Gov. Rick Perry after signing House Bill 5, an education reform bill, before a crowd in the Governor's Reception Room on June 10, 2013.
Gov. Rick Perry after signing House Bill 5, an education reform bill, before a crowd in the Governor's Reception Room on June 10, 2013. Bob Daemmrich

Thanks to changes introduced by the passage of House Bill 5, Texas high schools feature some dramatic modifications as the new school year kicks into gear. While standardized tests have been reduced and Algebra II is now an option rather than a requirement, lawmakers stress that the new rules are intended to channel students toward a greater variety of post-high school training choices and, ultimately, stable careers. (Houston Public Media)

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John Reynolds was the newsletters editor for the Tribune from 2013 to 2017. Prior to that, he was a reporter for Quorum Report, a non-partisan online political newsletter focusing on the ins and outs under...