PSRP enews | November 2025

Focus on affordability

In her quick weekly update, AFT President Randi Weingarten talks about how, by breaking up and dispersing the U.S. Education Department, the Trump administration is simply making it harder to access services like Title I, special education and career tech. “Our students are paying the price,” she says. Weingarten also takes note of record-high grocery prices and the work of the AFT and our allies to provide families some relief by lowering the cost of healthcare and passing a cost-of-living tax cut. Weingarten signs off with thanks to our members and a wish for all to enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving.

New York City paras demand RESPECT

Over the decades, the pay gap between the highest-paid principals and the lowest-paid members of New York City’s United Federation of Teachers—our paraprofessionals—has grown appallingly wide. To address this affordability issue, members of the City Council have proposed legislation that would give every UFT-represented paraprofessional a permanently recurring annual payment of $10,000 or more. This proposed law is part of our union’s ongoing work to give paras the respect and money they deserve for the valuable work they do for our most vulnerable students. See an overview here and get answers to questions here.

AFT joins lawsuit to defend immigrant school bus drivers

The AFT, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and two individual drivers have been granted an emergency stay on a proposed Trump administration rule that would prohibit immigrants from working as commercial drivers, such as school bus drivers. Public Citizen is representing the plaintiffs. On Nov. 17, the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals placed a temporary administrative stay on the regulation, effectively putting the rule on ice while judges review the parties’ arguments. For now, immigrants who had been affected by the rule should be able to obtain their commercial driver’s licenses and get them renewed. Here is a link to Public Citizen’s page about the lawsuit.

Tell us how you’re #PublicSchoolProud

Join our Public School Proud campaign to celebrate the everyday moments that make public schools the heart of our communities. Whether it’s literacy nights, science fairs or football games under the lights, these moments remind us that public schools don’t just educate; they unite us and give every child a shot at a better life. Every week, we lift up great things happening in public schools. Share what makes you public school proud here. And here’s a recent example!

Affordability really matters

AFT President Randi Weingarten says she’s been around politics long enough to know that you can be on the right side of a fight and still lose—at least in the short run. That’s what happened in the latest standoff over the shutdown of the federal government, with Democrats fighting to preserve Americans’ access to healthcare and food assistance against an unrelenting Republican Party and president who showed there was no apparent limit to the pain they were willing to inflict. Americans want a life they can afford, opportunity to get ahead and a real voice in our democracy.

Florida may scrap vaccine mandates, educators warn

Florida could soon become the first state in the nation to eliminate all vaccine requirements, including those that protect children attending public schools. The proposal would undo decades of proven public health safeguards and, according to educators and health experts, open the door to the return of measles, mumps, polio and chickenpox, which can cause serious illness, disability and even death. Educators across the state, like Sheryl Posey, are sounding the alarm.

Tell your lawmaker: Protect public education!

President Donald Trump has announced a plan to dismantle the Department of Education, moving major parts of the agency to other federal departments and leaving America’s students and educators in the lurch. This move is neither streamlining nor reform—it’s an abandonment of America’s future. Rather than show leadership in helping all students succeed, it walks away from our kids. We need our members of Congress to reclaim their authority over education during the upcoming funding battles and stand up to protect public education. We can’t allow the federal government to shirk its responsibility. Write to your elected officials now and urge them to protect public education.