Education in the US
Arizona Supreme Court strikes down “Invest in Ed” ballot initiative
By David Moore, 6 September 2018
The court’s removal of the school funding initiative from the November ballot underscores the fact that America’s billionaires and millionaires will not tolerate the slightest encroachment on their personal fortunes.
Only three percent of students have received Governor Cuomo’s “free tuition” scholarship
By Josh Varlin, 6 September 2018
Despite the fact that the SUNY and CUNY systems are the second and third largest public higher education systems in the United States, with about 700,000 students in all, fewer than 21,000 Excelsior Scholarships were awarded last academic year.
Tacoma teachers vote to strike Thursday
Walkouts by Washington state educators spread
By Jerry White, 5 September 2018
More than 2,000 teachers in Tacoma voted overwhelmingly to strike as the struggle in Washington escalates, despite union efforts to prevent a statewide walkout.
Seattle Education Association orders teachers to work without contract vote
By Kayla Costa and Alec Andersen, 4 September 2018
The move comes after teachers in Washington’s largest district voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike last week.
As union seeks to wrap up strikes, Washington teachers rally and call for statewide walkout
By Nancy Hanover, 3 September 2018
Educators demand statewide strike action in Washington state, while the union seeks to quash walkouts and prevent new ones.
Los Angeles teachers vote 98 percent for strike authorization
By Kimie Saito, 1 September 2018
For the first time in almost 30 years, Los Angeles teachers vote overwhelmingly for strike action.
Seattle teachers vote to authorize strike
By Kayla Costa, 30 August 2018
In a mass meeting Tuesday night, thousands of teachers voted to join ongoing strikes by educators across the state of Washington.
US education secretary floats plan to use federal funds to arm teachers
By Khara Sikhan, 30 August 2018
Following Donald Trump's call to arm teachers, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is considering diverting funds meant for hiring support staff to purchasing firearms for schools.
“Everyone should go out on strike, even nationwide”
Mass support for teachers’ walkouts in Washington state
By Hector Cordon and Nancy Hanover, 29 August 2018
Educators throughout the state are rallying and striking to demand livable wages and improved school conditions.
For a statewide strike in Washington to defend public education!
Build rank-and-file committees to unify educators, parents and students
By the WSWS Teacher Newsletter, 28 August 2018
To fight for better schools and living wages, teachers in Washington must break through the straitjacket imposed by the unions and Democratic Party and mobilize the broadest sections of the working class.
More Washington state teachers strike as unions seek to contain struggle
By Alec Andersen, 28 August 2018
On Monday, teachers in Vancouver, the state’s second-largest city, voted to authorize a strike if no deal is reached by the start of school on Wednesday.
Teachers across Washington state demand strike action and big pay increases
By Nancy Hanover, 27 August 2018
In their fight to reverse years of budget cuts, Washington teachers are giving voice to the anger and determination of educators and workers across the US.
Teachers across Washington state prepare to strike over wages and conditions
By Alec Andersen, 25 August 2018
The opposition of Washington teachers and support staff is a continuation of the teacher revolt that started at the beginning of 2018 and comes amid an upsurge of working class struggle.
Los Angeles teachers vote on strike authorization
By Dan Conway, 24 August 2018
After working without a contract for 13 months, Los Angeles teachers are taking a strike authorization vote.
Puerto Rico’s teachers hold one-day strike
By Shelley Connor, 24 August 2018
Puerto Rico teachers began the school year with a one-day protest against privatization and crumbling schools.
As students return to school, US teachers face nationwide struggle to defend education
By Nancy Hanover, 20 August 2018
US teachers are returning to the classroom in the aftermath of the “teacher spring,” determined to take forward the fight in defense of public education.
Teacher hostility grows to Michigan Department of Education’s curriculum changes
By Walter Gilberti, 20 August 2018
The Michigan Department of Education has proposed new social studies standards which remove references to essential democratic rights and aim to censor the study of history.
Mass exodus of South Carolina teachers continues
By Hiram Lee, 11 August 2018
As the 2018-2019 school year begins, South Carolina will likely face an even greater shortage of teachers than in previous years.
Arizona teachers return to classrooms with limited gains and broken promises
By Nancy Hanover, 8 August 2018
In the aftermath of the largest statewide walkout last spring, Arizona teachers are still facing a battle for decent wages and education funding.
Stalemate on takeover of Kentucky’s largest school district
By J. Cooper, 6 August 2018
The takeover of the JCPS by the state education commissioner faces opposition as educators fear the implementation of charter schools is behind the move.
