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AFT Pennsylvania has made the following endorsements in the 2026 Pennsylvania special and primary elections. These endorsements are authorized by AFTPA, Wendy G. Coleman, president. AFT Pennsylvania does not ask for or accept authorization from any candidate or political committee and no candidate or political committee is responsible for its operations. Read More

Summer is upon us, and parents, children and teachers are winding down from what has been an exhausting and fully operational school year—the first since the devastating pandemic. The long-lasting impact of COVID-19 has affected our students’ and families’ well-being and ignited the politics surrounding public schools. All signs point to the coming school year unfolding with the same sound and fury, and if extremist culture warriors have their way, being even more divisive and stressful. Read More

As the Trump administration continues to attack higher education—cutting research grants, targeting free speech and restricting classroom materials—the AFT and the American Association of University Professors have unveiled a powerful new blueprint to restore and preserve higher education, just in time for the 2026 midterms. Read More

It is clear that higher education is under attack. The Trump administration has frozen funding for science, from cancer research to reproductive care; has hamstrung student financial aid programs; has stripped colleges and universities of diversity, equity and inclusion programming; has strangled affirmative action designed to expand access to college; and is demanding that some institutions sign a “compact” that forces them to adopt Trump’s ideology in exchange for federal funding. Read More

Attacks on public education in America by extremists and culture-war peddling politicians have reached new heights (“lows” may be more apt), but they are not new. The difference today is that the attacks are intended not just to undermine public education but to destroy it. Read More

The AFT has always been a solutions-driven union, and our new campaign, launched during TEACH on July 21, proves it once again with a fresh, practical approach to strengthening public education. As AFT President Randi Weingarten pointed out during her keynote speech, the $5 million, yearlong campaign, “Real Solutions for Kids and Communities,” stands up against attacks on public schools and offers real-world solutions to build up, rather than break down, our communities. Read More

Click below to view or download the 2026 AFTPA Welcome Booklet. Read More

AFT PLUS is the name of the member benefit programs available to AFT members and their families. Many of the programs are provided through Union Privilege, the benefit arm of the AFL-CIO; others are unique to AFT and are coordinated directly through AFT PLUS. Explore the site and learn more about the savings and services available to you as a union member. Click here to learn more about AFT PLUS Member Benefits. Read More

HARRISBURG – Today, both chambers of the Pennsylvania legislature passed a $50.85 billion state budget deal, and it was signed by Governor Josh Shapiro. The total amount is down from the $53.2 billion that Governor Shapiro offered at his Budget Speech in February and the closely-aligned $53.3 billion that the PA House passed this spring. This is the fifth year in a row the state budget has been passed late. Read More

Paraprofessionals and school-related personnel are often overlooked because of their support roles. They are the last ones hired and often the first ones fired when budgets get tight. This certainly seems true right now as the Trump administration withholds nearly $7 billion in education funds, effective July 1, which has hamstrung summer school programs, hindered English language support, halted professional development this summer, and left before- and after-school programs in limbo for the coming school year. Read More

ALLENTOWN (Thursday, June 11, 2026) – This Saturday, AFT Pennsylvania, AFT national, and the Allentown Federation of Paraprofessionals (AFP) #1716 will be hosting a special event celebrating the start of summer and providing free resources – including 4,000 free children’s books – for students and the community in Allentown. The event, which is being hosted as part of AFT’s Reading Opens the World campaign, is in partnership with AFT’s Paraprofessional and School-Related Personnel division, the Allentown School District, State Representative Ana Tiburcio, the Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus, UNIDOS, UNIDOS US Action Fund, Mega 101.7 Allentown, and Counseling Solutions of Lehigh Read More