Past Contributions

• Algorithms create personalized curriculum 'playlists'

  By Sanya Mansoor April 12, 2017

  Several educational software companies have developed learning platforms that use performance data from students to create custom recommendations for each day’s learning. Full Story 

• Four-day school week no problem for Missouri district

  By Sanya Mansoor April 12, 2017

  Five years ago, a district in Harrisburg, Missouri, switched to a four-day school week to save costs and retain staff members. Full Story 

• Tampa parents oppose proposed change to district’s start times

  By Sanya Mansoor April 12, 2017

  Parents have flooded a school district in Tampa, Florida, with negative emails after officials requested feedback about proposed changes to school hours. Full Story 

• The Q&A: Candace Walkington

  By Sanya Mansoor April 12, 2017

  In this week’s Q&A, we interview Candace Walkington, an assistant professor in teaching and learning at Southern Methodist University. Full Story 

• The Brief: The battle over veterans' tuition

  By Sanya Mansoor and Bobby Blanchard April 11, 2017

  For years, Texas universities have raised alarms about the increasingly high cost of a state program called Hazlewood, which offers free college tuition to veterans' kids. This session, lawmakers are poised to scale the program back. Full Story 

• Here's where Texans in Congress stand on Trump's Syrian airstrikes

  By Abby Livingston, Sanya Mansoor and Chris Essig April 7, 2017

  Texans in Congress mostly backed President Donald Trump's recent airstrikes in Syria, according to a Tribune survey of the delegation. Full Story 

• The Brief: Texas House prepares for marathon budget debate

  By Sanya Mansoor and Bobby Blanchard April 6, 2017

  Texas House kicks off a marathon budget debate today. More than 400 amendments have been filed, so lawmakers are expected to work into the night and possibly even into the morning. Full Story 

• Texas House backs crowdfunding measure to test more rape kits

  By Sanya Mansoor April 5, 2017

  A bill that would crowdfund money from Texans to deal with a state backlog of thousands of untested rape kits tentatively passed the Texas House Wednesday on a voice vote. Full Story 

• The Brief: Bathroom access? Border security? Abortion? It's all in the budget amendments.

  By Sanya Mansoor and Bobby Blanchard April 4, 2017

  Bathroom access? Border security funding? Abortion? You'll find these issues and more in the 400-plus amendments Texas House members have filed as they prepare to consider the chamber's budget. Full Story 

• Outlook good for statewide texting-while-driving ban, key lawmakers say

  By Sanya Mansoor April 4, 2017

  Key lawmakers are optimistic about the passage of a bill that would ban texting-and-driving across Texas, despite failed attempts over the last few sessions. Full Story