The American Federation of Teachers held its biennial convention this past weekend in Washington, D.C., drawing representatives from the nearly 1.9 million-member union to set organizational policy and strategic direction. The gathering emphasized preparation for upcoming midterm elections and their potential effects on K-12 education and broader domestic policy.
Delegates reelected President Randi Weingarten to her tenth consecutive two-year term, along with Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick Ingram and Executive Vice President Evelyn DeJesus. The organization reported significant membership growth, adding nearly 60,000 new members through 179 bargaining groups over the preceding year. This expansion included representation of early childhood educators, K-12 staff, higher education workers, nurses, and other public sector employees, with healthcare unions comprising the majority of new affiliates. In the K-12 space, the union made notable progress organizing charter school personnel across Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia.
Convention delegates approved multiple resolutions addressing pressing education issues. The group unanimously backed a commitment to evidence-based literacy instruction in preschool through grade 3, emphasizing phonological awareness, phonics, and engagement with culturally relevant texts. This move reflected growing teacher frustration over previous professional development in approaches now considered ineffective. Delegates also codified a comprehensive approach to artificial intelligence in educational settings, voting to advocate for restrictions on screens and digital assessments in lower grades, limits on student AI use, and contractual protections for educators regarding the technology.
The union also prioritized political engagement, encouraging members to participate actively in midterm elections through poll monitoring, voter outreach, and direct candidacy. Additionally, delegates voted to align pension investments with organizational values, avoiding companies that oppose collective bargaining or seek to privatize public sector functions, partly to manage risks associated with potential AI market fluctuations.
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