Protecting the Rights of Immigrant Students
The law is clear. All students, regardless of immigration status, have the right to a K-12 public education. Denying children residing in the U.S. a public education based on their immigration status, or the perceived status of their parents or legal guardians, is illegal.
AFT members who work in schools—from teachers, school support staff and nurses, to bus drivers—can play a critical role in helping end the cruel criminalization, detention and deportation of students and families.
Check out AFT’s Educators and School Support Staff Guide, a brochure with tools and resources to help protect and prepare youth and families in case of immigration and customs enforcement raids.
Download Rights for Immigrant Students Fact Sheet: https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/2024/RightsforImmigrantStudents_Schools.pdf
Help Cap Water Bills
The People’s Water Board Coalition (PWBC) and other allies, under the leadership of State Senator Stephanie Chang, are in the final phase of putting together a coalition of legislators to pass legislation which would allow all Michiganders to pay affordable water bills. When they pass, Michigan would become the first state in the US to do this, and no one in the state would have to pay a bill greater than 3% of their household income.
In many school districts, low-income households regularly have trouble paying their water, wastewater and/or drainage bills. Water insecurity complicates a child’s ability to prepare for school, stay hydrated, and wash hands to prevent the spread of viruses. We can change this but need the Michigan legislature to act in December 2024!
Please contact your state senate and house reps and leaders: Senate Leader Winnie Brinks (SenWBrinks@senate.michigan.gov) and House Speaker Joe Tate (JoeTate@house.mi.gov) and ask them to pass the water affordability bill package during lame duck.
Sign your name to the list of supporters: below is the QR code containing the letter of support for educators, names of others who have signed-on, and a place for you to sign-on and submit your name.
In addition, there is a summary of the bills. Much more information is available at www.miwaterplan.com
Please share your support for statewide water affordability legislation in Michigan today!
bit.ly/EducatorsForAffordableWater
Contribute to the AFT Michigan PAC Today
AFT Michigan fights for our members, students, patients and communities all year round and we need your help. Can you donate $1 a week to aid us in this fight? Please visit the AFT Michigan website to contribute and make a big difference in protecting public education and building a better Michigan future!
AFT Webinar: AI Educator Brain on Minecraft + AI – December 10
Join Sari Beth Rosenberg, Kelly Booz, your favorite AI sidekick, EdBrAIn, and the team from Minecraft Education, Laylah Bulman and Sara Cornish, on Dec. 10, at 6:00 p.m. EST during Hour of Code and Computer Science Education Week as we explore Minecraft’s amazing new AI resources in The AI Educator Brain on Minecraft + AI: Turning Gamers into Coders.
In this Tuesday webinar, we’ll connect to the “Make the Invisible, Visible” theme by showing how AI and coding—the invisible forces behind everyday tech—can power learning and creativity for your students. You’ll:
- Discover how Minecraft’s AI Foundations can transform your classroom into an AI-powered learning hub.
- Play with live demos of Minecraft’s AI-based lessons, making coding and AI a blast.
- Learn how to involve parents in the AI journey, helping them engage in their child’s tech-savvy world.
- Celebrate Hour of Code with exciting AI and coding activities that make the invisible tech world visible to your students!
The AFT TEACH (Together Educating America’s Children) conference will be held July 25-27 in Washington, D.C. AFT locals that have never had members attend a TEACH conference, or have not sent members in the last seven years, are eligible to apply for a scholarship for up to two members per local. These scholarships cover registration and three nights of hotel accommodations. Travel to and from Washington, D.C., is not included. Spots are limited! Apply by Jan. 31.
In solidarity,
Terrence Martin
President
