Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have long threatened to sue school districts that defy Abbott’s ban on local mask mandates. On Friday, Paxton made good on that threat.
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
Coronavirus in Texas
The pandemic’s toll on educators has made Texas’ teacher shortage worse
Teachers report being spread thin by the demands of remote learning and exhausted by the constant health concerns.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2021
GOP bill targeting how race, slavery and history are taught in Texas schools heads to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk
Before the second special session ended, lawmakers sent the GOP-backed bill for the governor’s signature.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2021
Texas lawmakers send Gov. Greg Abbott a bill that funds virtual learning, but could leave out many students of color
The bill would pay for virtual learning until September 2023, but won’t fund it for students who have failed their STAAR exams.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Texas is one step closer to funding virtual learning, but could leave out many students of color
The bill, which would provide funding through September 2023, will head back to the Senate before reaching Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
More Texas students tested positive for COVID-19 last week than at any time last school year
There have been 20,256 reported cases among students across the state since the school year began.
Posted in
Demographics
Extended unemployment benefits for jobless Texans will end in September, state agency says
The Texas Workforce Commission announced that the U.S. Department of Labor notified the commission that the state’s unemployment rate fell below the threshold needed to continue the benefits.
Posted in
Public Education
With a full plate of controversial bills to go, Texas House committee OKs funding for virtual learning
Public hearing on bill about teaching race and history draws a crowd.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Texas says schools now must notify families of positive COVID-19 cases in classrooms
This is a reversal of the Texas Education Agency’s previous guidance, which didn’t explicitly require school districts to notify parents of a close contact with the virus.
Posted in
Public Education
Rural schools shut down to keep COVID-19 from overwhelming their small communities
The small districts aren’t fighting Gov. Greg Abbott’s mask rules, but fears for staff, students and local medical facilities are driving them to fight COVID-19 with temporary closures.