AFT

Just days after 7 million people took to the streets across the United States to declare that America has no kings, President Donald Trump—without asking for or getting permission—ordered a wing of the White House to be demolished in order to construct a massive ballroom. I taught social studies, not English, but with the spectacle of bulldozers knocking down part of the People’s House to build a palatial party space—while the government is shut down and millions of Americans risk losing healthcare and food assistance—well, the symbolism is hard to miss.

For a long time, Target—that popular mega store that seemed to hit just the right combination of low prices and of-the-moment swagger—was everyone’s darling, the go-to spot for everything from groceries to electronics, clothing, kitchenware and toys. Its diversity, equity and inclusion programs were beloved, and won customer loyalty among Black and Latino shoppers especially. Target committed $2 billion to support Black-owned businesses, supported Black entrepreneurs and increased its number of Black employees.

Teaching with Whole Books Boosts Comprehension and Engagement

From its earliest beginnings in Chicago, the AFT has been known for stepping in and lifting up our students, patients and the wider community when they are in need. So, when word came that the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program would run out of money late last year, the AFT sprang into action.

Nurses gathered in Portland on Jan. 27 to honor Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old registered nurse who was fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis on Jan. 24. The vigil, organized by the Oregon Nurses Association and the Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, brought together nurses and allies to mourn his death and demand accountability.

Paraprofessional Appreciation Day is April 1, and if you know anything about public schools, you know that paraprofessionals—in the classroom, in the halls and on the school bus—do the work that keeps all the other work going. By supporting students’ learning, they support all of public education.

Just a week after Hungary’s landmark election, democracy advocates, scholars and labor leaders came together to analyze long-time Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s defeat and offer a broader lesson on what it takes to resist authoritarianism: persistence, courage, independent institutions and a refusal to give up on democracy.

Artificial intelligence is transforming education at a speed that outpaces policy, regulation and preparation, and the stakes for students could not be higher. At a recent panel hosted by Microsoft and the Women’s Foreign Policy Group, AFT President Randi Weingarten joined diplomats, technology leaders and education specialists to confront a central question: How can schools use AI to support learning without replacing the human relationships and critical thinking that learning requires?

A Vision for Public Education that Sets a Strong Foundation in a Changing World

AI doesn’t change the essential purpose of education: teaching students how to think.