Five months after strike, West Virginia teachers say “nothing has changed”
By Nancy Hanover, 31 July 2018
The unions double-crossed the West Virginia teachers, ending their struggle without securing funding for the PEIA, which underwrites their health insurance.
American Federation of Teachers convention devoted to boosting Democratic Party candidates
By Nancy Hanover, 19 July 2018
In the aftermath of the biggest teachers’ strike wave in 40 years, the American Federation of Teachers bureaucracy is seeking to head off a militant movement and defend its interests by promoting the Democrats in the mid-term elections.
US judge rules literacy is “not a right”
By Phyllis Steele, 11 July 2018
A Detroit District Court judge has dismissed a suit charging Michigan officials with systematically defunding and mismanaging schools.
Trump’s attack on the Department of Education
By Nancy Hanover, 4 July 2018
Trump and Education Secretary DeVos are calling for the merger of the Departments of Education and Labor in the name of “shrinking government” and “workforce development.”
“Teachers will be in the classroom…there will be no labor activity”
Pennsylvania judge breaks teachers’ strike
By Adam Mclean, 29 June 2018
Less than 24 hours after teachers struck on June 19 in the small town of Dallas, a Luzerne County judge ordered them back to work.
Social studies teachers denounce anti-democratic changes to Michigan education curriculum
By Debra Watson and Ed Bergonzi, 26 June 2018
Teachers are opposing proposed changes to the state’s social studies curriculum that would block students from learning about struggles for democratic and civil rights.
Teachers and the political struggle
By Nancy Hanover and Jerry White, 26 June 2018
In the aftermath of the union betrayal of their strikes and protests, teachers are running for seats in their state legislatures in unprecedented numbers, posing fundamental political issues for the working class.
Rural school closings devastate Wisconsin communities
By Jacob Crosse, 18 June 2018
Along with school closings, Wisconsin teachers saw a 21 percent decrease in wages and benefits between 2011 and 2016.
Omaha Public Schools board cuts $29 million from budget
By Michael Walters, 16 June 2018
The slashing of funding for the largest school district in Nebraska will result in the elimination of positions in the central office as well as bus drivers, student support liaisons, accountants and IT professionals.
Teachers must prepare for struggle when schools reopen
Oakland Education Association announces contract negotiation impasse
By Jonathan Burleigh, 9 June 2018
Oakland teachers must draw the lessons of this year’s teachers strikes to prepare their own struggle when schools reopen.
Nashville teachers, school workers denounce pay freeze
By Warren Duzak, 9 June 2018
At a public hearing earlier this week, school employees denounced city officials for handing out corporate tax cuts while starving the public schools of resources.
Nashville, Tennessee charter school teachers victimized as school’s finances investigated
By Zachary Thorton, 5 June 2018
New Vision Academy is under investigation by the city’s school district for financial irregularities and noncompliance with federal law after teachers came forward as whistleblowers to report the activities.
Documents reveal the vast influence of Koch brothers in US universities and public schools
By Harvey Simpkins, 29 May 2018
Last month, George Mason University released documents showing how the Charles Koch Foundation and the Federalist Society maintain control over the appointment of professors and the setting of curriculum.
Louisiana teachers support strike for wage increase
By J. L’Heureau, 28 May 2018
The union is seeking to prevent a walkout and has warned that teachers may “take action sooner than we predict.”
Support the National City teachers! Defend public education!
By Kevin Mitchell—SEP candidate for US Congress in California, 26 May 2018
Teachers in the San Diego community have joined a growing wave of teachers’ strikes taking place nationally.
Puerto Rican students at New York University ask to stay another semester
By Isaac Finn, 24 May 2018
Twenty-seven Puerto Rican students, who are attending NYU through a program to aid survivors of Hurricane Maria, have requested that the NYU administration extend the program.
A reply to the communications director of the South Carolina Education Association
By the WSWS Teacher Newsletter, 24 May 2018
The following is an exchange about the May 21 World Socialist Web Site article, “Teachers and public workers protest in South Carolina.”
As unions try to block further walkouts
US education secretary pledges to escalate war on teachers
By Jerry White, 23 May 2018
In remarks before the House Education and Workforce Committee, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos outlined the administration’s plans to accelerate the war against teachers and public education.
Teachers and public workers protest in South Carolina
By Hiram Lee, 21 May 2018
Workers held signs that read, “Teachers need to eat too!”, “My income won’t pay my student loans!”
South Carolina teachers to rally for better pay and funding for schools
By Hiram Lee, 19 May 2018
For the unions, the aim of the demonstration is to smother opposition, isolate it from protests in other states, and channel workers behind the Democratic Party.
