Congratulations to the amazing Faculty and Staff Federation of Community College of Philadelphia, Local 2026, which reached tentative agreements on three contracts Wednesday night, averting a strike that could have disrupted learning forf 27,000 students. Solidarity wins!

PA legislators, college students and union leaders rallied in the Capitol Rotunda on Wednesday urging lawmakers to approve a plan that would provide free college education for thousands of students. PA Promise would create a grant program to cover up to four years of tuition at a state owned or state related university or community college for families who make $110,000 annually or less and it would cover tuition, room and board for students whose families make $48,000 or less.

From a century-old school building in South Philadelphia Thursday, Gov. Wolf promoted his plan to repair the state’s aging infrastructure and fund emergency relief. Paying for it involves a “modest” tax on natural gas extraction.

AFT Pennsylvania has endorsed U.S. Navy Captain (Ret.) Pam Iovino for the PA Senate District 37 seat formerly held by Republican Guy Reschenthaler. Iovino is running in a special election called after Reschenthaler was elected to the U.S. Congress.

The Pennsylvania House and Senate have named the following legislators as majority and minority chairs of their committees. The retirements and election losses brought major leadership changes to several committees.

Attorney General Shapiro announces for-profit college company will provide $493 million in debt relief for over 179,000 students nationwide. 12,600 Pennsylvania students will have $38.6 million in education debt relieved.