Featured News
SB 13: Deep Dive into New School Library Restrictions
During the 89th legislative session, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 13, which significantly changes how public school libraries across the state select, review, and manage books and instructional materials. The law, which took effect on Sept. 1, creates new barriers to access and hands greater decision-making power to school boards and external, ostensibly parent-dominated councils. Supporters argue that SB...
Read MoreSenate Committee Hears SB 37, a State Takeover of Public Colleges & Universities
On Thursday, the Senate Education K-16 Committee heard its first higher education bills of the session, including Senate Bill 37, Sen. Brandon Creighton’s omnibus bill.
Read MoreWith Texas Leaders Looking on, President Trump Signs Executive Order Dismantling the Department of Education
On Thursday, the Trump Administration released a long-anticipated executive order, commanding newly confirmed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to take steps to pave the way for closing the Department of Education (DOE).
Read MoreTexas AFT’s SECOND Public Education Advocacy Day Brings Hundreds More Pre-K-12, Higher Education Employees to the Capitol
For the second Monday in a row, Texas educators spent their Spring Break fighting for their students and their schools.
Read MoreTexas AFT Statement on Gov. Abbott’s Appearance at Department of Education Executive Order Signing
“It makes perfect sense for Gov. Greg Abbott to be on hand for the dismantling of the Department of Education. It was the only governmental entity holding his administration accountable for guaranteeing parents’ and students’ rights to a free and...
Read MoreTexas AFT, Texas AAUP-AFT Statement on Senate Bill 37
Senate Bill 37 is a sweeping attack on faculty governance and the freedom to learn, teach, and research in Texas public higher education institutions, which will be heard in the Senate Education K-16 Committee today:
Read MoreMarch 14, 2025: ‘Whose Union? Our Union.’
Friday, March 14, 2025 'Whose Union? Our Union.’ On Monday, 500 Texas AFT members, parents, and students traveled to the Capitol to make their voices heard. (More on that below.) Why? Because, as Texas AFT President Zeph Capo reminded us, no one is coming to save us. It’s up to...
Read MoreThis Week in the Legislature: The Texas House held a voucher hearing. A celebration of public schools broke out.
Hundreds of witnesses testified deep into the night this week in yet another hearing on school vouchers. The House Public Education committee heard House Bill 3, a school voucher scam that garnered nearly unanimous opposition from hundreds of witnesses and...
Read MoreHouse Higher Education Committee Recap: ‘When You’re a Tier 1 University, What You Research Matters’
On Tuesday, House Higher Education Committee members continued their discussion from last week’s hearing on tailoring programs to meet workforce demands.
Read MoreTexas Senate Education Committee Hears Bills on Special Education Funding, Policy
The Senate Education K-16 committee also met Tuesday to take up an agenda of bills primarily related to supporting students with disabilities and special education funding.
Read MoreTexas AFT Public Education Advocacy Day Brings 500 Pre-K-12, Higher Education Employees to the Capitol
This past Monday, around 500 educators traveled from districts big and small across the state to urge lawmakers to pass our union's Educator’s Bill of Rights, increase the basic allotment in the school finance bill, and stop pushing costly and...
Read MoreEducators tell lawmakers: Fully fund our schools, pass our Bill of Rights, and back off private school voucher schemes
Over 400 educators from across the state traveled to Austin for a legislative advocacy day
Read MoreNew poll confirms deep unpopularity of Abbott’s voucher scheme
Previous signs of rejection include Republican town hall revolts and governor’s online meltdowns.
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