Texas American Federation of Teachers

04/06/2025 | News release | Archived content

April 4, 2025: We’ve got eyes, governor.



Friday, April 4, 2025

We've got eyes, governor.

Last week, the Texas Tribunepublished a school finance explainerthat puts to rest false claims from Gov. Greg Abbott and his pro-voucher ilk that Texas education funding is at an all-time high. The analysis concludes that the $15,000 per student figure touted by Governor Abbott online and in recent appearances includes federal pandemic relief dollars that have since expired, counts dollars that school districts cannot actually spend,and entirely fails toaccount for inflationary effects.

None of this is news to anyone who has worked or learned in Texas public schools for the past several years. Just this month, in the state with the world's eighth-largest economy, one Central Texas district was forced to cut its popular free dual-language pre-K program while another consolidated campuses to address a $110 million budget deficit.

Rural, suburban, and urban districts across this state with a $24 billionbudget surplus say they'reenduring "death by a thousand cuts,"trying to balance budgets through layoffs, shuttered programs, and larger class sizes.

The solution is obvious: the state must raise its base funding for public schools - by a significant margin- for the first time in six years.

Instead, here we are again on Gov. Abbott's voucher roller coaster, where the House Public Education Committee voted 9-6 this week - without cameras and without testimony - to send the latest version of its voucher bill to the House floor. It makes sense that they wouldn'twant you to see this, Texas. You've told them you don't want it.

But as this fight continues to the floor of the Texas House, we'reasking you not to look away and not to give up. Lawmakers may not want to listen to their constituents and risk the monied wrath of the governor and his donors, but they must know you'rewatching. And they must hear from you, relentlessly.

Because our kids, our schools, our communities, and our profession are worth it.

In this week's Hotline:

  • Recap of school finance, vouchers, & more from this week
  • An attack on higher education accreditation
  • School board elections next month
  • Retiree Plus'pick for TRS Board of Trustees

- Texas Legislature



This Week in the Legislature: Budgets on the Move, Alongside Gov. Abbott's Voucher Scam

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 billionbudget for the 2026-27 biennium. The proposal includes $71 billionfor the Foundation School Program, the main source of pre-K-12 public education funding, and $4.3 billionearmarked for targeted teacher pay raises. However, those raises are tied to years of experience and test-based student performance -something Texas AFT opposes, as it ignores the role of paraprofessionals and broader support staff in student success.

The Senate's budget proposal also allocatesapproximately $33.3 billionto higher education.

Meanwhile, the House Appropriations Committee has moved forward with its own version of the state budget (despite theatricsfrom noted public school "supporter" Rep. Brian Harrison).

-Privatization



Texas Public Opinion Researchsurveyed 700 registered voters in Texas from March 7 through March 10 on a variety of current priorities in Texas, one being Gov. Greg Abbott's private school voucher quest. The results are clear (again):no one is excited about vouchers. Across party lines, race/ethnicities, and geographies in our state, these billionaire-backed schemes are not as popular as certain legislators want us to believe.

Make this opinion clear to your legislator today by calling them through the Texas AFL-CIO online campaign. Vouchers are a NO from Texas.

-Higher Education

This Week in Higher Ed: Why is the Legislature Coming for Accreditation?

This week, House Bill 1705and its companion Senate Bill 757were heard in both the House Higher Education Committee and the Senate Education K-16 Committee. These bills change higher education accrediting standards, removing the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) as the statutorily mandated agency in the education code. Why is this important? Find out in the full online story.

-School Boards

Texas School Board Elections: Union Endorsements Aim to Reshape Educational Leadership

Texas approaches the important May 3rd school board elections, educator unions are actively endorsing candidates who align with their vision for public education. Notably, the Northside American Federation of Teachers (Northside AFT) and Socorro AFT are at the forefront of these efforts, advocating for leadership that prioritizes the needs of educators and students alike.

In the Northside Independent School District (NISD), the state's fourth-largest district, four trustee positions are contested. Northside AFT has endorsed a slate of candidates:

  • District 2: Dr. Sonia Jasso
  • District 5: Laura Zapata
  • District 6: Nicolette Ardiente
  • District 7: Larissa Martinez

In the Socorro Independent School District (SISD), Socorro AFT has released their own slate of endorsements for its school board:

  • District 2: Shawn Ollis
  • District 3: Charles Smith
  • District 4: Paul Guerra
  • District 5: Gary Gandara

- TRS

Texas AFT Retiree Plus Recommends Dr. Marty Lenard for TRS Board

The upcoming Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) Board of Trustees election is critical for educators, as it can directly impactretirement benefits and the push for an automatic cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) tied to inflation. After careful review, Texas AFT Retiree Plus members recommend Dr. Marty Lenard, a long-time educator and proven advocate for public education, as the strongest candidate. Lenard brings 15 years of experience in K-12 and higher education and has held leadership roles on the Kerrville ISD Board of Trustees and the Kerr Central Appraisal District.



Vote by May 5 at 5 p.m. CDT- either online or by mail (must be received by May 5). The top three vote-getters will be submittedto the governor for selection.

Recommended Reading

Education news from around the state and nation that's worth your time.

Amid Threat of Massive Funding Cuts, Rural School Administrators Work Overtime to Balance Uncertain Budgets. With mounting uncertainty and anticipatedcuts on the horizon, rural school administrators are working tirelessly to balance next year's budget. They do so for the students, families, and faculty who rely on strong public schools - and for their rural communities at large, whose well-being is closely tied to the fate of their local schools. (The Daily Yonder, March 31)

What Will Make Teachers Stay? Ask Them - and Listen to What They Have to Say.Teachers are the largest in-school factor in student success, and higher turnover is linked to lower test scores. Given this, districts and schools should do all they can to ensure that their educators feel empowered, supported, and fulfilled in their jobs. One of the best ways to make teachers feel more satisfied: Ask them what they think needs to change about their work, and partner with them to implement solutions. (The 74 Million, April 1)

A Texas school leader says material about diversity in state-approved textbooks violated the law.The decision to strip chapters from books that had already won the approval of the state's Republican-controlled board of education representsan escalation in how local school boards run by ideological conservatives influence what children learn. (The Texas Tribune / ProPublica, April 2)