North Carolina teachers oppose unions’ shutting down of walkout
By Will Morrow, 18 May 2018
While teachers have returned to work, none of the issues that led to yesterday’s walkout have been resolved.
Twenty thousand teachers rally in North Carolina
By Rosa Shahnazarian and Will Morrow, 17 May 2018
While teachers expressed their determination for a united struggle, the unions called the rally to avert a strike and channel opposition behind the Democratic Party.
As report shows teachers spending hundreds of dollars on school supplies
Wave of US educator walkouts hits North Carolina today
By Will Morrow, 16 May 2018
Today’s walkout in North Carolina is the latest in an ongoing wave of strikes by teachers across the United States and internationally.
Build rank-and-file committees! Prepare a nationwide strike to defend public education!
North Carolina and the next stage of the teachers’ revolt
By the WSWS Teacher Newsletter, 16 May 2018
Thousands of teachers and their supporters are marching in Raleigh, North Carolina today to demand decent wages and benefits and increased school funding.
Deals by unions to end US teacher strikes funded by regressive taxes, more budget cuts
By Nancy Hanover, 15 May 2018
The meager pay raises and funding increases in West Virginia, Oklahoma and Arizona, hailed as “victories” by the unions and their supporters, will be funded through new attacks on workers.
Flint high school teachers criticize deteriorating working conditions
By Genevieve Leigh and Sam Wayne, 15 May 2018
Multiple educators reported that Southwestern Academy high school has held dozens of classes without teachers for months at a time over the course of the current school year.
On eve of teachers’ protests in North Carolina and South Carolina
Profits, stock buybacks soar, but “no money” for wages or school books
By Niles Niemuth, 14 May 2018
The 500 largest corporations in the US will funnel more money into the pockets of wealthy investors than they will allocate for capital expenditures and research and development.
“Teachers across this country need to organize a national strike”
A letter from an Arizona teacher
14 May 2018
In this letter to the WSWS, an Arizona teacher describes the aftermath of the union’s betrayal of the six-day statewide teachers’ strike.
Alabama teacher salaries unchanged for ten years
By Shelley Connor, 14 May 2018
The Alabama legislature approved a 2.5 percent raise for teachers and other state employees earlier in the year, the first cost of living raise for the state’s teachers in a decade.
As Pueblo teachers strike continues
Colorado Democrats slash teacher and public employee pensions
By Will Morrow, 12 May 2018
The cuts have been enabled by the unions, which shut down mass walkouts last month and are isolating the ongoing teacher strike in Pueblo.
How Jacobin and the ISO assisted in the betrayal of the Arizona teachers’ strike
By Will Morrow, 12 May 2018
Both organizations played a critical role in the sellout of the strike of tens of thousands of teachers by the Arizona Education Association and Arizona Educators United.
“Do you work your best when you work for peanuts?” ask Pueblo teachers
First teachers’ strike in Colorado since 1994 now in third day
By Bill Kidd and Nancy Hanover, 10 May 2018
Pueblo, Colorado teachers continue their strike as District 60 begins opening schools.
University of California three-day strike ends without any resolution for workers
By Kayla Costa, 10 May 2018
The health and service workers now face the efforts of the union to isolate their struggle and push a sellout contract.
More than 50,000 UC workers on strike
For a political movement of the entire working class against inequality and capitalism!
By David Moore, 9 May 2018
The strike of university workers in California is part of a growing wave of workers’ struggles around education and healthcare.
Sympathy strike expands University of California picket lines
By Evelyn Rios, 9 May 2018
Nurses and administrative professionals joined service and technical workers on strike across 10 California campuses as students also began to express their support.
NYC New School worker-students strike against poverty wages
By Alan Whyte, 9 May 2018
Striking worker-students set up picket lines Tuesday at three entrances of the New School for Social Research in New York City.
Billionaire Bloomberg and union chief Weingarten join forces to undermine teachers’ struggle
By Fred Mazelis and Steve Light, 9 May 2018
The former New York City mayor and the head of the American Federation of Teachers are worried the wave of strikes and protests initiated by the rank and file will spread and challenge decades of austerity.
Educators’ struggle in US continues in aftermath of union betrayal in Arizona
By Jerry White, 8 May 2018
The strikes and protests that have erupted so far this year are initial expressions of a powerful, objective social movement that raises basic political questions for all workers.
Unions isolate striking Pueblo, Colorado teachers
By Bill Kidd and Will Morrow, 8 May 2018
The teachers unions are isolating the striking teachers not only from their counterparts across the US, but throughout Colorado.
