Past Contributions

• The Q&A: Jill Allor

  by Sanya Mansoor June 21, 2017

  In this week’s Q&A, we interview Jill Allor, a professor with the Department of Teaching and Learning at Southern Methodist University. Full Story 

• The Q&A: Marcus Gary

  by Sanya Mansoor June 13, 2017

  In this week’s Q&A, we interview Marcus Gary, field operations supervisor at the Edwards Aquifer Authority and chairman of the South Central Texas Water Research Interest Group. Full Story 

• For daily fantasy sports sites, legal limbo in Texas set to continue

  by Sanya Mansoor June 1, 2017

  A bill that would have affirmed the legality of some popular fantasy sports sites in Texas died this legislative session, continuing a murky legal landscape for players in the state. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Graphic by Todd Wiseman / The Texas Tribune

• The Brief: The Legislature went after ethics reform this session. Did they do enough?

  by Sanya Mansoor and Bobby Blanchard June 1, 2017

  Lawmakers passed broad reforms this year that would increase transparency and conduct among their own ranks. But watchdog groups say they didn't go far enough. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune

• The Brief: The 85th Texas legislative session ends with threats of violence

  by Sanya Mansoor and Bobby Blanchard May 30, 2017

  Accusations of racism, threats and violence shot through the lower chamber on a tense last day of the regular legislative session. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune

• The Brief: It's the last day of the 85th Texas legislative session. Ready for a special session?

  by Sanya Mansoor and Bobby Blanchard May 29, 2017

  The threat of legislative overtime looms over lawmakers' heads, as the two chambers struggled to reach consensus on key bills. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune

• The Brief: Bill that would overhaul school finance is declared dead

  by Sanya Mansoor and Bobby Blanchard May 25, 2017

  After Rep. Dan Huberty said he wouldn't accept the Senate's changes to House Bill 21, the lower chamber voted to seek a conference committee. Sen. Larry Taylor, chairman for the Senate Education Committee, was not on board. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune

• Virtual schools continue to expand in Washington state

  by Sanya Mansoor May 24, 2017

  In the state of Washington, K-12 enrollment in virtual schools is expanding far beyond the rural communities they were first marketed to serve. Full Story 

• Showdown in Florida over K-12 budget could trigger veto

  by Sanya Mansoor May 24, 2017

  Florida's governor may tank the state's K-12 budget provisions that increase spending by just $24 per student next year. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Illustration by Todd Wiseman

• How one man changed the way we evaluate teachers

  by Sanya Mansoor May 24, 2017

  Statistician William S. Sanders established the foundation of how we track teacher performance in the U.S. today. Full Story 

• The Q&A: Jonathan Schwartz

  by Sanya Mansoor May 24, 2017

  In this week’s Q&A, we interview Jonathan Schwartz, associate dean of graduate studies for the College of Education at the University of Houston. Full Story 

• Trump education cuts target K-12 programs it deems unnecessary

  by Sanya Mansoor May 24, 2017

  The president’s budget proposal for the fiscal year 2018 includes a 13.5 percent cut in education spending. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune

• Massachusetts charter school rescinds hair policy after uproar

  by Sanya Mansoor May 24, 2017

  A charter school in Massachusetts has reversed a policy that banned students from wearing hair extensions on campus. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  iStock.com

• The Bookshelf: May 25, 2017

  by Sanya Mansoor May 24, 2017

  In this week’s Bookshelf, our content partner Kirkus Reviews highlights Addicted to Reform. Full Story 

• Iowa abandons test platform after spending millions to create it

  by Sanya Mansoor May 24, 2017

  After paying more than $14 million to create a platform to administer its standardized reading exam for elementary students, Iowa is scrapping the testing software. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Shannan Muskopf

• House backs Giddings measure targeting "lunch shaming"

  by Sanya Mansoor Updated: May 24, 2017

  After several failed attempts and compromises during the legislative session, Rep. Helen Giddings finally succeeded in getting the House to pass a measure that targets "lunch shaming" in schools. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune

• Grieving mom “humbled” and “relieved” after Senate passes autopsy bill

  by Sanya Mansoor May 23, 2017

  Lara McDaniel was devastated when her 7-year-old son died in an accident. An investigator didn't allow her to see her child's body until three days after his death — after an autopsy had been conducted. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Facebook page/used with permission

• The Brief: Time is almost up for the House to vote out Senate bills

  by Sanya Mansoor May 23, 2017

  The House is expected to take up bills on maternal mortality and the state's voter ID law as the Senate deliberates passage of bathroom restrictions for transgender students and property tax reform. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune

• Bill on certification pits doctors against hospitals

  by Sanya Mansoor Updated: May 23, 2017

  A bill slated to hit the Texas House floor on Tuesday would bar hospitals and health plans from differentiating between physicians who have undergone a widely-used recertification process and those who haven't. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Michael Stravato

• School lunch bill revived as an amendment; no longer mandatory

  by Sanya Mansoor May 20, 2017

  After being denied by the House Freedom Caucus multiple times, a measure to let schools give meals to students without money in their accounts was revived as an amendment to another bill. Full Story 

  Photo credit:  Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune