The revised bill promises a significant funding increase for public schools and academic accountability measures for students participating in the proposed voucher program, two of the biggest requests from voucher opponents.
Maia Pandey
Maia Pandey was a reporting fellow at The Tribune in 2023. Born and raised in Boston, she has worked for the breaking health news team at NBC News and at Block Club Chicago. Her reporting on health and homelessness has appeared in the Wisconsin State Journal, City & State New York and United Press International. She is fluent in Nepali and Hindi.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2023
Facing enrollment declines, Texas Catholic schools are leading supporters of school vouchers
The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops has been one of the staunchest voucher supporters, arguing it would increase access to religious education regardless of income level.
Posted in
Politics
Gov. Greg Abbott says he’ll add teacher pay to the special session — but only if lawmakers pass school voucher bill
Though lawmakers have drafted a bill to increase public school funding and teacher salaries, it cannot pass during the special session unless Abbott adds those issues to his agenda.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2023
Disability advocates argue against school vouchers in Texas Senate hearing
The Senate’s main “school choice” bill would prioritize vouchers for children with disabilities, among other underprivileged groups. But advocates and parents raised concerns that voucher recipients who choose private school would no longer be protected by federal law.
Posted in
Politics
Texas teachers grapple with their raises caught up in voucher fight
As a special session starts with a focus on “school choice” but no mention of public school funding, some teachers said they are even considering leaving the profession.
Posted in
Demographics
Texas’ unemployment rate is among the nation’s worst — but experts say it signals a growing economy
The state has yet to return to its pre-pandemic unemployment rate of about 3.5%, even as it leads the country in new jobs created. However, state economic experts say the unemployment rate is an indicator of Texas’s rapidly growing population and labor force.
Posted in
Economy
Dallas selected as one of three national hubs for new medical innovation federal agency
The city joins Cambridge, Mass. and the Washington, D.C. area as epicenters of the new agency. A Biden administration initiative, Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health will work toward medical breakthroughs in treating diseases like cancer, Alzheimer and diabetes.
Posted in
The 2023 Texas Tribune Festival
Sarah Stogner announces second campaign for the Texas Railroad Commission
After losing in a Republican runoff last year, Stogner said she plans to challenge incumbent Chair Christi Craddick as a member of the Forward Party.
