Teachers News | July 2025

More than 5 million people peacefully and passionately joined “No Kings” rallies June 14 to say we won’t stand by while democracy is dismantled. The nonviolent, people-powered protests showed that whether you live in a red, blue or purple state, there’s a role for Americans from all walks of life to stand up for opportunity, dignity and a democracy that works for all. In her column, AFT President Randi Weingarten reminds us that to save democracy, we must keep exercising the power of the people.

 

A scheme to take money from public schools and give it to private schools is gaining momentum, but the move would harm the 90 percent of children who attend public schools—robbing them of the services they need to thrive. In the summer issue of American Educator, we dive deep into how exactly vouchers contribute to academic decline and harm public schools. And in this AFT Voices post, middle school teacher Alexis Underwood describes the crucial role public schools play in the Florida panhandle and how vouchers threaten the rich fabric of her community.

 

Can’t make it to this year's AFT TEACH (Together Educating America's Children) conference? Planning on attending but can’t clone yourself to get to all the workshops you’d like to see? You can still keep up with our daily reports on this inspiring professional learning event. Watch this space for descriptions of workshops and plenaries focused on everything from community schools and cultural proficiency to labor history in the classroom.

 

Young students are among the thousands of immigrants being targeted by the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts. We recount some of the heartbreaking stories about young people sent away from their homes; and you'll hear what this looks like in our schools from members encountering this deeply personal threat to school safety and stability.

 

In a sweeping move to leverage artificial intelligence as a tool for learning and to minimize its harms, the AFT has partnered with the United Federation of Teachers, Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic to launch a first-of-its-kind national AI academy for educators. The goal: Equip teachers with the knowledge and training to harness AI responsibly, ethically and effectively in the classroom.

 

 

Schools around the country are anxious as the federal funding they rely on—for summer and after-school programs, hiring, English language acquisition programs and more—fails to come through. The Trump Department of Education is withholding $6.2 billion that has already been approved for schools around the country—illegally harming children, educators and schools, as well as undermining the authority of Congress. “We urge the Education Department to do the right thing and release these critical resources now,” AFT President Randi Weingarten says. “Withholding them achieves no purpose, and students will be harmed.” Read more here. Image: sudanmas / E+ / Getty Images

 

At its 2025 Educators Rising National Conference, Phi Delta Kappa International announced a new partnership with the AFT to collaborate in recruiting and retaining a diverse, prepared and professional educator workforce. The partnership will aid educators and students via a “grow your own” approach, expanding the number of people entering the teaching profession and cultivating robust career and technical education pathways. Read more here. Image: AnnaStills / iStock / Getty Images Plus.  

Together with prominent activists, institutes, unions, legal experts and advocacy groups, the AFT published a full-page advertisement in the New York Times to expose President Trump’s “big, ugly betrayal,” the billionaire-first agenda that Republicans rammed through Congress at the expense of everyone else. “This ad shows how Trump’s big, ugly betrayal takes food off the table, abandons public education, and erodes the social programs that support millions of hardworking Americans," says AFT President Randi Weingarten. "Rural hospitals and communities will be hit especially hard—all while the ultra-wealthy become even wealthier. The AFT and our allies know that we must organize, stand up and speak out together in solidarity to reverse the damage of this appalling legislation.”