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This Week in the Legislature: Budgets on the Move, Alongside Gov. Abbott’s Voucher Scam
Texas Budget Update: Public & Higher Education in Focus This week, both chambers of the Texas Legislature advanced major budget proposals, with public and higher education taking center stage. The Texas Senate unanimously passed a $336 billion budget for the 2026–27 biennium. The proposal includes $71 billion for the Foundation School Program, the main source of pre-K-12 public education funding,...
Read MoreTexas legislators have a choice: increase public school funding or bankroll private school vouchers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 24, 2023 CONTACT: press@texasaft.org Texas legislators have a choice: increase public school funding or bankroll private school vouchers Amendments to two key bills in the last days of session set up key decision for lawmakers AUSTIN, Texas – In the early hours of the morning, the...
Read MoreStatement on $16 billion cost for HB 100, vouchers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 23, 2023 CONTACT: press@texasaft.org Texas AFT and Every Texan commented Wednesday on the $16 billion fiscal note for CSHB100 and its private school voucher over the next five years. Both organizations published research jointly this spring that indicated the cost of across-the-board raises for Texas school...
Read MoreLandslide Rejection: Rural Texas House Districts Soundly Oppose Texas Voucher Schemes, Reveals Latest Polling
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 22, 2023 CONTACT: press@texasaft.org Landslide Rejection: Rural Texas House Districts Soundly Oppose Texas Voucher Schemes, Reveals Latest Polling Senators jeopardize teacher pay raises with new voucher language, as opposition solidifies in the House AUSTIN, Texas –...
Read MoreSchool Funding in the Texas Legislature: Vouchers, Property Taxes, & Your Paycheck
Education Round Rock President Tammy Conrad speaks Monday at an early-morning press conference on voucher bill SB 8 with Texas AFT and allies. Watch on Facebook Live. There is a little over a week left in the 88th Texas Legislature, and once again, our elected officials are on a path...
Read MoreThis Week in the Legislature: An Onslaught on Multiple Fronts
While the private school voucher threat has temporarily been abated, another bill that would allow for the rapid expansion of charter schools, which also divert public dollars to private institutions, was resurrected. HB 1707, the priority bill of the charter industry, would exempt charter schools from local zoning ordinances, effectively...
Read MoreCommissioner Morath Provides Few Answers to Houston ISD Educators, Parents
Texas AFT regularly participates in coalition work with allies related to our legislative priorities; in the past week, we have had the chance to join our coalition partners at the Capitol for successful advocacy days.
Read MoreThe House Version of SB 8 Includes Vouchers, More Testing, ‘Backroom Shady Dealings’
This week, Texas House members took a bold stance against backroom meetings, shady deals, and private school vouchers. With less than 24 hours notice to relevant stakeholders and with no public posting of the bill language, House Public Education Committee Chairman Brad Buckley (R-Killeen) moved to hold a late-night hearing...
Read MoreThis Week in the Legislature: What Didn’t Happen?
Apart from all of the attention directed at private school vouchers at the Legislature this week, several other bills that would significantly affect Texas public school educators and higher education employees are still making their way through the legislative process. Public Education: In Committee This week, the House Public Education...
Read MoreTexas AFT Local Unions Win Big in School Board Races
This spring, several of Texas AFT’s local unions have run extensive campaigns on behalf of endorsed candidates for their district school boards. On Saturday, May 6, their hard work paid off, with a series of sweeping wins for educator-endorsed candidates. As the legislative session comes to a close, these victories...
Read MoreIn Memoriam: The Bills We Lost This Week
Throughout the 88th Texas legislative session, thousands of bills are filed in hopes of making it out of committee and on to the floor, with the overall goal of reaching the governor’s desk and being signed into law. With leadership establishing a set agenda of bills that are of priority...
Read MoreMay 5, 2023: Where’s the REAL Teacher Appreciation?
Friday, May 5, 2023 How to ‘Appreciate’ Educators Sen. Roland Gutierrez and Sen. Morgan LaMantia meet with Texas AFT members and leaders at the Capitol on Monday. Photo by Sierra Wiggers. While many of their colleagues were struggling through STAAR testing with anxious students, 30 Texas teachers and school employees...
Read MoreThis Week at the Legislature: 2 School Staffing Bills, 33 Office Visits, & Ten Commandments
This Tuesday, May 2, was national Teacher Appreciation Day. This week, the Texas Legislature continued to offer educators little in terms of meaningful respect, but much in terms of meaningless platitudes and token displays. Teacher Appreciation Day: House Committees Receive Testimony, Texas AFT Members Demand Respect The House Public Education...
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