Texans are taking varying levels of precautions as they finish holiday shopping and prepare for Christmas worship services.
Brian Lopez
Brian Lopez was The Texas Tribune's public education reporter from 2021 until 2024. He covered how policy and politics affect Texas’ K-12 public education system and the nearly 5.5 million kids enrolled in public schools. Previously, 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.
Posted in
Demographics
Unhappy holidays: Texas endures another COVID Christmas
After nearly two years of navigating life during a pandemic, many Texans are now scrambling for COVID tests, delaying plans and worrying about relatives who have been exposed to the virus.
Posted in
Public Education
Death threats and doxxing: The outcomes of mask mandate and critical race theory fights at a Texas school board
The fight over race and how to deal with the pandemic has split the Fort Worth community, showcasing what’s being seen across the state and country.
Posted in
Politics
Texas education officials investigating whether Keller school district has books with sexually explicit content
The district appears to be the first one to be investigated since Republicans started raising questions in October about content in public school libraries.
Posted in
Public Education
San Antonio-area school district reviews 400 books flagged by a Texas lawmaker’s inquiry
North East ISD, one of the largest districts in the state, appears to be the first one to respond to state Rep. Matt Krause’s investigation into the kinds of books held in school libraries.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2021
Republican bill that limits how race, slavery and history are taught in Texas schools becomes law
The so-called “critical race theory” law prohibits teachers from discussing “a widely debated and currently controversial issue of public policy or social affairs.”
Posted in
State Government
Texas’ ban on mask mandates in public schools back in place after federal appeals court ruling
Three-judge panel finds no “concrete, or actual or imminent, injury” caused by Abbott’s ban on mask mandates.
Posted in
Public Education
The pandemic has undone years of educational gains in Texas schools. Here’s what the road to recovery looks like.
Gaps in student learning because of pandemic disruptions could impact students in the long term.
Posted in
Public Education
Texas education board considers how middle schools teach climate change and sexuality as officials fight over library books
Until now, the State Board of Education has left library selections up to local schools.
Posted in
Public Education
How a YA oral-sex scene touched off Texas’ latest culture war
A coming-of-age memoir by a California writer has been seized upon by politicians who want greater control over the kinds of books available in Texas schools.