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May 10, 2024: We Appreciate You
Friday, May 10, 2024 Now is as good a time as any to remind you that you can find this meme and more by following Texas AFT on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or X/Twitter. 'Teacher Appreciation’ In theory, this week is Teacher Appreciation Week. But you wouldn’t have guessed it from recent education headlines in Texas. If you want to know...
Read MoreNew Report Defines ‘Thriving’ Public Schools in Texas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 13, 2024 CONTACT: press@texasaft.org New Report Defines ‘Thriving’ Public Schools in Texas As school districts announce layoffs & program cuts, Texas AFT set to release report on the public education system that Texas’ record-breaking budget can and should buy. AUSTIN, Texas — The 88th legislative session...
Read MoreDecisive Victory for Public Education: Spotlight on North East ISD School Board Sweep
On May 4, Texas voters cast their ballots in several important municipal elections across the state. High among our most-watched races was the high-stakes North East ISD board election in San Antonio, with both moderate and ultra-conservative candidates vying for control of San Antonio's second-largest school district. The outcome would...
Read MoreTexas Senate Subcommittee to Consider DEI, Free Speech, & Antisemitism Next Week
Sign up for Texas AFT's testimony training ahead of next week's hearing! Next Tuesday, in the wake of significant unrest on college campuses across the state and across the country, the Texas Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education will convene to address the issues of free speech, antisemitism, and DEI (diversity,...
Read MoreTRS Discusses Health Insurance Premiums for Active, Retired Educators at Quarterly Meeting
Texas AFT Retiree Pamela Davis-Duck provides public testimony to the TRS Board of Trustees. Watch her testimony, along with that of Texas AFT Retiree Phyllis Ruffin, here (about 10 minutes in). Last week, the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) board convened for its quarterly board meeting. At the meeting,...
Read MoreTexas Coalition to Rally May 18 for Gun Violence Prevention, NRA Accountability
Texas AFT President Zeph Capo speaks to fellow marchers outside of Sen. Ted Cruz’s office in June 2022. Members and allies gathered to urge action on gun violence after the school shooting in Uvalde. No action has been taken by Cruz or other Texas politicians since that time. In just...
Read MoreMay 3, 2024: No Confidence
Friday, May 3, 2024 This week, Houston ISD educators and UT Austin faculty both circulated resolutions of no confidence in their district and university administrators. Across the state and across the full spectrum of public education, Texas educators demand better for their students. No Confidence “The takeover of Houston ISD,...
Read MoreSurvey Says (Again) Little Support for Vouchers Among Texans
Last week, the Texas Hispanic Policy Foundation released the results of its poll tracking likely Texas voters’ opinions on key legislative and political issues. Gov. Greg Abbott’s quest for a private school voucher program was among the topics posed to likely November voters, and the results are what everyone (except...
Read MoreSBEC Recap: Updates on Educator Preparation, Pedagogy Standards
The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) convened in Austin last Friday for its regularly scheduled meeting. Early in the agenda was a Texas Education Agency (TEA) recap of decisions made at the State Board of Education (SBOE) meeting in April.
Read MoreTitle IX Tensions: Texas Clashes with Biden Administration Over Title IX LGBTQ+ Student Protections
In a defiant move against the Biden Administration's reinterpretation of Title IX, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton have chosen to fight federal mandates that expand protections to include gender identity and sexual orientation. The administration's revised...
Read MoreTexas House Committee Investigates AI & Its Impact
On Monday, the newly formed State House Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Emerging Technologies held its first meeting. The committee, which was formed to determine “the ways AI is integrated into our everyday lives and the potential security risks that come along with the emerging technology,” met to...
Read MoreAmid Protests of Students, Faculty, and Staff, the State Tightens Its Grip on the University of Texas at Austin
In April, state leaders’ attempted stranglehold over the University of Texas at Austin, Texas’s premier public university, came to a head in several ways. The month began with the university laying off dozens of employees who formerly worked in positions...
Read MoreApril 26, 2024: A Sorry Week for Texas
Friday, April 26, 2024 A post on X (formerly Twitter) from Lily Kepner, the higher education reporter for the Austin American-Statesman, shows UT AAUP President Polly Strong addressing students, faculty, and community members at a Thursday protest, one day after local and state law enforcement agents violently responded to a...
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