Texas American Federation of Teachers
11/23/2025 | News release | Archived content
Nov. 21, 2025: What We’re Thankful For
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Friday, November 21, 2025 |
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The Strange Place We Find Ourselves |
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There is perhaps nothingmore emblematic of the hot-and-cold nature ofthe politics ofTexas public education than this week'scontrasting updates onSenate Bill10 (the Ten Commandments bill). On Tuesday, a federal judge ruledthat SB 10 is aviolation ofthe First Amendment and prohibited 11 additional Texas school districts from complying withthe law. Meanwhile, aslitigation plays out over the law's constitutionality, Attorney General Ken Paxtonis suing Leander and Round Rock ISDs for not displaying donated copies of the Ten Commandments. Never mind that Leander ISD was already complying withthe law orthat LISD board members are unsure why they were named in his suit. It'sdifficult to see how Paxton's frivolous suit will help with his -16pointapproval rating. All of it begs the question: What are we doing here? Between TEA takeovers and the rollout of harmful vouchers, it'shard to take a breath andpoint out that all this -the handwringing over culture war issues and the wastedtime hanging and removingreligious texts - benefits nobody. The litigation and uncertainty that surround SB10only serves to hurt the stakeholders of Texas'sfuturesuccess: our students andthe public school employeescharged with preparing them. As you gear up to spend Thanksgiving with your loved ones, here'san important conversation topic: AreTexaslawmakers and elected officials more interested inenacting sensible public education policy or manufacturing outrage? |
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In this week's Hotline:
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- State Board of Education |
SBOE Recap: Instructional Materials & Social Studies |
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The State Board of Education (SBOE) met in Austin on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 9 a.m. CT, and concluded Friday, Nov. 22. At this regular meeting, the board took up several items, most notably the adoption of instructional materials for reading and math and the consideration of topics for the next social studies revision. |
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-Thanksgiving |
In Grief & Gratitude: What Texas AFT Is Thankful for This Year |
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Our work advocating for stronger Texas public schools, colleges, and universities is not easy, and it comes with a variety of setbacks and more than its fair share of mourning. But there is always progress - because there are always people fighting to make it happen. This year is no exception. |
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-Texas Tribune Festival |
Recap: 2025 Texas Tribune Festival |
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For the past three years, Texas AFT has been a proud sponsor of the Texas Tribune Festival in Downtown Austin. We are grateful to participate in an event that educates and builds excitement around top issues in our state, drawing attendees from around the country to bring attention to priorities in our area. |
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Horace Mann: Grateful to Give Sweepstakes |
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This season, we'rereminded of all we'regrateful for, and at the top of the list is YOU! To show our thanks, we'regiving educators the opportunity to win big. Fill out the form below to enter Horace Mann's Grateful to Give sweepstakes for a chance to win one of 20 $500 Amazon.com Gift Cards. Want more chances to win? Engage with us on Instagram or Facebook and you couldwin a $250 Amazon.com Gift Card. All winners will be announced on December 2, Giving Tuesday. Because you give so much, we'reGrateful to Give something back. |
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"Your proposal will silence that process, forcing learning into narrow, narrowly defined boxes and gag faculty from teaching the whole truth and nothing but the truth." |
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Recommended Reading |
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Education news from around the state and nation that's worth your time. |
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UT-Austin silent on Trump compact as deadline approaches. The University of Texas at Austin hasn'tsaid whether it will sign an agreement with the Trump administration that would tie preferential access to federal funding to a series of campus policy changes, even as other universities have rejected the administration's offer. (The Texas Tribune, Nov. 17) Texas' Top Voucher Vendor Taps Abbott Allies in Contract Bid, Program Rollout. The Texas Comptroller last month awarded the job of administering the nation's largest private school voucher program toa New York firm called Odyssey. In winning the bid, and in its plans to ramp up the program, Odyssey cultivated close ties to the political world of Gov.Greg Abbott. (Texas Observer, Nov. 13) At least 5 Austin school district employees detainedby ICE, sparking alarm. At least five Austin school district employees have been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, sparking alarm among co-workers and administrators who say they'vebeen left in the dark about their colleagues' fate, the American-Statesman has learned. (Austin American-Statesman, Nov. 20)
Women could be most affected by Trump's penalties for overdue student loans. The move by the Trump administration is set to begin May 5, and borrowers with delinquent payments could have their wages garnished as early as the summer. (The 19th, April 23)
The Lege's 'Big Government Intrusion' into University Academics. Expanding on last session's anti-DEI campus crackdown, some Republicans in the Legislature are now going after gender and ethnic studies programs and faculty independence. (Texas Observer, April 24)
The Shocking Billionaire Plot to Dismantle Public Education. Texas is on the verge of passing a law that could defundpublic education. Vouchers send public taxpayer dollars to private schools. It could cost taxpayers $10 billionby 2030. And it could destroy Friday Night Lights. (More Perfect Union, April 22)
This Education Department Official Lost His Job. Here's What He Says Is at Risk. Fewer teachers. Incomplete data. Delays in addressing problems and getting financial aid information. Those are just some of the impacts Jason Cottrell, who worked as a data collector at the Department of Education for nine and a half years before being laid off along with more than a thousand other agency employees, warns the Trump Administration's massive cuts to the department's funding and workforce could have on the country's education system. (Time, July 18)
This Education Department Official Lost His Job. Here's What He Says Is at Risk. Fewer teachers. Incomplete data. Delays in addressing problems and getting financial aid information. Those are just some of the impacts Jason Cottrell, who worked as a data collector at the Department of Education for nine and a half years before being laid off along with more than a thousand other agency employees, warns the Trump Administration's massive cuts to the department's funding and workforce could have on the country's education system. (Time, July 18)
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Texas American Federation of Teachers published this content on November 23, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on December 12, 2025 at 16:36 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]