INSIDER
‘No trust, no bond:’ Teachers union-backed poll claims voters do NOT support Houston ISD bond proposal
Read full article: ‘No trust, no bond:’ Teachers union-backed poll claims voters do NOT support Houston ISD bond proposalA research poll conducted on behalf of the Texas Federation of Teachers says less than half of voters support the bond proposal, and less than a quarter have confidence "or don't trust" Superintendent Mike Miles.
Texas teachers stand behind Kamala Harris after years of feeling targeted, neglected by Republicans
Read full article: Texas teachers stand behind Kamala Harris after years of feeling targeted, neglected by RepublicansAt a gathering for teachers in Houston, educators saw Harris as a potential ally at a time when conservatives push for changes in Texas classrooms.
Inside look at heightened security in Houston ahead of VP Kamala Harris’ speech to teachers Union
Read full article: Inside look at heightened security in Houston ahead of VP Kamala Harris’ speech to teachers UnionKPRC 2 reporter Gage Goulding and photojournalist Oscar Chavez are at the George R. Brown Convention Center, where later today Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver a keynote speech during the American Federation of Teachers’ 88th national convention.
Kamala Harris plans to continue building presidential momentum in Houston speech to teachers union
Read full article: Kamala Harris plans to continue building presidential momentum in Houston speech to teachers unionVice President Kamala Harris is slated to continue her days-old presidential push by speaking to the American Federation of Teachers.
Harris tells teachers union she's ready to fight for country's future — 'bring it on'
Read full article: Harris tells teachers union she's ready to fight for country's future — 'bring it on'Vice President Kamala Harris has blasted Republicans' views on gun control and public education in a speech to the American Federation of Teachers.
‘Mike Miles is lying’: HISD students, parents, AFT reps rally in downtown Houston against TEA’s takeover of district
Read full article: ‘Mike Miles is lying’: HISD students, parents, AFT reps rally in downtown Houston against TEA’s takeover of district“Teachers are being bullied into submission, bullied out of their careers,” one HISD student said. ”The new curriculum is horrible. I’m stressed out. I’m tired. Everything is gloomy, and the atmosphere is just anxiety and stress.”
VP Kamala Harris lands in Houston ahead of Thursday’s speech at American Federation of Teachers Convention
Read full article: VP Kamala Harris lands in Houston ahead of Thursday’s speech at American Federation of Teachers ConventionThe Vice President will be delivering the keynote speech at the American Federation of Teachers’ 88th national convention.
Jill Biden, education chief to kick off summer learning tour
Read full article: Jill Biden, education chief to kick off summer learning tourJill Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona are kicking off a summer learning tour this week with stops in Connecticut, Georgia and Michigan over two days.
Borrowers denied student loan relief will get a second look
Read full article: Borrowers denied student loan relief will get a second lookThousands of public servants who were rejected from a student loan forgiveness program will get their cases reviewed by the Education Department as part of a new settlement.
Texas Supreme Court rules against Cy-Fair teachers union, ruling teachers must return to work
Read full article: Texas Supreme Court rules against Cy-Fair teachers union, ruling teachers must return to workHOUSTON – The Texas Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District in a fierce battle between the district and the teachers union over returning to campus for training ahead of the start of the school year. On Friday, a Harris County District Judge granted the Cy-Fair American Federation of Teachers (Cy-Fair AFT) a temporary restraining order, which prevented teachers from being forced to physically be in a school building before Sept. 7. However, per the Supreme Court’s ruling Sunday, teachers must report to work. We will consider our options in the coming days.”Cowart said the teachers union is still concerned and worries about how schools will enforce a mask policy. “Friday was supposed to mark the return to campus for Cy-Fair teachers and staff who were preparing to start the new school year and welcome back kids, until a trial court unlawfully ordered the campus shut down at the request of a teachers’ union.
Cy-Fair ISD teacher’s union sues district as teachers were required to attend training in person Friday
Read full article: Cy-Fair ISD teacher’s union sues district as teachers were required to attend training in person FridayCYPRESS, Texas – A Harris County District Court judge granted Cy-Fair American Federation of Teachers a temporary restraining order that states teachers do not have to enter Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District’s school buildings, as the district had required, before Sept. 7. “This is a win for safety, health and common sense. Nearly 7,800 educators in Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District returned to the district’s 91 different campuses Friday for professional development training and new teacher orientation, in spite of a plea from the teacher’s union to delay it. The lawsuitThe teacher’s union filed a lawsuit Friday seeking an injunction to halt the school district’s requirement that all school employees show up to their schools Friday. KPRC 2 reached out to Cy-Fair ISD for comment but district officials said they don’t comment on lawsuits that are pending litigation.
Groups unite to urge US to extend food aid to schoolchildren
Read full article: Groups unite to urge US to extend food aid to schoolchildrenWe are urging you to rapidly pass legislation to address the nation's hunger crisis, the group writes in a letter. In a terrible pandemic with terrible unemployment, with terrible food insecurity, why are we not doing more? she asked. Andrs told the AP he hopes $900 million can be set aside for school meals and waivers can be extended for poor families. Andrs said school meals shouldn't be political. But he specifically called out McConnell for not tackling food issues in the Senate or his own state.
National teacher union supports strikes over reopening plans
Read full article: National teacher union supports strikes over reopening plansThe nation's 10th largest school district plans an all-virtual start to the fall semester amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The American Federation of Teachers, which represents 1.7 million school employees, issued a resolution on Tuesday saying it will support any local chapter that decides to strike over reopening plans. Children need in-person instruction, she said, adding that remote instruction is no substitute for it. But she said teachers need to know they'll be kept safe. Many are quitting, retiring or writing their wills.Along with strikes, the union said it will fight unsafe reopening plans through lawsuits and labor grievances. The union's Florida chapter filed a lawsuit last week attempting to block the state's plan to reopen schools, which the suit called reckless and unsafe.
Cost of ensuring school safety complicates reopening plans
Read full article: Cost of ensuring school safety complicates reopening plansSchool districts will need to find more buses to allow for more space between children and buy more computers for distance learning. The Council of Chief State School Officers says safely reopening public schools could cost between $158 billion and $245 billion, while the American Federation of Teachers put the figure at $116.5 billion. The school district in Columbus, Ohio, expects to bring back younger students in shifts while having high schoolers take all their classes online. Slaven said the federal government should send at least $200 billion to state education departments and school districts. That's in line with what the Council of Chief State School Officers has called for.