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Teachers

PreK-12 Teachers

More than 1 million members strong, the AFT's Public Education unit has become a major force for preserving and strengthening a national commitment to reclaiming the promise of American education. It all began more than 100 years ago: A group of Chicago teachers, reasoning that theirs was a noble profession, organized themselves to share resources and build respect for the invaluable work they were doing. Those early efforts led to the birth of a national teachers union in 1916 that has been in the vanguard of every major advancement in American public education ever since.

Higher Ed

Higher Education

The AFT represents higher education faculty (including both full- and part-time), professional staff and graduate employees, in all sectors of higher education—public and private, two-year and four-year institutions of higher education. The AFT Higher Education division's mission is to help our affiliates and their members prosper in the face of political, economic and technological forces challenging the most basic assumptions about the union's role on campus.

Librarians

Public Employees

As a union of professionals, AFT Public Employees division is committed to improving the quality of government services we provide to our communities. Reclaiming the promise of high-quality public services is about fighting for first-rate public services that our support communities and keep them safe, healthy and vibrant. It’s about fighting to ensure that our communities’ tax dollars are properly invested back into the community, and that those resources are used responsibly and safely. Finally, it’s fighting to make sure public employees are well-prepared and supported so they can provide our communities with the high-quality services the public needs and deserves.

PSRPs

Paraprofessionals & School-Related Personnel

The AFT has organized paraprofessionals and school-related personnel since the early 1930s, when the first PSRP affiliate, the Education Secretaries of Chicago, was founded. Today, the AFT PSRP division sets a foundation for high-quality education by supporting meaningful professional development, promoting health and safety in the workplace, and demonstrating the importance of a strong and just work ethic in a bully-free environment. Most important is its commitment to safe and welcoming schools and colleges for students who deserve high-quality food programs; reliable school buses; clean, secure buildings; efficiently run offices; and well-trained staff.

Elections Matter - Get Out the Vote

Elections Matter

AFT Massachusetts members are taking action to get out the vote for Kamala Harris for President in battleground states and in support of Yes on Ballot Question 2 in Massachusetts.

This November’s election will be critical to preserving our hard fought rights and victories, like ensuring all workers benefit from the strong labor protections we’ve won over the past century, and giving people in every industry a voice on the job through the ability to join a union.  

A YES vote on Question 2, would end the misuse of the MCAS test as a graduation requirement. Students would still take the MCAS and the test would be used as an assessment tool, but passage would no longer be a requirement to receive a high school diploma. This change would align Massachusetts with 42 other states that don’t require a standardized test for graduation.

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AFT Massachusetts Supports Question 2: High Standards, Not High Stakes

Yes on 2 Facebook Square

Massachusetts is one of only eight states that require students to pass a high school graduation test in order to receive a diploma. As a result, educators are forced to narrow our curriculum to the passing of a single test, and hundreds of students each year are denied a diploma despite meeting all other academic requirements. But a ballot initiative on this November’s statewide ballot could change that.

“Passing Question 2 will allow educators to spend less time teaching to the test, and instead focus on teaching real-world skills including hands-on learning, creativity, critical thinking and working well in a group, which are essential to success in college and the workforce,” said AFT Massachusetts President Jessica Tang. “That’s important for all students, and especially for students of color, low-income students, students with disabilities and students for whom English is their second language, who are especially harmed by the MCAS graduation requirement. Too often, our highest-need students miss out on deeper, more meaningful learning because they’re forced to spend extra hours on repetitive test prep. Question 2 will allow educators to prioritize students’ unique learning needs to ensure they meet state standards, rather than denying them diplomas at a critical juncture in their life.”

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