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This Week in the Legislature: House Rolls Out Bills to Fundamentally Change Public Education in Texas
The Texas House made news last week with a new slate of committee assignments that will determine the fate of the Educator’s Bill of Rights and other critical education policies, including school finance, teacher and school staff pay, and private school vouchers (ESAs).
Read MoreSBEC Recap: Three Sets of Rules Adopted
The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) met in Austin on Feb. 14. There were three items up for adoption that Texas AFT has been closely following for many months. Texas AFT, in alignment with its partners at the Texas Coalition for Educator Preparation (TCEP), was active throughout the rulemaking...
Read MoreDeep Dive: Does Money Matter in Education? The Answer is Clear
A new report from the Albert Shanker Institute, “Does Money Matter in Education?” confirms what educators have long known: money matters in education, and even more so for students in underfunded communities. The study, a comprehensive review of decades of research, finds that increased investment in schools leads to better...
Read MoreThis Week in the Legislature: Texas House Committee Assignments Are In
The 89th Texas Legislature is in full swing, and with it comes a new slate of committee assignments in the Texas House. These assignments are more than just titles—they will determine the fate of the Educator’s Bill of Rights and other critical education policies, including school finance, teacher and school...
Read MoreEducator’s Bill of Rights Spotlight: Defending Academic Freedom in the 89th Legislature
Texas educators and students deserve classrooms free from political censorship, universities that protect academic freedom, and schools that foster open inquiry and debate. Yet, recent legislative attacks — through tenure rollbacks, bans on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in higher education, and curriculum restrictions — have weakened Texas public...
Read MoreCTE in Our Schools: Programs of Study
In 2013, the Texas Legislature revamped Texas high school graduation requirements to the current Foundation High School Program. This new plan created multiple pathways to graduation and though it still emphasized college readiness, the new program also elevated career and technical education (CTE) as an equal pathway to postsecondary success....
Read MoreLinda McMahon’s Confirmation Hearing Raises Concerns
Yesterday, Linda McMahon, former WWE executive and President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education, faced the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for her confirmation hearing.
Read MoreFeb. 7, 2025: 2025 prices, 2019 dollars
Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 2025 prices, 2019 dollars What a month this week has been, huh? We’ll get it into the details of chaos at the federal level, Gov. Abbott’s State of the State address, and the vote on vouchers in the Texas Senate later in this Hotline. But first,...
Read MoreSBOE Recap: Not Slowing Down
The newly minted State Board of Education (SBOE) met for its first meeting of 2025 on Jan. 28-31 in Austin. The first order of business was to swear in the three new members to the SBOE: Gustavo Reveles (District 1- El Paso), Brandon Hall (District 11-Aledo), and Dr. Tiffany Clark...
Read MoreSBEC Preview: New Members, Familiar Agenda
The State Board of Educator Certification will meet in Austin on Friday, Feb. 14. The November 2024 meeting was the final meeting for longtime members Tommy Coleman and Dr. Scott Muri, however Gov. Greg Abbot has not named new members to this entirely appointed body. There is an item...
Read MoreUncertainty, Anxiety in Higher Education Following Trump’s Freeze on Federal Grant Funding
Last week, the Trump Administration issued an executive order that temporarily halted federal funding for grants in higher education, research, and programs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The move, along with other education-related orders from President Donald Trump, sent shockwaves across universities and research institutions, as agencies like...
Read MoreFebruary is Career & Technical Education Month—And Now, It’s a Texas Emergency
Gov. Greg Abbott has declared expanding career training as an emergency item for the 89th legislative session, emphasizing the critical need to equip Texans for in-demand, well-paying jobs. This initiative aligns with Career & Technical Education (CTE) Month, highlighting the importance of vocational programs in our education system.
Read MoreThis Week in the Legislature: Abbott Designates Vouchers, Teacher Pay, & Career Training as Emergency Items
On Sunday, Feb. 2, Gov. Greg Abbott gave his State of the State address, outlining his priority items for the 89th Legislature. As expected, Abbott named private school vouchers one of his seven emergency items for the Legislature to consider...
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