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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 MoreReading Up, Math Still Behind in Latest STAAR Results
The Texas Education Agency released its Spring 2025 STAAR results last week, and the numbers tell a familiar story: students are making gains in reading, while math proficiency continues to lag. According to the Texas Tribune, reading and language arts scores across grades three through eight have now exceeded pre-pandemic levels....
Read MoreAFT & CareerWise’s Apprenticeship Accelerator Offers Real Solutions
Photo Credit: Patrick O’Donnell The AFT and CareerWise’s new Education and Apprenticeship Accelerator, backed by six states and industry leaders, reflects a national movement toward earn‑and‑learn pathways that directly address classroom workforce challenges. These high‑school apprenticeship models bridge career and technical education (CTE) with tangible pathways into fields like cybersecurity, welding,...
Read MoreJune 13, 2025: The work of our union
Friday, June 13, 2025 Looking Back (from left to right): Brownsville Educators Stand Together members presenting a resolution to the school board, Spring AFT members unboxing books for a Reading Opens the World event, and Texas AFT United members meeting with legislative staff. The Work of Our Union Next...
Read MoreSBOE Preview: Six More Charter Schools Up for Approval
The State Board of Education will convene in Austin Tuesday, June 24, at 9 a.m. CT through Friday, June 27. A critical item on the agenda is the Generation 30 (2025) charter applicants that move forward to the SBOE for a final vote on Jun 27, 2025. The Commissioner of...
Read MoreUnpacking the 89th Legislature: Your Right to Fair Wages
Educators across Texas have long fought for wages that reflect the vital work they do in our classrooms, cafeterias, and campuses. Yet despite their dedication, Texas teachers earn over $9,000 less than the national average and receive $5,000 less in per-student funding. Inflation-adjusted, their salaries are 6% below 2015 levels,...
Read MoreAdvocates Act Against the Repeal of the Texas Dream Act
On June 4, just two days after the Texas Legislature came to a close, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) sued the State of Texas over the 2001 law allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities. This came after House Bill 232 and Senate Bill...
Read MoreUnion Wins in San Antonio
Saturday, June 7 was Election Day for May local election runoffs, and it was a great day for San Antonio labor. Alongside San Antonio Central Labor Council peers, Northside AFT and San Antonio Alliance members have knocked doors, made calls, and organized their communities in support of candidates who will...
Read MoreJune 6, 2025: A nightmare for Dreamers
Friday, June 6, 2025 Downloadable poster available with other immigration resources from AFT. A nightmare for Dreamers On Wednesday, within hours of a federal lawsuit filed against Texas over our state’s decades-old DREAM Act, Attorney General Ken Paxton readily sold out the future of our state and urged the court...
Read MoreTexas AFT Joins National Civil Rights Coalition to Oppose Federal Voucher Scheme
Texas AFT has joined over 140 national, state, and grassroots organizations, including labor unions, civil rights groups, and education advocates, in signing a forceful letter opposing any federal attempt to create a private school voucher program.
Read MoreNo Kings Day: Nationwide Day of Defiance on June 14
Right now, the very things working people rely on — public schools, decent health care, retirement, good wages and a voice at work — are all under attack by this Congress and the current president.
Read MoreTEA Extends Houston ISD Takeover Through 2027, Sparking Outrage from Educators
Last week, the Texas Education Agency announced that it would extend the state takeover of Houston ISD until at least June 1, 2027, keeping Commissioner Mike Morath’s appointed Board of Managers, and controversial Superintendent Mike Miles, in control of the state’s largest school district for another two years.
Read MoreThis Week in Higher Education: The Last Gasps of Nightmare Legislative Session
This was a long, brutal legislative session for education across the board, but because of our members' tireless work against these destructive efforts, we were able to push the needle and reduce harm for our communities.
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