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Urgent Call to Action: Texas House Public Education Committee Hearings on 08/12 and 08/13
The Texas House Public Education Committee is holding critical hearings on Monday, August 12 and Tuesday, August 13 on issues that are having or will have a profound impact on the future of public education in Texas. Perhaps most critically, the committee will consider the implementation of taxpayer-funded private school vouchers and the effect that the increasing quantity of uncertified...
Read MoreTexas Supreme Court Sides with Texas AFT on Commissioner Power, Charter Partnerships
In 2017, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 1882, a bill designed to encourage charter school growth by allowing public school campuses labeled as “low-performing” to hand over operations to a charter operator; in exchange, the school would receive the per-pupil funding advantage that charters have over real public schools...
Read MoreThe American Teacher Act Would Set a $60,000 National Minimum Salary
Our union has documented in detail the staffing crisis in Texas public schools, but our schools aren’t alone. Across the nation, questions remain on how to address all the issues fueling teacher and staff shortages, but paying teachers more would resolve many. The American Teacher Act, introduced in the U.S....
Read MorePaxton Joins Lawsuits Against Student Debt Relief
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has joined onto multistate amicus briefs in two lawsuits challenging the Biden Administration and its student loan debt forgiveness program announced last year. President Biden’s executive order directed the Department of Education to take steps to expand relief for student loan borrowers by making more...
Read MoreDec. 16, 2022: Lubbock Racial Discrimination Challenge; Bills We Are Watching; Rep. Erin Gamez is Substitute Certified
Texas AFT offices will be closed for winter break from Monday, Dec. 19, through Monday, Jan. 2. The next Hotline will hit your inbox Friday, Jan. 6. May your holidays be happy, warm, and restful. ...
Read MoreTexas Teachers of Tomorrow, edTPA Headline State Board for Educator Certification’s Final 2022 Meeting
The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) met in Austin on Dec. 9, and the board’s final agenda of the year had a few noteworthy items.
Read MoreIDRA, Lubbock NAACP challenge Racial Discrimination in Slaton ISD, Lubbock-Cooper ISD
This Monday, the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA), the Lubbock NAACP, parents, and students joined together to challenge racial discriminatory practices in Lubbock-Cooper ISD and Slaton ISD.
Read MoreBills to Watch: A Preview of the 88th Legislature
As of today, over 1,300 bills have been filed by Texas legislators for the upcoming session, starting in January. Among them are bills that align with our Respect Agenda and could be hugely important to educators and students:
Read MoreTexas May Revoke Largest Teacher Prep Program’s Accreditation
After a long history of customer complaints, for-profit Texas Teachers of Tomorrow, Texas’ largest teacher preparation program, faces revocation of its accreditation after the program failed to make improvements while on probation after a 2021 audit found the company to be out of compliance in key state standards including admission,...
Read MoreTRS Board of Trustees Convenes for Quarterly Meeting
This Thursday and Friday, the TRS Board of Trustees convened for its quarterly meeting at its headquarters in Austin. Texas AFT Retiree Plus President Rita Runnels chats with TRS Chairman Jarvis Hollingsworth after the meeting adjourned. Texas AFT Retiree Plus executive members Rita Runnels and Phyllis Ruffin provided public comment...
Read MoreWhat We’re Hearing… A Preview of the 88th Legislature
In the weeks leading up to the legislative session, which starts Jan. 10, Texas AFT staff have been attending a host of education events and panels, which have yielded some interesting insights from legislators in attendance. At an event in November in Lubbock, Rep. Ken King, who serves on the...
Read MoreDec. 2, 2022: Dan Patrick’s Upcoming Priorities; ACLU Sues Two Texas School Districts
Reminder: Take the 2022 Texas AFT Membership Survey by Dec. 9 Last year, our members’ answers in our annual survey helped us change the narrative in Texas and force state leaders to deal with the real issue for our public schools: respect. This year, we need your input as...
Read MoreDec. 9, 2022: 88th Session Preview; Retiree Plus Members Speak at TRS Meeting
State Sen. César Blanco writes a strong defense of public education in The Big Bend Sentinel, rightly pointing out that our rural schools cannot afford to lose any further funding to school voucher schemes. Texas May Revoke Largest Teacher Prep Program’s Accreditation After...
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