Today, the Trump Administration released the regulations for its national private voucher scheme, which would divert billions of taxpayer dollars away from public schools. President @wgcoleman.bsky.social released the following statement in response:

On International Coffee Day, America’s unions continue to stand in solidarity with our Starbucks @sbworkersunited.org baristas in their fight for a fair contract, and call on everyone to boycott stand-alone corporate Starbucks stores. No contract, no coffee!

As educators, we know that efforts to isolate and shame can be deadly, and make us all small. #LGBTQHistoryMonth is about learning from and honoring the past. Let's keep fighting big for queer liberation with joy in our hearts!

Philly public educators know too well how policy fails kids in heartbreaking ways. We can and will build a city in which all workers thrive and the needs of every child are met! And it's still: Boycott Starbucks until workers get a contract! ✊🏽 #BoycottStarbucks #PHLed

"Philly can be affordable for all if we empower workers and reject outright private equity and corporate takeovers of businesses, public institutions, and housing." @artsteinberg-pft.bsky.social was proud to serve on City Council's Cost of Living Task Force #AffordablePhilly

Creating solutions. Expanding opportunity. The PFT partners with the District & higher ed to help non-teacher members advance in their careers. This is how we address the teaching shortage crisis - and transform lives and communities! #PHLed #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #PFTstrong #CBAWednesday

"Nurses have waited a long time to be considered for this recognition." Under our new CBA, certified school nurses are eligible for Senior Career Status. Life really is better in a union! #PHLed #PFTstrong #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #CBAWednesday

Public dollars should help every student succeed—not be diverted from public schools to Trump’s private school voucher scheme. @rweingarten.bsky.social is calling on state governors to reject this “poison pill” and invest in smaller class sizes, modern buildings and instruction instead ⤵️

‘Poison Pill’: AFT’s Weingarten Slams Trump Voucher Scam

WASHINGTON—AFT President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement after the Trump administration released new regulations for its unpopular national private school voucher scheme:

aft.org

MEMBERS: Use your non-SDP email that we have on file in order to register for the general membership meeting. Links to join the meeting will go out shortly. Registration closes at noon on 10/1. We look forward to seeing you all on Thursday at 5 p.m.! #PHLed #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs

"Also a likely factor is the effect of the school board voting recently to close 17 schools in the next several years." @pft.org members told the District & Board that school closures would drive families out of the system. Admin can't claim to be surprised. www.inquirer.com/education/ha... #PHLed

Philly schools are missing thousands of students. District employees are knocking on doors to get them back.

District schools were 4,236 students under their projected enrollment as of Sept. 17, according to internal documents obtained by The Inquirer.

inquirer.com

We are proud to have negotiated this win for special education teachers in our collective bargaining agreement! #PHLed #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs

Happening now at the PA State Capital in Harrisburg - students, faculty, and activists are rallying for affordable, accessible, and fully funded higher education. Join us! #AffordableCollegeNow

APSCUF@apscuf.org · 3mo ago

We are standing together on Sept. 28. Join us in Harrisburg. Learn more at www.apscuf.org/sept28rally/ #AffordableCollegeNow

The Lehigh Valley is ready to send a union leader to Congress! PFT members braved the rain to knock doors for Bob Brooks. Voters we talked to are desperate for change, and working people in Pennsylvania deserve leaders who know their problems by heart ❤️ 💪🏼 #PhlEd #PFTvotes #PAvotes

"At least six babies in Pennsylvania have been born infected with measles, with two so sick they had to be admitted to intensive care. Congenital measles is a disease that’s rarely, if ever, seen in the U.S..." www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...

America had wiped out measles. Now babies are infected at birth.

Congenital measles has rarely been seen in the U.S. That’s changing as vaccination declines and more pregnant women become infected.

nbcnews.com

Thank you @ronanfarrow.bsky.social for this excellent breakdown of voucher programs & how our tax dollars are actually being spent on education. We should be investing in the public schools that teach every child - not funneling money into vouchers for a select few. www.threads.com/share/BAimiv...

With less than 40 days until the midterm elections, it's time to turn people power into voter power. On Oct. 17, AFT members will join millions across the country for #NoKings to organize, make voting plans and help others get ready to participate. Join us: go.aft.org/nokings

The children come first. #PHLed #SaveOurSchools

Love to see #PFTpride among our retirees! Whether through continued service in schools or as advocates for fair education funding, retired members contribute greatly to our communities. Thank you to PFT member Julie Schultz for sharing your union pride! #RedFridays

All layoffs from the last government shutdown have been reversed thanks to the injunction AFSCME won last year, and now any agency seeking to conduct RIFs during a shutdown in 2026 now must first provide 30 days’ public notice.

