for retirees on its way; More federal funds flowing to schools; Omicron wave challenges schools; Mandates still mired in lawsuits
TRS members set to receive 13th check January 14 This week the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) announced that retired teachers will be receiving their one-time supplemental benefit check (commonly referred to...
Read MoreOmicron’s impacts on the 2022 back-to-school season
The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has complicated the return to the classroom after winter break. The United States is averaging more than 300,000 new cases a day for the first time in the pandemic as of January 5, 2021. Hospitalizations are growing at a much slower rate than cases. The...
Read MoreGov. Abbott releases additional federal funding for education
Governor Greg Abbott recently announced the release of an additional $123.3 million in education funding appropriated to Texas by Congress as part of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund. With this latest release of federal funds, the state has directed over $362 million to higher education and $67.5 million...
Read MoreFederal judge ruling stops Texas Head Start programs from requiring masks, vaccinations
Attorney General Ken Paxton Last Friday, a U.S. district judge granted a temporary injunction to ban mask and vaccination requirements in Texas Head Start centers. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Lubbock ISD sued the federal government for requiring vaccinations for Head Start staff and mask use for staff and...
Read MoreTexas AFT Endorses Candis Houston for HD 142
Texas AFT is proud to endorse Candis Houston for Texas House of Representatives District 142. Candis is our union sister, the president of Aldine AFT, and a single mom working two jobs to put her daughters through college. An educator for 13 years in Aldine Independent School District, Candis' professional...
Read MoreDecember 17, 2021: Tell Mike Morath that all teachers need higher pay; SBEC updates on teacher training & certification; and Happy Holidays!
The Hotline will take a holiday break and will return on Friday, January 7. On behalf of our entire staff at Texas AFT, I want to wish you a Happy Holiday Break! You’ve worked hard in a challenging time, and...
Read MoreSBEC hears info on learning loss and the need for higher teacher pay
Board also approves new rules on teacher sanctions This past Friday, the State Board for Educator Certification met for its quarterly board meeting to receive comments from TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, discuss the proposed implementation of a new teacher certification assessment, implement new rules on teacher sanctions, and consider the...
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