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Amid Government Shutdown, Department of Education Layoffs Imperil Special Education Services, Protections
Sheria Smith, the former president of AFGE Local 252 and lawyer in the Office of Civil Rights, speaks at a rally outside Sen. Ted Cruz’s Dallas office as part of Texas AFT’s biennial convention in June 2025. Photo by Brooke Jonsson, CCR Studios. Even as the federal government remains closed for business, this week’s developments out of Washington, D.C., are...
Read MoreNEA/AFT Lawsuit over Sensitive-Locations Policy
On Sept. 10, 2025, the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers joined a federal lawsuit, PCUN v. Noem, arguing that protections long enjoyed by schools, hospitals, places of worship, and preschools against ICE enforcement should be restored. These protections were removed by the Trump administration, ending guidance that...
Read MoreSept. 19, 2025: Freedom of Speech
Friday, September 19, 2025 Freedom of Speech The headlines this week have been jaw-dropping. Educators in K-12 and higher education were subjected to baseless online smear campaigns, one university president resigned, and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) now keeps a list of educators reported for their social media posts. Within...
Read MoreSBOE Recap: Forging Ahead on Social Studies
The State Board of Education (SBOE) met in Austin last week to discuss and take action on several topics, the most visible of which was the new social studies framework. Social Studies Framework Adopted The board conducted two separate discussions on the topic of how social studies will look and...
Read MoreTexas educators join lawsuit against discriminatory state law, SB 12
Today, Texas AFT joined ongoing litigation against Senate Bill 12, a new state law that bans gay-straight alliance (GSA) clubs, prevents educators from using students’ chosen names and pronouns, and prohibits diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts from public and charter K-12 schools.
Read MoreTexas AFT condemns political witch hunt against Texas educators
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 13, 2025 CONTACT: Nicole Hill, press@texasaft.org Texas formalizes online hate campaigns against individual teachers AUSTIN, Texas — In the aftermath of Charlie Kirk's assassination, private citizens of all political persuasions shared their thoughts on their personal social media accounts. A number of state representatives, including state...
Read MoreSB 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...
Read MoreFederal Education Updates: More DOE Budget Cuts & PSLF Rulemaking
The Trump Administration’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2026 for the Department of Education would strip nearly $12 billion from public schools nationwide, a move that would fall hardest on the students and districts most in need. According to analysis from the Education Law Center, the proposal eliminates or consolidates...
Read MoreTensions Rise as Legal Lines Blur on College Campuses
Texas AAUP-AFT and Austin Community College AFT leaders and members join allied groups for a press conference in opposition to Senate Bill 37 in the 89th Legislature. Free speech in higher education is on the line for students and faculty, that much has been made crystal clear in recent days. ...
Read MoreHonoring Rep. Alma Allen: A Champion for Public Education
Rep. Alma Allen speaks to members at our 2023 Public Education Advocacy Day. Photo by Win O’Neal, CCR Studios. State Rep. Alma A. Allen announced last week that she will retire at the end of her term in 2026, closing out more than two decades in the Texas House and...
Read MoreSBEC Preview: HB 2 in Action
The State Board for Educator Certification will meet in Austin on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 18-19. The meeting will take place over two days with many discussion items and will include a new component to the proceedings. The first order of business will be for the new Temporary Suspension Committee...
Read MoreSept. 12, 2025: Nickels & Dimes
Friday, September 12, 2025 Nickels and dimes Every back-to-school season, public school teachers and staff across the country spend hundreds of dollars out-of-pocket on food and classroom supplies for their students. This year is no exception — and the burden has been made more acute by recent federal cuts. ...
Read MoreSept. 5, 2025: The No STAAR State
Friday, September 5, 2025 The No STAAR State On Wednesday, the Texas Legislature closed out its second special session by passing a bill that will replace STAAR with a through-year testing regimen that will mean more but (allegedly) shorter tests for students. Lawmakers have begun their celebratory pronouncements. Rep. Brad...
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