Dozens of classes without teachers at Flint, Michigan, high school
By Genevieve Leigh and Sam Wayne, 8 May 2018
The school administration at Flint Southwestern Academy has hidden from parents and the community for months that dozens of their children’s classes are being held without teachers.
Cafeteria workers at the New School threatened with layoffs
By Philip Guelpa, 8 May 2018
Administrators at the private university in New York City have announced plans to dismiss the entire cafeteria staff and replace them with even lower-paid workers.
Facebook censors Arizona educators’ rank-and-file committee group
By Jerry White, 7 May 2018
Facebook has disabled the Arizona Educators Rank and File Committee group, which provided a forum for teachers to oppose the betrayal of their struggles by the unions.
After union betrayal in Arizona, teacher militancy continues to build across US
By Nancy Hanover, 7 May 2018
Opposition continues to grow among educators over more than a decade of school funding cuts and falling living standards.
“If the workers united we would be a dominating force”
Arizona teachers oppose union sellout and call for nationwide strike
By Will Morrow, 5 May 2018
The unions’ sellout is the latest in a series of betrayals of teacher, including in West Virginia and Oklahoma.
Teachers in Pueblo, Colorado to strike Monday
By Bill Kidd, 5 May 2018
As in other states that have been centers of opposition from teachers, the unions have done everything they could to prevent a walkout, and are now working to isolate the struggle.
Union betrays Arizona teachers strike, backs Republican state budget
By David Moore, 4 May 2018
The deal orders teachers back to work while meeting none of the five demands for which 60,000 teachers walked out.
Arizona teachers oppose union efforts to end strike
By David Moore and Adam McLean, 3 May 2018
The teachers unions decided to call for one more day of walkouts in response to mass teacher opposition to the call to return to work.
Outrage grows over union effort to shut down Arizona teachers strike
By David Moore, 2 May 2018
The Arizona Education Association and Arizona Educators United have told teachers to end their strike without obtaining their demands for pay raises and restoration of $1 billion in school funding cuts.
Arizona strike enters second week as teacher union president opposes calls for nationwide strike
By David Moore, 1 May 2018
Asked about growing calls by teachers for a nationwide strike, the American Federation of Teachers president said the union wanted to turn the walkouts into a “walk-in to the voting booth” for the Democrats.
Unions, Democrats promote deal to suppress struggle by Colorado teachers
By Bill Kidd, 1 May 2018
After teachers walked out last week to demand higher wages and school funding, the unions are backing a plan by state Democrats that will do little to address a decade of school cuts
As Arizona teachers strike enters third day, unions seek to shut down walkout
By Jerry White, 30 April 2018
The unions are determined above all to block the development of a political movement of the working class in opposition to the capitalist system.
Phoenix Amazon workers to teachers: “Keep fighting!”
By David Moore and Adam McLean, 30 April 2018
There is widespread support for teachers throughout the state, which must be organized and mobilized to fight to defend public education.
Arizona Educators United Facebook group censors teachers, WSWS
By Will Morrow, 30 April 2018
The censorship is a clear indication that a sellout by the union and AEU is imminent.
Arizona teachers rally for second day, further walkout expected Monday
By David Moore, 28 April 2018
As in West Virginia and Oklahoma, the unions in Arizona are doing everything they can to shut down the struggle as quickly as possible.
Arizona strike biggest yet in teachers’ revolt in US
By David Moore, 27 April 2018
Arizona teachers launched their first strike in state history while educators in neighboring Colorado are walking out as the struggle of teachers continues to grow.
“If we did this nationally, we'd have greater success”
Striking Arizona teachers speak out
By our reporters, 27 April 2018
Teachers rejected the efforts to divide them from school support staff and called for a united struggle with teachers across the country.
Columbia University teaching assistants launch week-long strike
By Daniel de Vries, 26 April 2018
Striking teaching and research assistants at the Ivy League school in New York City are the latest to join the worldwide upsurge of education workers.
State takeover looms for Kentucky’s largest school district
By J. Cooper, 26 April 2018
The newly appointed pro-charter school education commissioner, Wayne Lewis, says he will issue his decision by Monday.
NEA pushes through sellout a month after shutdown of Jersey City teachers’ strike
By Steve Light, 26 April 2018
The union acted quickly to isolate and shut down the Jersey City strike.
The teachers’ struggle spreads to Arizona and Colorado
By Jerry White, 25 April 2018
With the teachers’ struggle spreading, it is urgent that workers review the political lessons of the experience of educators in the first stage of this battle.
