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Weingarten speaks on the future of public education

In a speech at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., AFT President Randi Weingarten juxtaposed two approaches for education that would have vastly different consequences for America's students. Either build on the bipartisan consensus of the Every Student Succeeds Act to provide all families with access to great neighborhood public schools, or promote the dangerous, destructive approaches that Donald Trump's education secretary nominee advocates to undermine and privatize public education.

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Trump fails a crucial test

In her latest column appearing in the New York Times, AFT President Randi Weingarten writes about Donald Trump's education policies amd how they would devastate our public education system.

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Graduate assistants at private universities can unionize

In a decision that could reshape working and learning conditions for thousands of college workers and their students, the National Labor Relations Board has ruled that graduate assistants have the right to unionize, even at private colleges.

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ESSA regulations need improvement, AFT tells Ed Department

The AFT weighed in on proposed federal regulations for the Every Student Succeeds Act this month, highlighting areas where the Department of Education must rework its draft in order to give schools a real shot at moving away from the current burdens of test-and-punish reform.

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National unions offer support for Orlando community

The AFT, the Florida Education Association, the National Education Association, the Service Employees International Union, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees are working together to provide support and resources to the Orlando community in the wake of June 12's horrific shooting.

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AFT-Wisconsin release: UW-Eau Claire faculty declare no confidence with historic vote

Eau Claire, WI: Faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire voted overwhelmingly in support of a resolution of no confidence in UW System President Ray Cross and the Board of Regents.  Members of AFT local 6481, United Faculty and Academic Staff of UW-Eau Claire, collected signatures from one-third of campus faculty to call for a special meeting of all faculty on the resolution, the first such meeting at the university in nearly fifty years.  The resolution, which passed by a landslide margin of 227-98, is the latest in a wave of no confidence resolutions across the UW System, a nationally unprecedented event.

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Higher Ed Council members lead wave of no confidence votes

A nationally unprecedented series of votes of no confidence in UW System President Ray Cross and the Board of Regents, led by AFT-Wisconsin Higher Education Council and American Association of University Professors members, has spread rapidly across the UW System.

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Wisconsin Heights teacher attends White House Teacher Appreciation Day

Kathy Evert, an elementary school teacher in the Wisconsin Heights district, was one of a group of teachers from across the United States invited to participate in President Barack Obama’s celebration of National Teacher Appreciation Day at the White House. Evert, the co-president of AFT local 1917, represented the AFT at the May 3rd event honoring the national Teacher of the Year Jahana Hayes.

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Whitnall teachers: lowering class sizes and improving teacher retention

As the school year began, members of the Whitnall Area Federation of Teachers were discussing two disturbing trends. Class sizes had started high and were continuing to grow as the district accepted many open enrollment students. At the same time, many experienced teachers were either finding jobs elsewhere or considering leaving because of the district’s extremely slow progress in implementing a compensation plan. With many classes exceeding 30 students and as they faced the loss of highly qualified teachers, WAFT members were concerned about the impact on their working conditions and student learning conditions.

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