AFSCME@afscme.bsky.social · 6d ago

Breaking: Thanks to a case brought forward by AFSCME and a coalition of unions, workers win a withdrawal of administration policy to conduct layoffs of federal workers during government shutdowns.

DoorDash spent $1.4M trying to stop Zohran Mamdani from becoming mayor. This week's historic $131.5M enforcement action against DoorDash for underpaying NYC delivery workers shows why. Yet another reminder that the only thing that can beat organized money is organized people.

DoorDash Spent $1.4 Million Trying to Stop Mamdani From Becoming Mayor. Now We Know Why.

In a wage-theft settlement, DoorDash now has to pay its workers around 100 times what it spent trying to beat Zohran Mam

theintercept.com

Full staffing, no overcrowded classrooms, every Philly public school open. PFT members show up for our students day and night ❤️💪🏽 #PHLed #SaveOurSchools #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs

"The overcrowding 'affects learning,' Choice said. 'It affects how you focus. There’s students not receiving the proper attention that they need. We’re the next generation of Philadelphia leaders, and we expect better.'" More wisdom from Philly students! www.inquirer.com/education/gi... #PhlEd

Girls’ High students protested overcrowding, including multiple classes with 50-plus students

“It’s too much,” a 10th grader said of her Girls’ High African American history class, which has 51 students. “My mom offered to take me out, she said it’s a fire hazard.”

inquirer.com

"Not having access to scores 'is quite frankly disrespectful, not only to the students, but also to the teachers,' Leo said." The District should be supporting students like Leo - not standing in their way. www.inquirer.com/education/ph... #PhlEd

PSSA scores are still missing in Philly, but the district won’t go test optional - school board roundup

The school board also agreed to pay $600,000 to a firm to oversee construction work at Kensington High, where errors caused asbestos damage and forced students to relocate to another building.

inquirer.com

Every taxpayer, no matter your party, should be outraged by this. Your money is being used to fund campaign ads for Trump. It’s totally completely illegally. He’s stealing your money for his campaign. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/24/u...

‘Love Me’ Ad Promotes Trump With Public Money Ahead of the Midterms

A disclaimer says the ad was paid for by the U.S. government, which could violate federal law.

nytimes.com

Education staff are being scattered across several other federal agencies. Despite the Trump administration's claims, employees say it's adding bureaucracy and making it harder to serve students. n.pr/3TS9SAR

The Education Dept. hasn't been dismantled. It's become more inefficient, staff say

Education staff are being scattered across several other federal agencies. Despite the Trump administration's claims, employees say it's adding bureaucracy and making it harder to serve students.

n.pr

🔐 Are your AI tools set up with the right privacy settings? Join AI Educator Brain on Oct. 6, 6–7 p.m. EDT for an AI privacy audit covering ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini & Copilot. 🤖 Learn what to check and what educators should never paste into AI. @sari.bsky.social @kellycbooz.bsky.social @aft.org

Is ChatGPT Safe? Privacy Settings Every Teacher Should Check

Free PD: privacy settings in ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Copilot, a quick AI security audit, and what the new AFT–Microsoft standard covers.

sharemylesson.com

Join the next AFT Affordability Clinic tonight at 7 p.m. EDT to learn how to manage your student debt in a way that works best for you and discover tips and resources to get relief. Register here ⤵️ https://web.cvent.com/event/e9c61181-c2f6-40d4-9ce4-013f1f911889/register?environment=P2

I was so saddened by @nikolehannahjones’ essay. Public schools must be places parents want to send their kids; where educators want to teach & where kids thrive. That is our North Star. We must learn what went wrong & address it so all students have what they deserve. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/m...

In Fighting for Every Black Child, Did I Betray My Own?

A decade ago, I made a decision about my daughter’s education that I hoped would challenge New York City’s separate and unequal school system. Now 16, she thinks I made the wrong choice.

nytimes.com

PFT member Chavonna Holiday-Boulware nails it: a faster path to Senior Career status isn't just about the salary increase - it's recognition by the District of the experience and wisdom that longtime educators bring to schools. #PHLed #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #CBAWednesday

"The contract provides the first-ever parental leave for 32BJ members — 25 paid days off after the birth of a child, effective Jan. 1. That perk mirrors the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers’ contract, signed last summer." Congrats to our SDP sister union, 32BJ! www.inquirer.com/education/ph...

Philly’s school bus drivers, cleaners, and maintenance workers are getting 9.5% raises in a ‘life-changing’ contract

32BJ represents 2,000 Philadelphia School District building engineers, cleaners, bus drivers, mechanics and tradespeople. Its new contract includes paid parental leave for the first time ever.

inquirer.com