Featured News
Federal Reshuffle of the U.S. Department of Education: What Happens When Core Functions Are Scattered
When the U.S. Department of Education (ED) quietly signed six interagency agreements on Nov 18, transferring major functions to agencies including the Department of Labor (DOL), the Department of the Interior (DOI), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of State (State), the move didn’t come with a congressional vote. Nor did it come with a stakeholder comment period, public hearings, or...
Read MorePolitical Pressure Builds Across Texas Universities
Over the past month, a new wave of challenges has swept across public higher education, targeting funding, course content, academic freedom, and the speech rights of faculty.
Read MoreTen Commandments Update: New Class-Action Lawsuit
More parents across Texas are joining the diverse legal effort to stop the implementation of Senate Bill 10, the state law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom.
Read MoreFinal Rules for Texas Voucher Program Released
This past week, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Kelly Hancock announced the final rules for the $1 billion private school voucher scheme passed by the Texas Legislature.
Read MoreRecap: 2025 Texas Tribune Festival
For the past three years, Texas AFT has been a proud sponsor of the Texas Tribune Festival in Downtown Austin. We are grateful to participate in an event that educates and builds excitement around top issues in our state, drawing attendees from around the country to bring attention to priorities...
Read MoreIn Grief & Gratitude: What Texas AFT Is Thankful for This Year
Our work advocating for stronger Texas public schools, colleges, and universities is not easy, and it comes with a variety of setbacks and more than its fair share of mourning. But there is always progress — because there are always people fighting to make it happen. This year is no exception.
Read MoreSBOE Recap: Instructional Materials & Social Studies
The State Board of Education (SBOE) met in Austin on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 9 a.m. CT, and concluded Friday, Nov. 22. At this regular meeting, the board took up several items, most notably the adoption of instructional materials for reading and math and the consideration of topics for the...
Read MoreFriends of Texas Public Schools Summit: A Member’s-Eye View
Education Austin member and Austin ISD teacher Rachel Preston represented her union this year at the Friends of Texas Public Schools summit in Waco. Here, she shares her reflections on the experience. As educators, it’s important to remember that we are not alone. Across the state, groups in our communities want to support...
Read MoreTEA Launches New Hotline to Support Students Experiencing Homelessness
The Texas Education Agency has introduced a new statewide resource to support students and families facing housing instability. The Texas Education for Homeless Children and Youth (TEHCY) program features a toll-free hotline to provide real-time connection with experts and access to direct support resources. TEHCY Support Hotline Call: 1-855-85TEHCY (1-855-858-3429) Hours: Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT Additionally, through a new...
Read MoreCrackdowns in the Classroom: Texas Targets Curriculum and Campus Speech
It’s been a busy week for higher education with another onslaught of attacks, from the clamp-down on alleged “race and gender ideology” in the classroom by the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) Board of Regents, and the expansion of legislative oversight of campus speech for both faculty and students. For educators committed to the...
Read MoreSBOE Preview: TEKS Revisions in the Spotlight
The State Board of Education (SBOE) will convene in Austin on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 9 a.m. CT, and meet through Friday, Nov. 22. At this regular meeting, the board will take up several important items, most notably, a framework for the anticipated social studies content area revision. Tuesday Preview The SBOE will spend Tuesday primarily on discussion and action items related to...
Read MoreTexas AAUP-AFT Calls on the Texas A&M University System Not to Muzzle Faculty, Students in the Classroom
This week, the Texas A&M System Board of Regents will vote on whether or not to add severe restrictions on academic freedom and freedom of expression that would codify institutional censorship of curriculum and classroom discussions.
Read MoreAAUP-TXST Calls on Texas State University System Regents to Defend Academic Freedom and Due Process
The Texas State University chapter of the American Association of University Professors has issued a formal appeal urging the Texas State University System Board Regents to reverse the summary dismissal of tenured history professor Dr. Thomas Alter.
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