Education Policy and Law

The Texas American Federation of Teachers announced Tuesday it will sue the Texas Education Agency over what it calls unlawful investigations of educators’ social media posts about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, arguing the probes violate teachers’ First Amendment rights. The suit, prompted by a September letter from Education Commissioner Mike Morath directing investigations into "reprehensible" online comments by school officials, seeks a permanent injunction blocking the TEA’s policy after multiple AFT members were allegedly placed on leave, reprimanded or fired. National AFT President Randi Weingarten condemned the state’s actions as a politically motivated attack on teachers’ free speech, while TEA declined comment.