Publish Date: November 18, 2024 5:04 pm Author: Texas AFT
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Friday, Nov. 15, 2024
Your Union, Your Voice
The annual Texas AFT Membership Survey closes this Monday!Members – your voices built our union’s 2025 legislative agenda, and your priorities are what we need to hear about right now.
Please take time this weekend to complete our annual membership survey. It’s in your inbox with the subject line, Texas AFT Membership Survey. The survey window closes Monday, Nov. 18! Complete it by then and you’ll be entered to win one of several prizes, including a $500 Visa gift card.
In this week’s Hotline:
Texas AAUP-AFT members made their voices heard last week at a Senate hearing on faculty tenure and academic freedom.
We are as close as we’ve ever been to a repeal of WEP/GPO!
Next week, the State Board of Education votes on TEA’s Bible-infused curriculum.
Vouchers went 0-3 in November elections nationally. So why is Texas dead-set on pushing one through?
Academic freedom and democratic (note the lowercase “d”) representation in higher education are among Texas AAUP-AFT’s top legislative priorities for the upcoming 89th legislative session, as enshrined in our union’s Educator’s Bill of Rights.
On Monday, Nov. 11, the Senate Higher Education Subcommittee held its third interim committee hearing this year on three consequential charges, including two that are expected to have significant implications for both academic freedom and democratic representation:
“Faculty Senates:” Reviewing and analyzing faculty senates to recommend “guidelines for their role,” a charge that signals potential legislative interference with shared governance.
“Stopping DEI to Strengthen the Texas Workforce:” Examining so-called “DEI programs and certificates,” which Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick claims are “damaging and not aligned with state workforce demands.” The framing of this charge suggests an effort to expand Senate Bill 17, the state’s “DEI ban,” to apply to academic instruction and curriculum in the upcoming 89th legislative session.
“Improving K-12 College Pathways:” Identifying ways to improve and streamline K-12 pathways to post-secondary education and addressing challenges in credit transfer.
After decades of advocacy from AFT members and other labor unions of public service employees, is a repeal of the reviled Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) finally at hand?
The answer now lies in the U.S. Senate. On Tuesday, the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), which would repeal both the WEP and GPO that reduce or even eliminate Social Security benefits for millions of workers, including Texas teachers and school staff, passed the U.S. House of Representatives in an overwhelming, bipartisan vote, 327-75.
On Wednesday evening, Texas AFT participated in a webinar hosted by Texas Freedom Network to update stakeholders on the state of Bluebonnet Learning, the Texas Education Agency-developed open education resources (OER). As proposed by TEA, the K-5 Reading and English language arts materials contain an unwelcome and unnecessary quantity of Bible references.
The State Board of Education (SBOE) will hear testimony on all instructional materials under consideration Monday and then take up discussion and vote bright and early Tuesday morning
Last Tuesday, millions of Americans voted in the 2024 general election. Although we remain concerned about much of what the results foreshadow for the nation’s public schools, voters of all political stripes did vote in favor of public education directly in several important ballot referendums. In three states, a mix of “red” and “blue,” coalitions of rural and urban voters, and of Republicans and Democrats, came together to forcefully reject sending taxpayer dollars (intended for public schools) to private schools via a voucher program.
Get $25 for DonorsChoose Classroom Essentials Projects
You’re an incredible educator, and long-time corporate supporter, Horace Mann, recognizes the hard work you put in every day. That’s why they partner with education nonprofits like DonorsChoose, that sincerely appreciate and support your dedication to our next generation.
As a thank you this holiday season, Horace Mann is thrilled to offer you a $25 DonorsChoosecredit just for getting a quick,no-obligation auto insurance quote* anytime between Nov.1 – Nov. 30, 2024.
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Call Horace Mann at 833-422-2702 for your no-obligation auto quote or get an online quotehere.
Receive your $25 DonorsChoose credit code via email from Horace Mann within 3-4 weeks after you complete your quote.
Use the $25 DonorsChoose credit to either enhance a classroom or support a fellow educator!
Plus, when choosing Horace Mann auto insurance, you’llbenefit from discounts and unique coverages designed specifically for educators, such as the Educator Advantage® program at no additional cost!
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*One quote per household is eligible for the $25 DonorsChoose Classroom Essentials credit. The DonorsChoose credit is not available in Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin. DonorsChoose is not an affiliate of Horace Mann.
Horace Mann Insurance Company and its affiliates underwrite Horace Mann auto insurance. Not all discounts and benefits available in all states.
Horace Mann Service Corporation and certain of its affiliates (Horace Mann) enter into agreements with educational associations where Horace Mann pays the association to provide services aimed at familiarizing association members with the Horace Mann brand, products or services. For more information, email your inquiry to association.relations@horacemann.com.
EMA-00381 (Oct 24)
Recommended Reading
Education news from around the state and nation that’s worth your time.
📖 What Parents Should Know About Trump’s Plan to Dismantle Dept. of Education. While President-elect Donald Trump campaigned vigorously on a string of issues, the state of American education was not one of the mains sells of a second Trump term. Still, it’s become a dominating policy point in the wake of his decisive victory, as his promise to eliminate the Department of Education (DOE) comes into sharper relief. (Newsweek, Nov. 13)
📖 Gov. Abbott’s big government voucher crusade is not conservative. Rep. Glenn Rogers writes, ‘I have a proposal for Gov. Abbott. I propose we meet at a public school in rural Texas to engage in a public discussion on the sole issue we disagree on: school vouchers. Abbott owes it to rural Texans to present his clear stance on the matter and sell his idea to community leaders.’ (Dallas Morning News, Nov. 13)
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