July 26, 2024: Cross-Country Solidarity

Publish Date: July 31, 2024 3:55 pm
Author: Texas AFT


Header reads: Texas A-F-T. The Hotline.

Friday, July 26, 2024







Cross-Country Solidarity 

In recent years, it feels like public education in Texas has made headlines for all the wrong reasons:  stagnant public school funding, book bans, or the threat of privatization, and more. But this week Texas educators made the front pages of newspapers across the country, not for the attacks they hurl at us, but for our organized rejection of those efforts. This week over 2,000 educators, healthcare workers, and public employees (150 of which were from Texas) gathered in Houston for the biennial AFT National convention. 

The convention not only provided an opportunity for educators to create and strengthen bonds with educators from across the country, but also for educators to learn from each other. A classroom teacher from Utah might face vastly different issues from a university professor in New Jersey, but in coming together they can learn from each other’s struggles. As the host state, Texas AFT was uniquely positioned to facilitate these discussions. This year the host city also had special significance – a year into the state’s undemocratic takeover of HISD, AFT members from across the country were able to take part in the struggle led by local educators, parents, and students at a rally hosted by the Houston Federation of Teachers. 

And of course, AFT members were galvanized by a variety of prominent speakers, especially Vice President Kamala Harris, the surprise keynote speaker. As we look forward to November and as educators across the country, but especially in Texas, are under attack, these moments of fellowship, learning, and inspiration reminded educators that they are not alone in this struggle and that, when they come together, they can win.  


In this week’s Hotline:  

  • We share how you can make your voice heard at the upcoming House Public Education Committee interim hearing.
  • AFT votes to endorse Kamala Harris for President.
  • We recap a long planning meeting at the State Board for Educator Certification.
  • The TRS Board makes major changes to retired educator healthcare premiums and its investment strategy.
  • The Biden-Harris administration expands PSLF student debt forgiveness. 



— Texas Legislature

Urgent Call to Action: Texas House Public Education Committee Hearings on Aug. 12 and 13 



The Texas House Public Education Committee is holding critical hearings on Monday, August 12 and Tuesday, August 13 on issues that are having or will have a profound impact on the future of public education in Texas. Perhaps most critically, the committee will consider the implementation of taxpayer-funded private school vouchers and the effect that the increasing quantity of uncertified educators has on student outcomes. These hearings present a unique opportunity for you to influence upcoming legislation and ensure that the perspectives of those on the front lines of education are heard. 

Understanding Interim Committee Hearings and Charges 

 

What Are Interim Committee Hearings? 

 

Interim committee hearings are an essential part of the Texas legislative process that occurs between regular legislative sessions. These hearings serve several important purposes: 

 

  • In-Depth Study: They allow legislators to dive deep into specific issues affecting their constituents and the state as a whole.
  • Expert Testimony: Committees invite subject matter experts, stakeholders, and members of the public to provide testimony on key topics.
  • Policy Development: The information gathered during these hearings helps shape policy recommendations for the next legislative session.
  • Oversight: Committees monitor the implementation of recently passed legislation and the performance of state agencies. 

 

What Are Interim Charges? 

 

Interim charges are specific topics or questions that the Lieutenant Governor (for the Senate) or the Speaker of the House (for the House of Representatives) assigns to committees to study during the interim period. These charges: 

 

  • Focus on what the Speaker and Lt. Gov. perceive to be pressing issues or areas of concern  
  • Guide the committee’s work and set the agenda for interim hearings
  • Form the basis for committee reports to be released later this year, which often lead to filed legislation in the next legislative session 

 

The Importance of Public Input 

 

Your participation in these hearings is vital because: 

 

  • It provides real-world context to policy discussions.
  • It helps legislators understand the practical implications of potential laws from the perspective of educators and school employees.
  • It grants an opportunity to help ensure that diverse perspectives are considered in the policymaking process. 



— AFT Convention

AFT Becomes First Union to Endorse Kamala Harris 

Kamala Harris speaking at the A-F-T convention.


Thousands of AFT members were energized by a visit from Vice President Kamala Harris on the last day of our 88th biennial national convention this past Thursday. AFT was the first labor union to endorse Vice President Harris after President Joe Biden’s stunning announcement this past Sunday that he would not seek reelection to the White House.  

 

AFT President Randi Weingarten said, “They heard the vice president champion our public schools and economic opportunity, families, reproductive freedoms, safety from gun violence, the freedom to join a union, and a future in which every person has the opportunity not to just get by, but to thrive. And they are committed to pouring all of their energy into helping her make history as the first woman president.” 


— State Board for Educator Certification

Image reads: S-B-E-C.

SBEC Recap: Board Focus on Long-Range Planning and Stakeholder Engagement 

The State Board for Educator Certification met in Austin on July 18-19. While this agenda was light on decision making, it was full of portents for future action by this body. 

Thursday, the SBEC conducted their annual work session. The day was divided into two major areas for discussion:  

  • Long-range planning
  • Stakeholder engagement 



— PSLF


Transforming Student Debt: Major Relief for Public Service Workers 


The Biden-Harris Administration has taken a significant step forward in addressing student debt, approving an additional $1.2 billion in relief for 35,000 public servants. This move is part of a broader effort to reform the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, which has historically fallen short in delivering promised debt relief. Today’s announcement brings the total debt forgiveness under the administration to $168.5 billion for 4.76 million Americans, with $69.2 billion specifically aiding 946,000 public servants. 



— TRS


Premium Reductions, New Plans, and Investment Strategy Discussed at TRS Board Meeting 


Texas AFT Retiree Plus Member Lydia Carrillo-Valdez provides public comments to the TRS board of Trustees.

Last week the TRS board of trustees convened in Austin to discuss the health of the pension fund, the fund’s investment strategy, and, perhaps most consequentially, the significant reduction of TRS-Care premiums from Medicare-eligible members. Texas AFT Retiree Plus Members also attended the meeting and provided public comment to the board. 

Earlier this year, thanks to savings resulting from administrative changes to Medicare by the Biden-Harris administration and at the behest of leadership in the Texas Legislature, TRS directed staff to study the possibility of reducing premiums paid by TRS-Care retirees eligible for Medicare. Thanks to these administrative changes, the TRS-Care fund, which is separate from the pension trust fund and the TRS-ActiveCare fund, had grown significantly, allowing TRS to pass those savings on to members. 


Recommended Reading

Texas education news from around the state that’s worth your time.

📖 TEA Commissioner Mike Morath to hold closed-door meeting with Houston ISD District Advisory Committee.  Morath plans to speak with a committee of Houston ISD teachers, parents and community members in a closed, in-person meeting Wednesday morning. The visit comes about five months after Morath’s first trip to the district’s schools since the state takeover, where he praised the changes Miles has made. (Houston Chronicle, July 25) 

 

📖 HISD takeover takes center stage as teachers convene for American Federation of Teachers convention. The state takeover of HISD is center stage as educators from across the country flock to Houston for the American Federation of Teachers national convention. “This is a power grab,” Zeph Capo, president of the Texas American Federation of Teachers, said. (ABC 13, July 21) 

 

📖 Vouchers siphon resources and silence parents at public schools. Despite claims to the contrary, voucher programs negatively impact student learning and siphon critical resources from public schools, said Dr. Josh Cowen, a leading education policy expert, at a panel discussion hosted by Texas AFT late Sunday afternoon at the AFT convention. (AFT, July 21) 



Tags: , , ,