For Immediate Release
September 12, 2018
Contact:
Oriana Korin
202-374-6103
okorin@aft.org
www.aft.org
AFT Statement: Public School Underfunding Hurts Vulnerable Students Most
WASHINGTON—Today, the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools (AROS) released a report, “Confronting the Education Debt,” detailing the systemic underfunding of public schools, focusing specifically on black, Latino and low-income students.
The report reflects an America that is increasingly conscious of the need for investment in public schools, following teacher walkouts this past spring and an unprecedented number of educators now running for elected office to make education issues a priority.
According to the report’s findings, Congress has failed students from low-income families, students of color and students with disabilities in particular. The historic underfunding of Title I and IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) has reinforced a separate and unequal education system, leaving a $580 billion funding hole that has shortchanged the futures of our nation’s most vulnerable students. Since 2005, the federal government has shirked its responsibility to help provide services to students with disabilities to the tune of $233 billion. Over that same period of time, the personal net worth of the nation’s 400 wealthiest individuals grew by $1.57 trillion.
At the state and local levels, the report highlights that on average, districts with large populations of students of color received about $1,800 less in per-pupil funding than districts with a majority of white students.
In response to the report, AFT President Randi Weingarten said:
“The last decade of neglect has been devastating for our public schools, but this report confirms that those hurt the hardest are students who are our most vulnerable. Let’s be clear: These are choices that state and federal policymakers have made. In the aftermath of the recession and the multiyear recovery, state after state has opted for tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, rather than funding for students, particularly those who need it most.
“We’ve been complaining about this lack of investment for years, but thanks to the educator walkouts this spring, the consequences of these misplaced priorities—which have harmed our kids, their families and educators—have now become a very public issue.
“Awareness of the impact of austerity is one thing, doing something about it is quite another. That’s why the 2018 elections are so important. We must commit to electing people who will reverse this undermining of our students’ future and instead prioritize sustainable, equitable investment in our public schools. Public education is a critical rung on the ladder of racial and economic justice. That promise must be fulfilled, but it will take electing majorities in statehouses and Congress who will prioritize students over tax cuts for the wealthy.
“Thanks to the work of AROS and the tireless efforts of union teachers across the country, we keep fighting to confront our nation’s education debt and demand the investment our schools need.”
Friday, September 14, 2018
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
National Teacher Union Leader Stands with LA Members in Strike Vote
For Immediate Release
September 7, 2018
Contact:
Oriana Korin
202-374-6103
okorin@aft.org
www.aft.org
National Teacher Union Leader Stands with LA Members in Strike Vote
WASHINGTON— American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten issued her full-throated support for the members of United Teachers Los Angeles, who voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike earlier this week:
“In one of the wealthiest cities in the country, students are being crowded into classrooms and schools don’t have enough counselors or nurses to meet their kids’ health and safety needs. The city’s budget is being balanced on the backs of students and teachers, and the members of UTLA have had enough.
“After 17 months of the union negotiating in good faith and making repeated requests for mediation, the district’s refusal to sit down with teachers until late September is an insult to educators and a disservice to every family in the Los Angeles Unified School District. And the proposals the district has offered fail to fund community schools, fail to put accountability measures in place for charter schools, and fail to address the overtesting issues that have left UTLA’s teachers completely out of the discussion on how to assess student performance.
“What’s happened in Los Angeles is what we’ve seen in too many cities around the country: the dismantling of public education through disinvestment and privatization schemes, prompting teachers to take on this fight. We stand with UTLA every step of the way.”
September 7, 2018
Contact:
Oriana Korin
202-374-6103
okorin@aft.org
www.aft.org
National Teacher Union Leader Stands with LA Members in Strike Vote
WASHINGTON— American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten issued her full-throated support for the members of United Teachers Los Angeles, who voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike earlier this week:
“In one of the wealthiest cities in the country, students are being crowded into classrooms and schools don’t have enough counselors or nurses to meet their kids’ health and safety needs. The city’s budget is being balanced on the backs of students and teachers, and the members of UTLA have had enough.
“After 17 months of the union negotiating in good faith and making repeated requests for mediation, the district’s refusal to sit down with teachers until late September is an insult to educators and a disservice to every family in the Los Angeles Unified School District. And the proposals the district has offered fail to fund community schools, fail to put accountability measures in place for charter schools, and fail to address the overtesting issues that have left UTLA’s teachers completely out of the discussion on how to assess student performance.
“What’s happened in Los Angeles is what we’ve seen in too many cities around the country: the dismantling of public education through disinvestment and privatization schemes, prompting teachers to take on this fight. We stand with UTLA every step of the way.”
Monday, September 10, 2018
Labor Update - Find Upcoming Labor 2018 Volunteer Opportunities Near You
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Tuesday, September 4, 2018
AFT Leaders Respond to Detroit Public Schools Drinking Water Problems
For Immediate Release
August 31, 2018
Contact:
Marcus Mrowka
202-531-0689
mmrowka@aft.org
www.aft.org
AFT Leaders Respond to Detroit Public Schools Drinking Water Problems
WASHINGTON—AFT leaders respond to concerns with the drinking water at Detroit public schools.
