A House Public Education Committee hearing became heated Tuesday when Chairman Dan Huberty had a harsh exchange with a witness speaking against a bill that would let high school students who fail required state tests graduate, with the approval of a special committee.
Aliyya Swaby
Aliyya Swaby was the public education reporter for The Texas Tribune, where she worked from 2016 to 2021. Previously she worked at the hyperlocal nonprofit New Haven Independent, where she covered education, zoning and transit for two years. After graduating from Yale University in 2013, she spent a year freelance reporting in Panama on social issues affecting black Panamanian communities. She was an Education Writers Association finalist in 2017 for beat reporting and a Livingston Awards finalist in 2019 for a series on school desegregation.
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Public Education
Senate panel tacks “school choice” provision onto education finance bill
A Senate committee passed the House’s major school finance reform bill, after adding a controversial provision subsidizing private school tuition for special needs students — a move unlikely to go over well in the House.
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Public Education
For special ed advocates, one bill down and many more on the line
With a major bill for students with disabilities flying to the governor’s desk, special education advocates are looking ahead to smaller bills that might not survive the upcoming deadlines for legislation to pass.
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Criminal Justice
House passes bill on inappropriate teacher-student relationships
The House passed Senate Bill 7, which would penalize principals and superintendents who purposely hide incidents of teachers having sexual or romantic relationships with students.
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Public Education
House easily passes bill overhauling school ratings
The Texas House passed a bill that would overhaul the controversial A-F system for grading schools, now set for implementation next school year.
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Public Education
Senate passes bill extending alternate graduation route to 2019
The Senate passed a bill extending the opportunity for students to graduate even if they haven’t passed their required exams by going before a graduation committee.
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Public Education
Texas House panel considers “private school choice” for kids with disabilities
House Bill 1335 by Rep. Ron Simmons would give students with disabilities online accounts of state money to use for private school tuition and certain homeschooling expenses, such as textbooks and curricula.
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Public Education
Senate passes bill to give charters funding for facilities
The Texas Senate voted to give charter schools state money to build facilities, with a caveat: traditional public schools get a little extra, too.
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Public Education
Texas teachers have mixed opinions on bid to reduce state tests
The House Public Education Committee heard a bill that would pare back the number of required standardized tests, in line with the wave of legislation limiting high-stakes testing in public schools.
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Public Education
House gives preliminary approval to bill overhauling school finance system
In a preliminary vote, the House approved Rep. Dan Huberty’s bill to inject $1.6 billion into public schools and simplify complicated funding formulas. Legislators must still take a final vote on the bill.
