Every week, Texas AFT compiles important news, updates, and information on public education policy in Texas. The Hotline covers a wide range of topics, including statewide education news, updates from the legislative session, and our current union campaigns.
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...
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Friday, June 28, 2024 America’s teachers feel stress, burned out, and unfairly paid at about twice the rate of comparable working adults, according to the 2024 State of the American Teacher Survey from RAND, the nonpartisan nonprofit. Que sorpresa. What’s driving this rampant level of distress? Many of the same...
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Friday, June 21, 2024 The Whole Truth “We have simply got to make people aware that none of us are free until we’re all free.” — Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth” On June 19, 1865, Union Army Gen. Gordon Granger proclaimed the end of slavery to individuals in Galveston,...
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Monday, June 17, 2024 Last week's Hotline was delayed to today due to technical difficulties on Friday, June 14th. Texas Democrats Unite to Defend Public Education at 2024 State Convention This past weekend, Texas Democrats gathered in El Paso for their 2024 state convention, and the tone could not have...
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Friday, June 7, 2024 Vouchers Drain Public School Funding This week, The Washington Post released a comprehensive report detailing the detrimental effects of vouchers on public schools. These vouchers, by channeling funds away from public schools and toward religious institutions, not only blur the line between church and state but...
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Friday, May 31, 2024 On Friday, May 24, the Houston Federation of Teachers worked with the Houston Food Bank (left) to distribute food and supplies to community members in need after the derecho. Houston Educational Support Personnel (right), meanwhile, delivered food, water, and disaster relief items to the Fifth Ward...
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Friday, May 24, 2024 Houston Federation of Teachers President Jackie Anderson, AFT Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus, and Texas AFT President Zeph Capo at a fundraiser for the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) at HFT’s office on Wednesday. Never Back, Always Forward It was a remarkable week for...
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Friday, May 17, 2024 Vote to Thrive It has been a wild week in Texas education news, and we have lots of vital updates in this week’s Hotline. But before we dive in, a reminder: Early voting in primary election runoffs starts this coming Monday, May 20, and runs through...
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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,...
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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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Friday, April 19, 2024 This past Tuesday, April 16, the U.S. House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security held a meeting to discuss the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), two provisions that heavily penalize many Texas educators and public employees. AFT members from across the...
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Friday, April 12, 2024 Despite recent claims that public education is at a "record high," the real data shows Texas schools are starving. Full Speed Ahead and No Sign of Relief Texans are still reeling from the tornado of bad policy that came out of last year’s record-breaking five legislative...
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Friday, April 4, 2024 April 3 tweet from state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, whose district includes the University of Texas at Austin. Happy Celebrate Diversity Month ... Though April is nominally Celebrate Diversity Month, its first week in Texas this year has been far from joyous. In response to heightening pressure...
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