Texas high school students slightly improve on some standardized tests — but haven’t fully regained ground since the pandemic
Students saw improvement in the STAAR tests for Algebra I, Biology and U.S. History. Full Story
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Brian Lopez is a public education reporter, covering how policy and politics affect Texas’ K-12 public education system and the nearly 5.5 million kids enrolled in public schools. Before landing at the Tribune in 2021, he was the Tarrant County reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Brian is a New York native but moved to Texas after high school. He graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington, is based in San Antonio and reports in both English and Spanish.
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![Students in class at Bowie High School in Austin.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
Texas will resume inmate transportation after completing review of convicted murderer’s escape
The review came after Gonzalo Lopez escaped on May 12 and eventually killed five people. Full Story
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![The Texas Department of Criminal Justice William G. McConnell Unit at Chase Field in Beeville on Nov. 1, 2013.]()
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At first conference after Uvalde shooting, Texas school police chiefs discuss how their profession is changing
The Texas School District Police Chiefs’ Association met just weeks after the second-worst school shooting in U.S. history. Full Story
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![Solomon Cook, chief of police for Humble ISD, welcomes attendees to a presentation during the 2022 Texas School District Police Chiefs' Association conference on Friday, June 10, 2022.]()
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Robb Elementary students will be relocated to two other schools this fall, superintendent says
At a news conference Thursday, Superintendent Hal Harrell outlined the plan to move students but would not take any questions regarding school police Chief Pete Arredondo or investigations into the shooting. Full Story
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![Hundreds of flowers, toys, and candles surround the crosses in memorial of the 21 victims of the school shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, on June 9, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
Texas teachers union survey finds that school employees don’t want to be armed
The survey, conducted by Texas American Federation of Teachers, comes two weeks after the Uvalde school shooting as Republicans call for more school employees to be armed. Full Story
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![High school students between classes in the hallway at the high school in Buffalo on March 28, 2019.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
For the children who survived the Uvalde shooting uninjured, trauma will take time to heal
Uvalde offers mental health resources for the victims and considers rebuilding the school where the shooting took place as the community tends to its invisible wounds. Full Story
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![Zayin Zuniga, 10, gazes at piles of flowers and balloons left in front of crosses at Robb Elementary in Uvalde on June 1, 2022, memorializing the 19 children and two teachers fatally shot after a gunman entered the building the week before.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee Beal for The Texas Tribune -
Gun ownership is ingrained in Uvalde’s culture. Some here are rethinking how it should be regulated.
Longtime Uvalde residents say the city is a hunting mecca and the love for guns goes right along with it. But some would now support measures like raising the age limit to buy AR-style weapons or monitoring high-volume ammunition purchases. Full Story
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![An interior view of Oasis Outback, the store where a gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School purchased his weapons, in Uvalde, Texas, U.S., May 25, 2022. REUTERS/Lisa Krantz]()
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“We will be reunited with them one day”: Uvalde worshippers pray for peace, healing and the souls of 21 lives lost
Residents of Uvalde, a deeply religious community, prayed, cried and embraced each other on the first Sunday since a gunman killed 21 people at an elementary school. Full Story
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![A woman embraces a priest after mass at the Sacred Heart Church in Uvalde on May 29, 2022.]()
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Uvalde shooting pushes Texas teachers to breaking point
Tuesday’s school shooting is a tragic end to a terrible year for Texas teachers who faced two COVID-19 surges, staffing shortages, school boards fights, book bans. Full Story
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![Students learn about Martin Luther King Jr. in Rosa Ramirez's second grade class at Linder Elementary School in Austin on Jan. 14, 2022.]()
Credit: Miranda Lipton for The Texas Tribune -
Texas will resume grading public schools based on students’ STAAR test results
For the first time since the pandemic, Texas schools will again be rated based on standardized tests. But for one year only, schools that receive a D or F will get a “not rated” label. Full Story
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![Students work at laptops on their desks at Chapa Middle School in Kyle on Aug. 24, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune