"Public school supporters are concerned the program will lead to reduced funding for public schools and worry about educational equity and accountability at private schools. "

“This is about workforce development and supporting our domestic—including immigrant—talent pipeline that colleges and universities train, educate, nurture, and that go on to fuel the workforces … in communities and states,” she said.

"Since the start of the Trump administration in January, Head Start, like many federally-backed programs, has come under the microscope of budget-cutters operating largely under the "Project 2025" governing blueprint that urged the termination of Head Start."

Visit our site for scholarship links!

"Only about 1 in 4 U.S. teachers believe that their profession is valued in society, a 10 percentage-point drop since 2018... While educators may feel that their communities value their work “in a general way,” Kreamer said, many are “not feeling like they have a lot of voice in education policy.”

Looking for a listen? Hear AFT President Randi Weingarten speaking about her new book, Why Fascists Fear Teachers: www.wmnf.org/wide-awake-a...

"Illinois’ new complaint details Trump’s rhetoric over the last month or so, including his social media post that reads “I love the smell of deportations in the morning” and adds that Chicago is “about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.”

"Now, amid the government shutdown, Trump is moving to further fulfill Project 2025’s goals of reducing the federal workforce and extending his executive powers—and, it appears, openly embracing the plan. Project 2025 is a sweeping policy agenda spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation."

"States that have weakened labor rights by enacting so-called “right-to-work” laws shed 179,000 union members last year and their workers now earn about 7% less than their peers in states such as Illinois — even after adjusting for cost of living."

Know Your Rights.

"[Authoritarians] fear what educators do—the teaching of critical thinking, of honest history, of pluralism—because their brand of greed, power and privilege cannot survive in a democracy of diverse, educated citizens." More from @rweingarten.bsky.social: www.aft.org/column/why-f... @aft.org

Grateful to all who attended the 20th Annual Legislative Breakfast!

“Thousands of Illinois residents rely on these programs to lawfully seek critical health care without fear of deportation,” said Melissa Kula, a spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, noting that any federal cut would be “impossible” for the state to backfill."

"Some teachers have out-of-date history textbooks, and online resources from institutions like the Smithsonian can fill the gaps."

Happening now! Join @rweingarten.bsky.social, @proftwolf.bsky.social, @afthighered.bsky.social, @aaup.org and more for a webinar discussing the current threats to higher education - and how we as educators, students, and activists can come together to protect it. Follow along in the thread below!

What are your plans this Labor Day? Join us and stand up for what #WorkersDeserve: Chicago RSVP: https://www.mobilize.us/mayday/event/806237/ Events around the state: https://www.mobilize.us/aft/?country=US&state=IL&tag_ids=26595

This Labor Day we will continue to stand strong, fighting for public schools over private profits, healthcare over hedge funds, shared prosperity over corporate politics. #workersdeserve ✍️ Register for Chicago's Labor Day event: https://www.mobilize.us/aflcio/event/806237/

"We found that public education has been essential for not only creating an educated workforce but for inculcating the United States’ fundamental values of liberty, equality, fairness and the common good."

"Unions don’t just improve workers’ paychecks—they shape the social and political fabric of the communities they operate in, lifting standards for union and nonunion workers alike."

Wishing all of our members heading back to school a wonderful year ahead!!

This Labor Day is our chance to stand together with the people we fight for every day: our members, families, and communities. Across Illinois, educators and allies will be in parades and at events, calling for fairness, respect, and real investment in our public schools and public services.

📣📣📣 WSTU 571 represented at #TEACH25 where members collaborated with government leaders to strengthen public education, challenged efforts to undermine and underfund our public schools, and came home feeling invigorated and inspired for the year ahead!!

On July 1, school districts expected $6.2B in federal education funding—but the Department of Ed held it back. That means less support for: ✖️English learners ✖️Teacher development ✖️High-poverty schools Read the breakdown of who will be hardest hit and what’s at stake.

This is shameful and puts the services that Americans rely on at risk. Thank you Justice Jackson for another powerful dissent. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/08/u...

All of these cuts to healthcare, public education, and nutrition programs give billionaires yet another tax break. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Trump's #BigUglyBill would cost 11.8 MILLION Americans their healthcare coverage. It would close rural hospitals across the country. And it would add to the national debt. This is a terrible plan and we’re fighting like hell to stop it. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/29/u...

Slashing the services we need + giving billionaires massive tax cuts __________________ = Millions of people without the food or healthcare they need, and a growing national deficit. Trump’s math just doesn’t add up. bsky.app/profile/aft....

Authoritarians are scared of people organizing to defend our democracy, advance rights of working people, fight for fully funded public services, strengthen & preserve public ed, and challenge the agenda of the ultra-wealthy & politically corrupt. Join us! go.aft.org/nokings

I've spent a lot of time thinking about why fascists attack public schools. They fear teachers and work to undermine education. I try to answer why in my new book. You can pre-order it here. www.aft.org/book

The budget bill that Congress is considering right now would be a disaster for working people. Huge cuts to essential services like Medicaid, Social Security, SNAP, and more - all to give billionaires and corporations even more tax breaks.

"Trump has gutted labor rights, slashed the federal workforce, and opposed a minimum wage hike. But resistance is brewing."

Right, @rweingarten.bsky.social. Medicaid is a safety net we’ve fought to strengthen over decades. It helps millions of families go to the doctor, care for older relatives in nursing homes, and more. We shouldn’t be slashing this lifeline to make a slush fund for billionaires.

Be part of a historic action —bring your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers—anyone who believes in freedom and democracy. We cannot be silent as Trump ignores the Constitution and threatens to suspend habeas corpus. www.handsacrosschi.com for details and to get your location!

Tell your lawmaker: Stop cuts to public schools to fund vouchers!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to all of our wonderful members!!

WSTU571 member and ISBE Teacher of the Year Víctor Gómez is a sixth-year bilingual educator in Leyden High School District 212 and a leader in advancing bilingual education. Congratulations, Víctor!!!

📣📣📣Congratulations to WSTU571 member Víctor Gómez on being named Illinois Teacher of the Year!!! 📣📣📣

“A reversal would be a devastating blow to public education and the 90 percent of young people who rely on it. We must preserve and nurture the roots of our democracy, not tear up its very foundations.” - @rweingarten.bsky.social

On Thursday, May 1, in Chicago and cities across the country, people will gather to demand a country that puts our families over billionaires’ fortunes—public schools over private profits, healthcare over hedge funds, housing over homelessness. RSVP here www.mobilize.us/mayday/

The IFT and We Are One Illinois coalition are holding one more week of action for members to make their voice heard. From April 29 – May 1 next week, call and email lawmakers: Tell them to pass the Fair Retirement and Recruitment Act to finally fix Tier 2 pensions.

1/ Harvard just sued the Trump administration in federal court, calling out a multibillion-dollar scheme to punish the university for defending free speech & academic freedom. This is a dangerous power grab — and Harvard is right to fight back. This professor is all in! 🔗 tinyurl.com/Harvard-sues