RIFTHP Announcements

Securing Your Financial Future STUDENT LOAN PAYMENT DUE: New ways to reach debt relief

The student loan landscape has been changing and the AFT is working hard to be sure members know how to navigate it and get debt relief as soon as possible. The biggest news is that, after a three-year hiatus, borrowers will have to start making their student loan payments again beginning Oct. 1. The next biggest news? The SAVE plan, a more generous income-driven repayment plan that will save borrowers thousands of dollars and qualify them for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

RIFTHP Endorses Gabe Amo for Congress

The Executive Council of the Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals is proud to announce the endorsement of Gabe Amo for election to United States Congress from Rhode Island District One in the election on November 7, 2023.

Civic Education: From the Classroom to the Polling Place, By Secretary of State Gregg Amore (Courtesy of Albert Shanker Institute)

September 19, 2023 by Gregg M. Amore

Courtesy of the Albert Shanker Institute

https://www.shankerinstitute.org/blog/civic-education-classroom-polling-...

On National Voter Registration Day, our special guest author is Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore.

Magaziner Stands With Educators and Parents to Condemn Proposed Republican Cuts to Education

West Warwick, RI — Today, Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) stood with educators and parents to condemn House Republicans’ proposed cuts to education, including Head Start and school funding for teachers. As a former public school teacher and Rhode Island’s General Treasurer for eight years – where he spearheaded an initiative to rebuild school buildings across the state – Rep. Magaziner has long been an advocate for public education.

Day of Action Prepares Over 30,000 Books for Local Children

On June 3 over 100 volunteers sorted, labeled, and boxed more than 30,000 books from United Way of Rhode Island's 11th Children's Book Drive — a partnership with our Women United group and Books Are Wings. These books are already on the way to Rhode Island kids taking part in afterschool and summer learning programs.

Through this project, we have put more than 300,000 books in the hands of kids over 11 years. Thank you to our dedicated partners and volunteers!

Finding a place for AI in the classroom

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is already pervasive in our lives. But the introduction of platforms like OpenAI/ChatGPT has the education world questioning how it should be used or if it should be used at all. In the AFT TEACH workshop “Use It or Block It? Using OpenAI in the Classroom,” presenters Peter Guyon and Kathleen Torregrossa addressed this question in front of a group of educators—some of whom were already using AI in the classroom, while others were curious about its potential.

What local leaders can do to support student literacy

Despite the science of reading being clear—and despite decades of the AFT sharing that science—for too long, many state and local policies on reading instruction have promoted less-effective practices.

During the workshop “Literacy for Leaders: What Locals Can Do to Support Student Literacy” at AFT TEACH, a state union leader and the Albert Shanker Institute presented research on teaching reading and a new Shanker Institute analysis of recent state laws on literacy.

AFT SUMMER EDUCATOR ACADEMY 2022

AFT Convention 2022 Opening Session: State of the Union address by Randi Weingarten

Jul 14, 2022

AFT Convention 2022 Opening Session: State of the Union address by Randi Weingarten

The opening session of the 87th national convention of the American Federation of Teachers features AFT leaders from across the country, guest speakers such as Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and AFL-CIO Massachusetts President Steven Tolman, and the State of the Union address by AFT President Randi Weingarten.

AFT Convention 2022: Labor Secretary Marty Walsh

AFT Voices: Student Loan Forgiveness

Dr. Jessica Saint-Paul is an adjunct faculty member in the Los Angeles Community College District. She had been trying to work toward PSLF since 2008 and believed she was on track until she learned at an AFT student debt clinic that none of the payments she had made to Navient, her student loan servicer, would qualify. She agreed to become a plaintiff in AFT’s Navient lawsuit to fight for justice for borrowers who were lied to by Navient.

AFT Convention 2022: First Lady Dr. Jill Biden

AFT convention delegates hear from Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, Senator Elizabeth Warren, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, Amazon Labor Union President Chris Smalls, Workers United Senior Advisor Richard Bensinger with Starbucks organizers and First Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden on the importance of the labor movement.

Teachers Supporting Ukrainian Students in Poland

Moss exhorts us to remain ‘stewards of democracy’

The Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, a minister and civil rights leader, shared his grandfather’s astounding determination to vote, which he has captured in a compelling—and free—short film, Otis’ Dream. He moved AFT delegates to tears on Saturday, July 16, then had them cheering as he rallied everyone to the cause of fighting today’s rampant voter suppression.

The essentials for a better life for all

07/16/2022

by Randi Weingarten

President, American Federation of Teachers

AFT Convention 2022: Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III

Secretary of Labor Joins AFT Convention

AFT commits to tackling teacher and school staff shortages with real-world solutions

CTA Negotiations 2022

PTU Community Book Drive

PTU prepares 10,000 books for book drive for Providence students.

— with Colleen Callahan and Maribeth Reynolds-Calabro at Providence Teachers Union Community Outreach.