Article
- Press
Ted Kirsch: Wolf's budget reflects our priorities
It's almost summer and the budget battle in Harrisburg is heating up.
Read More
Article
- Take Action
Take Action: Stop school takeovers now
The Senate Education Committee has served up a bill that would create a state-controlled school district to take over struggling schools. Never mind that there's zero evidence that state takeovers improve acheivement. This bill is about taking over struggling schools, closing and charterizing them - not fixing them. Tell your state senator to reject Senate Bill 6 - the so-called "Educational Opportunity and Accountability Act."
Read More
Article
- Locals
PSD community protests damaging program cuts
Parents, alumni, Deaf advocacy groups and faculty will demonstrate Wednesday to stop severe cuts in services and programs for Deaf students at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf.
Read More
Article
- Locals
Philly charter teachers vote to unionize
Teachers and support staff at Olney Charter High School in Philadelphia voted overwhelmingly to form a union under AFT Pennsylvania to gain a voice in how classrooms are resourced and school decisions are made.
Read More
Article
- Locals
Peters Township FT members create healthy snack videos
Here's what can happen at a K-3 school when teachers and support professionals come together and use a little inspiration, perspiration and willingness to let everybody promote healthy snacks.
Read More
Article
- Press
Kirsch testifies before PA House committee on education funding
"Schools must ensure that all children are well prepared for life, college or a career and ready to contribute to their communities," AFTPA President Ted Kirsch testified before the PA House Democratic Policy Committee. "Lamakers must value more than academic standards and test scores."
Read More
Article
- Press
SRC charter expansion is 'unconscionable,' 'irresponsible'
AFT Pennsylvania President Ted Kirsch called the SRC's vote authorizing five new charter schools in Philadelphia "unconscionable," 'irresponsible" and "fiscally unsustainable."
Read More
Article
- Press
AFTPA supports governor's natural gas tax proposal
AFT Pennsylvania President Ted Kirsch said Wednesday that he supports Gov. Wolf's plan to tax natural gas extraction and reinvest the proceeds in public education.
Read More
Article
- Press
Kirsch calls on SRC to negotiate, not litigate
Ted Kirsch, AFTPA president, urged the SRC to return to the table to negotiate with the PFT following Thursday's PA Commonwealth Court ruling. Read Ted's statement.
Read More
Article
- News
ASPIRA Charter School teachers demand neutrality in union organizing drive
Teachers and staff at ASPIRA Charter Schools today delivered petitions to ASPIRA’s chief executive officer demanding that the charter-school operator pledge neutrality during their employees’ union organizing campaign.
Read More
Article
- Locals
School for the Deaf staff votes Union YES!
Teachers and support staff at the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf voted overwhelmingly for union representation, becoming the 59th local of AFT Pennsylvania.
Read More
Article
- Legislation
PA House, Senate announce 2015 session dates
The PA House and Senate have announced their fall-winter session days.
Read More
Article
- News
Philly City Council honors NFT president, student journalists
AFT Pennsylvania is proud to stand with Neshaminy Federation of Teachers President Tara Huber and the student editors and staff of the Neshaminy High School newspaper, The Playwickian, who were honored Thursday by the Philadelphia City Council for banning the traditional school team nickname “Redskins” from the student newspaper.
Read More
Article
- News
Corbett, legislature sued over school funding
AFT Pennsylvania President Ted Kirsch released a statement after six school districts, Philadelphia parents, the Pennsylvania Association of Rural and Small Schools and the NAACP sued Gov. Corbett and state legislators for failing to provide Pennsylvania children with a "thorough and efficient" system.
Read More
Article
- Locals
TAUP Members Ratify New Contract Overwhelmingly
The Temple Association of University Professionals, representing approximately 1,400 full-time professors, librarians and academic professionals, voted overwhelmingly to approve a new contract, and the Temple University Board ofTrustees approved the agreement this week.
Read More
Article
- News
AFTPA joins Campaign for Fair Education Funding
AFT Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia & Pittsburgh Federations are members of the governing body of the Campaign for Fair Education Funding, which kicked off efforts in the Capitol Rotunda on Monday, Oct. 6, to ensure every student has access to a quality education.
Read More
Article
- Locals
Judge issues injunction. Stops SRC imposing healthcare
Common Pleas Judge Nina Wright Padilla ruled in favor of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, granting the union a temporary injunction to stop the school district from imposing new healthcare plans on PFT members unilaterally.
Read More
Article
- Press
AFTPA offers condolences to Delaware Valley Charter HS community
AFT Pennsylvania President Ted Kirsch offered condolences to the students, staff and parents at Delaware Valley Charter High School, where a student was killed after school off campus on Monday. Read his statement here...
Read More