Teachers stage protests in lead-up to Arizona, Colorado walkouts this week
By Will Morrow, 24 April 2018
The union is seeking to turn the walkout into a “lobbying” day at the state capitol and prevent the spread of teacher strikes throughout the country by channeling opposition behind the election of Democrats.
Columbia University graduate students set to strike in New York City
By Josh Varlin, 24 April 2018
Graduate students at the New York City Ivy League university are striking after Columbia refused to bargain with the union.
Arizona teachers prepare for statewide strike
By Jerry White, 23 April 2018
As the week starts, teachers in Arizona and Colorado prepare walkouts as part of the rebellion of educators spreading across the US and internationally.
Arizona teachers vote to strike
By Jerry White, 20 April 2018
More than three-quarters of the 57,000 Arizona educators who cast ballots voted for strike action, which is scheduled to begin next Thursday.
Arizona teachers voting on state-wide walkout
By J. Cooper, 19 April 2018
Teachers are voting on whether to walk out over the governor’s pay offer, which falls far short of their demands.
The betrayal of the Oklahoma strike and lessons for the next stage of the teachers’ revolt
By the WSWS Teacher Newsletter, 18 April 2018
The end of the strike, and the inevitability of a new social eruption, directly pose the need for workers to consciously work over the lessons of the struggle.
Unions shut down Oklahoma teachers strike
By Jerry White, 17 April 2018
The teachers’ courageous fight for improved wages and increased school funding for their students was betrayed by the Oklahoma Education Association and the Oklahoma City-American Federation of Teachers.
Colorado teachers join national wave of protests and walkouts
By Trévon Austin, 17 April 2018
Inspired by educators in other states, teachers protested Monday at the capitol building in Denver.
Oklahoma struggle continues as calls for teacher strikes spread across US
By Jerry White and Niles Niemuth, 16 April 2018
Over the weekend, teachers networked with each other to organize sickouts and other forms of protest as schools reopen today.
Kentucky teachers denounce governor for saying students were “sexually assaulted” due to walkout
By J. Cooper, 16 April 2018
The Kentucky legislature overrode the governor’s veto of a budget and tax bill, leaving in place bills taking millions from education.
Anger grows over union effort to sabotage Oklahoma teachers strike
By Jerry White, 14 April 2018
Thousands of teachers showed up at the state capitol Friday in a show of defiance against the unions and school officials trying to break their two-week strike.
“The unions are trying to shut down a growing nationwide movement”
Oklahoma teachers denounce Oklahoma Education Association’s move to end strike
By Niles Niemuth in Oklahoma City, 13 April 2018
Teachers reacted with anger and a determination to continue the strike following a back-to-work order announced by the OEA Thursday afternoon.
Union seeks to shut down strike: The way forward for Oklahoma teachers
By Jerry White, 13 April 2018
The formation of rank-and-file committees is the basis for taking the conduct of the struggle out of the hands of the anti-working class organizations that call themselves “unions.”
Oklahoma walkout in danger as Arizona, Kentucky teachers press for strike action
By Jerry White, 12 April 2018
Rank-and-file teachers took to social media to denounce the Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) for trying to tamp down their demands and end the strike.
Oklahoma teachers’ strike continues as governor rejects funding demands
By Jerry White, 11 April 2018
The Oklahoma Education Association is trying to end the strike on the basis of a rotten deal that abandons the teachers’ main demands.
Mass turnout at state capitol as Oklahoma teachers’ strike enters second week
By Jerry White, 10 April 2018
The walkout shut down schools serving at least 500,000 of the state’s 700,000 public school students on Monday, and scores of districts have announced that schools will be closed Tuesday.
Nashville parents, teachers and students decry public school cuts
By Keisha Gibbs and Warren Duzak, 9 April 2018
Public schools in Nashville, Tennessee face cuts to free food programs and elimination of funding to schools with impoverished students.
Unions seek to hijack, shut down Oklahoma teachers strike as support for expanded struggle grows
By the Socialist Equality Party, 9 April 2018
As the strike by tens of thousands of Oklahoma teachers and support staff enters its second week, workers face a critical crossroads.
Oklahoma teachers strike to continue next week, after state Senate passes derisory funding bill
By Will Morrow, 7 April 2018
The Oklahoma Education Association, working in collaboration with Democratic and Republican lawmakers, is seeking to end the strike by Tuesday.
New York City bus drivers support striking Oklahoma teachers
By Steve Light and Alan Whyte, 7 April 2018
New York City bus operators interviewed by the WSWS expressed their support for the teachers strike in Oklahoma as well as their distrust of the role of the unions.
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