EDUCATION

On the left is Texas Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes. On the right is House Higher Education Chairman Dan Branch, R-Dallas.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
On the left is Texas Higher Education Commissioner Raymund Paredes. On the right is House Higher Education Chairman Dan Branch, R-Dallas.

Higher Ed Graduations Increase, Board Finds

Texas public universities awarded more than 50,000 bachelor’s degrees in spring 2013, an increase of more than 5,000 from 2012, according to preliminary data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. But in fall 2012, the state’s community colleges experienced a drop of 20,000 students from the year before.

State Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, at the Democratic caucus regarding state budget matters on May 17, 2013.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
State Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, at the Democratic caucus regarding state budget matters on May 17, 2013.

House Derails Achievement School District Bill

UPDATED: Sen. Royce West's proposal for a special statewide school district to manage underperforming campuses will have to find another lifeboat. The Dallas Democrat has removed the bill from the legislation he had attached it to after it died in the House.

State Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, speaks to aides on the Senate floor prior to laying out CSSB1420 the TXDOT sunset legislation on April 18, 2011.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
State Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, speaks to aides on the Senate floor prior to laying out CSSB1420 the TXDOT sunset legislation on April 18, 2011.

New South Texas University Bill Heads to Governor's Desk

UPDATED: The Senate on Wednesday concurred with the House amendments to Senate Bill 24, creating a regional university and medical school in the Rio Grande Valley. The bill will now head to the governor's desk.

State Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, looks at Rep. Armando Walle, D-Houston, after Walle raised a point of order on HB 1009 on May 4, 2013. The bill creating a school marshal program later passed to third reading.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
State Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, looks at Rep. Armando Walle, D-Houston, after Walle raised a point of order on HB 1009 on May 4, 2013. The bill creating a school marshal program later passed to third reading.

School Marshal Bill Headed for Governor's Desk

The Senate on Wednesday gave its approval to House Bill 1009, which would allow school districts to designate certain employees to carry concealed weapons and serve as school marshals.

House Derails Achievement School District Bill

State Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, at the Democratic caucus regarding state budget matters on May 17, 2013.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
State Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, at the Democratic caucus regarding state budget matters on May 17, 2013.

UPDATED: Sen. Royce West's proposal for a special statewide school district to manage underperforming campuses will have to find another lifeboat. The Dallas Democrat has removed the bill from the legislation he had attached it to after it died in the House.


New South Texas University Bill Heads to Governor's Desk

State Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, speaks to aides on the Senate floor prior to laying out CSSB1420 the TXDOT sunset legislation on April 18, 2011.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
State Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, speaks to aides on the Senate floor prior to laying out CSSB1420 the TXDOT sunset legislation on April 18, 2011.

UPDATED: The Senate on Wednesday concurred with the House amendments to Senate Bill 24, creating a regional university and medical school in the Rio Grande Valley. The bill will now head to the governor's desk.


School Marshal Bill Headed for Governor's Desk

State Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, looks at Rep. Armando Walle, D-Houston, after Walle raised a point of order on HB 1009 on May 4, 2013. The bill creating a school marshal program later passed to third reading.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
State Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, looks at Rep. Armando Walle, D-Houston, after Walle raised a point of order on HB 1009 on May 4, 2013. The bill creating a school marshal program later passed to third reading.

The Senate on Wednesday gave its approval to House Bill 1009, which would allow school districts to designate certain employees to carry concealed weapons and serve as school marshals.


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Nominations Committee Approves UT Regent Nominees

Senators Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-Edinburg, l, Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound and Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio listen to SB 1 budget debate wrap-up on March 20, 2013.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
Senators Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-Edinburg, l, Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound and Carlos Uresti, D-San Antonio listen to SB 1 budget debate wrap-up on March 20, 2013.

The Senate Nominations Committee unanimously voted Tuesday to approve Gov. Rick Perry's three nominees to the University of Texas System Board of Regents. The nominees must still be confirmed by the full Senate.

Martinez Fischer Grills UT System Regent in Hearing

University of Texas Regent Brenda Pejovich ponders a question at the Select Committee on Transparency in State Operations on May 14, 2013.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
University of Texas Regent Brenda Pejovich ponders a question at the Select Committee on Transparency in State Operations on May 14, 2013.

During a tense meeting of the Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations on Tuesday, state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer asked UT System Regent Brenda Pejovich about the controversy surrounding the system board's governance.

Campus Carry Bill Passes Senate Committee

House sponsor State Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Cypress, stands among House members during the consideration of a point of order on HB 972 a campus carry bill on May 4, 2013.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemrmich
House sponsor State Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Cypress, stands among House members during the consideration of a point of order on HB 972 a campus carry bill on May 4, 2013.

A measure by state Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Cypress, that allows college students, faculty and staff to carry concealed handguns on campus is heading to the full Senate after a committee approved the measure Tuesday.

In Education Reform Debate, One Group Standing Out This Session

State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, spoke Wednesday as Texas charter school supporters rallied at the Texas Capitol to lobby the Legislature for more funding.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, spoke Wednesday as Texas charter school supporters rallied at the Texas Capitol to lobby the Legislature for more funding.

Raise Your Hand Texas has been a key player this session, impacting bills like Sen. Dan Patrick's charter school legislation. The advocacy organization's influence in policy negotiations has won it both respect and exasperation in education circles.

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House Signals Approval for Campus Construction Bonds

Students cross a bridge over a resaca on the University of Texas Brownsville and Texas Southmost College campuses on Monday.
Enlarge photo by: Eddie Seal
Students cross a bridge over a resaca on the University of Texas Brownsville and Texas Southmost College campuses on Monday.

The Texas House gave tentative approval to billions of dollars in bonds for campus construction projects on Monday. The version it approved totaled nearly $2.7 billion, up from about $2.4 billion initially approved by the Senate.

Texas House Backs Bill Expanding Charter Schools

State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, spoke Wednesday as Texas charter school supporters rallied at the Texas Capitol to lobby the Legislature for more funding.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, spoke Wednesday as Texas charter school supporters rallied at the Texas Capitol to lobby the Legislature for more funding.

UPDATED: A measure targeting a Turkish charter school network was added to major legislation from Senate Education Chairman Dan Patrick that would increase the number of publicly funded, privately operated schools as it passed the Texas House on Thursday, 105-34.

Amended South Texas University Bill Passes Senate

State Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, talks to a colleague on the Senate floor after being the only Democrat to vote yes on HB1 the state budget, which passed the Senate, 20-11 on May 28, 2011.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
State Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, talks to a colleague on the Senate floor after being the only Democrat to vote yes on HB1 the state budget, which passed the Senate, 20-11 on May 28, 2011.

The Texas Senate on Thursday unanimously passed a controversial committee substitute to House Bill 1000, which creates a new university and medical school in the Rio Grande Valley.

Coordinating Board Nears End of Tough Sunset Process

Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Raymund Paredes sits in the Senate gallery awaiting the end of the session on May 30, 2011.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Raymund Paredes sits in the Senate gallery awaiting the end of the session on May 30, 2011.

UPDATED: House lawmakers on Wednesday put their stamp of approval on a measure that would keep the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in business for another 12 years. But they tacked on a few more amendments.