Featured News
SBEC Recap: Discipline and Educator Preparation
The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) met in Austin on Dec. 4 and 5 for a lengthy agenda. We provide a deep dive into their discussions regarding educator preparation programs and the impacts of House Bill 2 plus some educator discipline rules.
Read MoreOct. 3, 2025: What the shutdown means for Texas
Friday, October 3, 2025 What the shutdown means for Texas The federal government has shut down, and that is bad news for Texas. As the Texas AFL-CIO notes, our state is home to the third-most federal workers in the country and the highest number of American Federation of Government Employees...
Read MoreJudge’s Order Clears Way for Fired Texas State University Professor’s Reinstatement
On Friday, in a ruling from the bench, Hays County Judge Alicia Key granted a temporary restraining order in favor of Dr. Thomas Alter, who was terminated by Texas State University on Sept. 10, after comments he made at an outside conference in his personal capacity were posted online.
Read MoreMaximizing House Bill 2’s Promise: Support Staff Raises – New Texas AFT Analysis
Socorro AFT members at our Public Education Advocacy Day on March 10, 2025, at the Texas Capitol. For years, Texas AFT and our union’s members have been the lone voice at the Capitol fighting for pay raises for support staff, the indispensable employees who keep our schools running: paraprofessionals, bus...
Read MoreSBEC Recap: Discipline and Educator Preparation
The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) met in Austin on Sept. 18 and 19 for a discussion-heavy agenda. The board’s legislative implementation load is significant after the 89th session and covers two primary lanes of rulemaking work for the body: educator discipline and educator preparation. Educator Discipline Senate Bill...
Read MoreTexas Election Preview: November 2025
On Tuesday, Nov. 4, Texans will head to the polls for an election that, while not featuring statewide executive offices, carries major consequences for public schools and communities. The ballot includes 17 proposed constitutional amendments, as well as numerous local races for mayor, city council, school board, and bond measures....
Read MoreHouston Federation of Teachers Secures Court Victory in Pay-for-Performance Dispute
Houston Federation of Teachers President Jackie Anderson speaks at the No More Harm rally outside the AFT convention in July 2024. Houston educators scored a significant legal win this month when a Harris County judge issued a partial injunction against Houston ISD’s plan to distribute state-mandated teacher raises through a...
Read MoreFederal, State Policies Destabilize Higher Education Landscape
On Thursday, Texas AAUP-AFT, TSEU, and CWA members joined with the Texas State University and San Marcos community to rally in support of Dr. Tom Alter, a tenured professor fired earlier this month without due process at the urging of Gov. Greg Abbott. Courtesy of Texas AFL-CIO. Higher education has...
Read MoreSept. 26, 2025: Hands Off!
Friday, September 26, 2025 Hands Off! Texas politicians can’t help themselves but meddle in our public school classrooms (and our college and university classrooms too). The past two weeks of needless hysteria — firing professors for doing their job or launching a witch hunt for teachers and faculty who...
Read MoreEducators Denounce Latest Attack on Academic Freedom, Freedom of Speech – this time at Angelo State University
This week, the fight for the First Amendment runs through Angelo State University, the latest stop for the ongoing statewide assault on free speech, due process, and academic freedom.
Read MoreTexas AFT Joins Lawsuit Against Discriminatory SB 12
On Tuesday, 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. The lawsuit, filed by GSA Network and...
Read MoreFree Speech Crackdowns Across K-12 and Higher Education Intensify
As quickly as our union has been responding to the events from last week, it seems like state leaders are also working overtime to make educators’ lives harder. In just one week, two faculty members have been fired, the Lieutenant Governor established a new education committee in the House and...
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 More