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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

Todd Wolfson @proftwolf.bsky.social · 4h

And now Penn rejects the compact! Students, faculty and staff unite. @aaup-penn.bsky.social @aaup.org 🔥 www.thedp.com/article/2025...

Penn rejects White House proposal for special funding treatment

With the decision, Penn becomes the third university to decline the offer.

www.thedp.com

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 6h

Reminder: Pennsylvania's budget is 100+ days late as Ds & Rs remain far apart on a spending plan, enmeshed with gubernatorial politicking over a program by GOP candidate/treasurer Stacy Garrity. All the while, nonprofits are taking on debt to keep their doors open.

Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 1d

Absent state payments due to the ongoing budget impasse, service providers who help kids with disabilities or adults with mental health issues rack up debt that'll take years to pay off -- even as the state collects interest on unspent tax revenue.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...

Debt piles up for PA service providers waiting on budget plan

PA has made $40 million on frozen cash during the budget impasse. But it won’t pass on interest to service providers once that funding is released.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

Senator Nikil Saval @pasenatorsaval.com · 8h

The #PAbudget stalemate in Harrisburg is a crisis. I spoke with @citycastphilly.bsky.social about how Senate Republicans forced our commonwealth to a halt and what everyday people can do to help build the political pressure necessary to break this impasse.

philly.citycast.fm/local-civics...

Pennsylvania State Senator Nikil Saval on State Budget Impasse and His Undying Optimism - City Cast Philly

The state has gone more than 100 days without a budget. While Saval supports his fellow Democrats’ spending plan, he says Republicans haven’t offered serious proposals.

philly.citycast.fm

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

Leah Greenberg ❌👑 @leahgreenberg.bsky.social · 9h

They’re scared of protest, they’re scared of humor, they’re scared of ridicule. They’re just plain scared.

They’re not doing this because they’re strong. They’re doing it because they’re weak.

The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 20h

"Who’s assaulting who is the real question?” said Oriana Korol's dad. “She was on the sidewalk playing music when the federal officers just bumrushed the band.”

Band member accused of interfering with federal arrest of another, feds allege

"Who’s assaulting who is the real question?” said Oriana Korol's dad. “She was on the sidewalk playing music when the federal officers just bumrushed the band.”

www.oregonlive.com

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Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) @pftlocal3.bsky.social · 9h

Solidarity is the only way we defeat MAGA's authoritarian power grab. Join us on Saturday to declare NO KINGS in America, no militarized invasion of our cities, no starvation of public schools, no censorship of our speech, and no kidnapping of immigrant students or families. #NoKings

Graphic promoting this Saturday's No Kings protest in Philly, where participants will march from City Hall to Independence Mall.

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

Roy Edroso @edroso.bsky.social · 9h

The Republicans' eagerness to defend their overt racism and Naziism -- from the Vice-President on down -- has become the story.

Gary R Simonds @garys79.bsky.social · 10h

Don't let this story die. These are not little boys. This is not in any way acceptable. All these pathetic losers need to be condemned in the strongest language possible by ALL republicans and prevented from ANY political positions for life.
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat

Thousands of private messages reveal young GOP leaders joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape.

www.politico.com

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

AFT @aft.org · 1d

A teacher's job is to educate, but you can't teach a child who is living in constant fear.

In Chicago, ICE raids are terrorizing the communities our students call home. So our members are stepping up to defend their students, their families, and the very idea of school as a sanctuary.

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (AFT 5017) @ofnhp.bsky.social · 1d

This is a must-read. 👇

OFNHP Pres Sarina Roher explains why Kaiser caregivers are striking—for safe staffing, respect & a healthcare system that listens to those who provide the care.

Read her letter in The Oregonian:
www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2025...

#OneVoiceOneFightOneFuture #KaiserStrike

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

Wendy G. Coleman @wgcoleman.bsky.social · 2d

@aftpa.bsky.social stands in solidarity with our @ofnhp.bsky.social siblings as they start their strike. ✊ OFNHP caregivers do incredible life-saving work day in and day out, and they deserve sustainable staffing levels and fair wages now! #KaiserStrike

Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (AFT 5017) @ofnhp.bsky.social · 3d

Kaiser caregivers are fighting for safe staffing, fair pay & patient care that puts people before profits.

Striking is never easy—but no one should stand alone. Support the OFNHP Hardship Fund today: www.gofundme.com/f/help-Kaise...

#OneVoiceOneFightOneFuture #KaiserStrike

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

AFSCME @afscme.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING: AFSCME and AFGE granted a block on illegal mass firings.

Workers win.

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 1d

The Trump administration has fired over 4,000 federal workers since the government shutdown began — firings that are likely illegal.

www.reuters.com/world/trump-...

Trump administration says 4,108 workers have been fired since shutdown began

The number of U.S. federal worker layoffs as a result of the government shutdown was revised downward on Tuesday, suggesting the administration's initial statement about sweeping job cuts was too ambitious.

www.reuters.com

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Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) @pftlocal3.bsky.social · 1d

"The school groups also highlighted the irony that each district is mandated by state law to pass its own budget by June 30 — just like the legislature, which is required to pass a balanced budget by the state constitution." #PAbudget #FundOurSchools #DoYourJob

Philadelphia Inquirer @inquirer.com · 1d

Public schools across Pennsylvania have missed more than $3 billion in payments from the state as the budget impasse stretches into its fourth month.

