Featured News
This Week in the Legislature: The Final Stretch of the 89th Session
As we enter the final days of the 89th regular session of the Texas Legislature, the clock is ticking. Here's where the most critical education bills stand, what they do, and what needs to happen next.
Read MoreLegislative Update: Back for Another Property Tax Special Session, Senators Propose a Bonus Check for Teachers
Just as the first special session called by Gov. Greg Abbott was scheduled to run out of time this Wednesday (with legislators passing zero bills), Abbott immediately called a second special session on the very same issue that stalled the...
Read MoreIn Response to Book Ban Bill, Texas School District Halts All Book Purchases
This week, the Katy ISD school board directed the school superintendent to halt the purchase of any new library books and to store any newly purchased books in a warehouse until at least April 2024 in response to a recently passed law by the Texas Legislature. HB 900 by Rep....
Read MoreU.S. Department of Education: TEA Finally in Compliance with Special Education Standards after Years of Violation
In a recently released letter from the U.S. Department of Education addressed to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), the Department stated that TEA has finally fulfilled its obligations to Texas students outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)...
Read MoreSupreme Court Targets Efforts to Promote Diversity on College Campuses
This week, the U.S. Supreme Court released a decision that found certain practices promoting a diverse student body on college campuses are unconstitutional. The majority decisions issued by the court’s six conservative justices in the cases Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. UNC found...
Read MoreJune 23, 2023: Together We Thrive
This week's Hotline is brought to you by Horace Mann. Friday, June 23, 2023 One Judson AFT member pictured at Thursday’s school board meeting. Together We Thrive It simply isn’t enough for Texas public schools to survive (which many of them are struggling to do at all, especially in rural...
Read MoreJune 16, 2023: The Impending Special Sessions
This week's Hotline is brought to you by Horace Mann. Friday, June 16, 2023 New Committees, New Laws, New Special Sessions… No New Raises Two weeks after Sine Die, Texas elected officials are still crossing t’s and dotting i’s on one of the most disappointing sessions for public education in...
Read MoreJune 9, 2023: ‘Starving us to death’
This week's Hotline is brought to you by Horace Mann. Friday, June 9, 2023 Rio Grande Valley community members, including McAllen AFT, protest outside an April stop on Gov. Abbott’s voucher roadshow. Photo by Clarissa Riojas. ‘If you don’t have a school, you don’t have a community’ Today, we start...
Read MoreUnpacking the 88th Legislature: Public School Funding
This week, we’ll provide some insight into the Texas school finance system, explore why the Texas Legislature did not use the historic $33 billion surplus to address the “teacher vacancy crisis” or give you a raise, and explain what’s next in our fight for respect and for fully funding our...
Read More31st Biennial Texas AFT Convention Starts Today
This weekend, Texas AFT hosts our union’s 31st Biennial Convention in McAllen. Many thanks to our host committee in the Rio Grande Valley: McAllen AFT, Edinburg AFT, La Joya AFT, and PSJA AFT. The convention is our place, every two years, to take care of the business of our union...
Read MorePreview: State Board of Education’s August Meeting
The State Board of Education (SBOE) will hold its regular meeting in Austin next week. We will be closely watching several items, with special focus on those related to proposed science textbooks and charter schools. The meeting will begin Aug. 29 with a public hearing on Proclamation 2024, which includes...
Read MoreLegislative Update: Gov. Abbott Has a Veto Tantrum, Senate Sets Paxton Impeachment Trial Rules
Seeking Leverage on Vouchers & Property Tax Relief, Gov. Abbott Has a Veto Tantrum Sunday was the last day for Gov. Greg Abbott to exercise his veto authority, stopping any bills passed during the regular session from becoming law. In an attempt to punish certain legislators who did not vote...
Read MoreSenator Roland Gutierrez to Receive Acts of Courage Award From Texas AFT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 23, 2023 CONTACT: press@texasaft.org Senator Roland Gutierrez to Receive Acts of Courage Award From Texas AFT The award will be presented to the state senator from Uvalde for his dedication to the safety of Texas students, educators, and communities. AUSTIN, Texas — For his relentless advocacy...
Read More