AFT President Randi Weingarten:
“Every child and every educator should be guaranteed safe drinking water at school. What’s happening in Detroit is the latest illustration of the harm inflicted on children and their teachers through the systemic underinvestment in Detroit public schools by this governor and state leaders. We’re working to get water, coolers and hand sanitizers to the schools, and will continue to do everything we can to work with our locals and the district to ensure our members and the students they serve have safe, reliable drinking water, and that we get the lead and copper out of the water in Detroit schools. We’re glad the superintendent took this action to keep kids and educators safe so that, unlike what happened in Flint, the danger could be addressed before anyone got sick or hurt. But let’s be clear that this wasn’t a random occurrence: It is the direct result of a governor and state leaders who have stripped Detroit public schools of resources and have failed to ensure safe and welcoming public schools for students and educators; the only way to get the investment we desperately need is to elect new leaders in Michigan in November.”
Detroit Federation of Teachers President Ivy Bailey:
“We’re committed to making sure that children and their educators have safe drinking water when school starts next week. While officials of the Detroit Public Schools Community District have taken some steps to address the issue of lead in the water at schools, the community needs assurance that students and staff will be able to function effectively on Tuesday when students arrive. It’s important to note that these issues are a direct result of state-led emergency management.
“We’re glad that Superintendent Vitti has agreed to meet with educators, parents and
stakeholders to address how to get safe drinking water to our schools and get lead out of our
drinking water. We’re ready to work together to keep our educators, students and
community safe.”
Detroit Federation of Teachers Executive Vice President and AFT Vice President Terrence
Martin Sr.:
“Our union could not stand idly by. We have been battling these conditions for years. They
are not new. This is on the state’s hands. We had to ensure that our students and staff have
the supplies they need to perform as best they can under these subpar conditions with a
commitment to get water and hand sanitizer to every school. It was the union that stepped
up to fill that gap.”
Detroit Association of Educational Office Employees President Stephanie Carreker:
“AFT locals in Detroit and our national AFT union are taking a proactive approach to the
water crisis in DPSCD because we do not want be faced with another water crisis liked Flint.”
Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals President Donna Jackson:
“We do not want to repeat history and be another Flint or Puerto Rico. We need to get safe
drinking water to students and school staff.”
August 31, 2018
Contact:
Marcus Mrowka
202-531-0689
mmrowka@aft.org
www.aft.org
AFT Leaders Respond to Detroit Public Schools Drinking Water Problems
WASHINGTON—AFT leaders respond to concerns with the drinking water at Detroit public schools.
AFT President Randi Weingarten:
“Every child and every educator should be guaranteed safe drinking water at school. What’s happening in Detroit is the latest illustration of the harm inflicted on children and their teachers through the systemic underinvestment in Detroit public schools by this governor and state leaders. We’re working to get water, coolers and hand sanitizers to the schools, and will continue to do everything we can to work with our locals and the district to ensure our members and the students they serve have safe, reliable drinking water, and that we get the lead and copper out of the water in Detroit schools. We’re glad the superintendent took this action to keep kids and educators safe so that, unlike what happened in Flint, the danger could be addressed before anyone got sick or hurt. But let’s be clear that this wasn’t a random occurrence: It is the direct result of a governor and state leaders who have stripped Detroit public schools of resources and have failed to ensure safe and welcoming public schools for students and educators; the only way to get the investment we desperately need is to elect new leaders in Michigan in November.”
Detroit Federation of Teachers President Ivy Bailey:
“We’re committed to making sure that children and their educators have safe drinking water when school starts next week. While officials of the Detroit Public Schools Community District have taken some steps to address the issue of lead in the water at schools, the community needs assurance that students and staff will be able to function effectively on Tuesday when students arrive. It’s important to note that these issues are a direct result of state-led emergency management.
“We’re glad that Superintendent Vitti has agreed to meet with educators, parents and
stakeholders to address how to get safe drinking water to our schools and get lead out of our
drinking water. We’re ready to work together to keep our educators, students and
community safe.”
Detroit Federation of Teachers Executive Vice President and AFT Vice President Terrence
Martin Sr.:
“Our union could not stand idly by. We have been battling these conditions for years. They
are not new. This is on the state’s hands. We had to ensure that our students and staff have
the supplies they need to perform as best they can under these subpar conditions with a
commitment to get water and hand sanitizer to every school. It was the union that stepped
up to fill that gap.”
Detroit Association of Educational Office Employees President Stephanie Carreker:
“AFT locals in Detroit and our national AFT union are taking a proactive approach to the
water crisis in DPSCD because we do not want be faced with another water crisis liked Flint.”
Detroit Federation of Paraprofessionals President Donna Jackson:
“We do not want to repeat history and be another Flint or Puerto Rico. We need to get safe
drinking water to students and school staff.”
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