News

Biden’s “State of the Union” Speaks to AFSA Priorities

With schools facing increased costs from inflation and a growing educator shortage, it is imperative these federal resources are not taken away in future negotiations on spending caps. Indeed, we urge the president not only to defend these investments in Pre-K–12 programs, but to increase funding to, in his own words, “finish the job.”

Teaching Uncomfortable Topics

Black History Month opens the door for us as a nation to take on difficult issues. Truthful and honest history can open the door to understanding and caring.

Yakima Johnson: Principal, Union Leader, Author

“Looking back at my own childhood, I saw how important it was for me to mentor young girls in particular. I didn’t have any of that myself. I believe that God has destined me for this role, and that belief drives me every single day.”

'Raise the Bar: Lead the World' Initiative

To deliver transformational change, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona urged everyone to act boldly and unapologetically to address student underperformance and decades of underinvestment.

Yale Grad Teachers and Researchers Join Union

A historic 30-year organizing effort was victorious on Jan. 13, adding 3,000 new union members at Yale University as graduate students who serve as teachers and researchers voted in a landslide to form a union with Local 33 of UNITE HERE.

The graduate teachers and researchers from all departments and professional schools went union 1,860–179—91%–9%—in the National Labor Relations Board-run election.

Their triumph continues a wave of union victories at private universities around the country, as well as organizing by workers at Starbucks, Amazon and other major corporations. 

Union Membership Numbers Higher

The United States had nearly 14.3 million union members in calendar 2022, 273,000 more than the year before, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported in its annual survey. 

All the gains came in the private sector, where union membership increased by 293,000, to 7.2 million. The public sector, which has yet to fully recover from job losses the virus-caused crash produced, reported 7.06 million members, plus 823,000 “free riders” who use union services but don’t pay for them. 

On Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

Chicago Principals a Step Closer to Unionizing as Bill Moves to Illinois Governor’s Desk

Chicago principals have said in the past that they often don’t have a say in their working conditions and have to pick up numerous tasks to keep their schools running.

Principal Learning Programs Can Improve Educational Outcomes in Schools

Access to high-quality programs has improved the quality of principal learning opportunities.