It’s led to layoffs and dwindling reserves.

Loans and layoffs: Missing $3 billion in state payments, Pa.’s public schools implore lawmakers to end budget impasse

Without a state budget, no money can flow to Pennsylvania's 500 districts, including the billions in federal dollars that first pass through the state’s coffers before being sent to districts.

www.inquirer.com

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 1d

Absent state payments due to the ongoing budget impasse, service providers who help kids with disabilities or adults with mental health issues rack up debt that'll take years to pay off -- even as the state collects interest on unspent tax revenue.
www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/10...

Debt piles up for PA service providers waiting on budget plan

PA has made $40 million on frozen cash during the budget impasse. But it won’t pass on interest to service providers once that funding is released.

www.spotlightpa.org

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 2d

Trump is stooping so low that he’s gutting the federal Office of Special Education.

Attacking students with disabilities is wrong. Every child in America deserves a fair shot at success.

Amid shutdown, Trump administration guts department overseeing special education

Multiple sources tell NPR that as part of the Trump administration's latest reduction-in-force, the U.S. Department of Education has gutted the office that handles special education.

www.npr.org

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

WESA @wesa.fm · 2d

Cody Balmer pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted murder and other charges related to the April attack that caused millions of dollars in damage to the Pennsylvania governor's mansion in Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania man pleads guilty in arson attack at governor’s mansion while Shapiro’s family slept

Cody Balmer pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted murder and other charges related to the April attack that caused millions of dollars in damage to the Pennsylvania governor's mansion in Harrisburg.

www.wesa.fm

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

Paul Blumenthal @paulblumenthal.bsky.social · 2d

The Supreme Court will hear arguments tomorrow over whether or not to totally gut the Voting Rights Act. If it does so it would decimate political power for racial minorities, particularly Black people, and help Donald Trump lock in one-party rule www.huffpost.com/entry/suprem...

The Supreme Court Could Grant Trump His Dream Of One-Party Rule

If the court’s conservative supermajority guts the Voting Rights Act, they will crush minority political power.

www.huffpost.com

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

AFT @aft.org · 6d

More than 20,000 educators have taken part in the nationwide Phones in Focus survey so far—and they say that stricter school cell phone policies like “bell-to-bell” phone bans help their students focus better, lead to fewer disruptions, and boost teacher morale.
www.prnewswire.com/news-release...

Over 20,000 Educators Share Insights on School Cell Phone Policies as Part of Landmark Research Initiative

/PRNewswire/ -- Preliminary findings from a new national survey of more than 20,000 public school educators suggest that stricter, school-wide cell phone...

www.prnewswire.com

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

Chalkbeat @chalkbeat.org · 3d

All workers except a small number of top officials are being fired at the office that implements the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the employees union said.

Special education oversight, civil rights enforcement hit hard in Education Department layoffs

All workers except a small number of top officials are being fired at the office that implements the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the employees union said.

bit.ly

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

Justice Christine Donohue @retaindonohue.bsky.social · 3d

Those opposed to our retention have been spreading misleading and incorrect information. Here more from Justice Donohue in this week's video series segment on why you should tune out the noise. 📣

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

Stephen Caruso @stephenjcaruso.bsky.social · 3d

Commonwealth Partners, who created the misleading gerrymandering mailer, continue to lean into the "convince liberals to vote against retention" messaging per this mailer shared with me over the weekend.

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Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) @pftlocal3.bsky.social · 3d

We honor #IndigenousPeoplesDay by recognizing the original peoples of this land and their ongoing contributions to our communities and classrooms.

As educators, we commit to teaching truth, uplifting Indigenous voices, and continuing the work toward justice and understanding.

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

ProPublica @propublica.org · 4d

A policy expert described Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s push in favor of private schools as a “great American heist,” funneling money from public schools: “It’s a strategic theft of the future of our country, our kids and our democracy.”

By @megomatz.bsky.social & @jsmithrichards.bsky.social

These Activists Want to Dismantle Public Schools. Now They Run the Education Department.

Under Trump, the Department of Education has been bringing in activists hostile to public schools. It could mean a new era of private and religious schools boosted by tax dollars — and the end of publ...

www.propublica.org

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

Darin Self @darinself.com · 5d

This is one program Trump thinks is a "Democrat" program because it demonstrates care for others.

But the benefits cross-cut partisan lines.

Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 5d

⚠️ USAToday reporter confirms the office in charge of special education funding has been “decimated”:

Zach Schermele
Follow
@ZachSchermele
NEW: The Education Dept. layoffs continued overnight, w/ the main office in charge of special ed funding being
"decimated," as one person described.
"They cut just about everyone that works with IDEA funding," said another.
"I'm not sure how these programs exist moving forward."
10:21 AM • 10/11/25 • 2.1K Views

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

Arthur Steinberg @artsteinberg-pft.bsky.social · 5d

www.mobilize.us/aft/event/83...

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Reposted by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT)

Justice Christine Donohue @retaindonohue.bsky.social · 5d

Great to be with brothers and sisters in labor, Governor Josh Shapiro, and Congressman Chris Deluzio at home in Allegheny County today. Thank you all who came out to hit the doors and spread the word: #VoteYES to Retain Justices Donohue, Dougherty, & Wecht on Tuesday, November 4! ✅✅✅

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