Texas will begin a summer lunch program in 2027, but only if feds don’t raise costs
The program would give low income families an extra $120 per child for summer lunches, but federal debate about food benefits could endanger the program. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/274ec039a78173e5624ebd592ea957ce/0913%20Odessa%20School%20Tours%20EH%2050.jpg)
-
![Bonham Middle School employees watch as students begin to gather for lunch in the school’s cafeteria Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
A look at the wins rural Texas scored in this year’s legislative session
Lawmakers sought to close gaps in education and support funding for agriculture, disaster preparedness and health care this year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7d2e3098d64d84759776f897866e11b5/0317%20Capitol%20File%20LW%2002.JPG)
![The Texas State Capitol on March 17, 2025.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ undocumented college students no longer qualify for in-state tuition
Within hours of a federal lawsuit targeting Texas’ policy of letting undocumented students qualify for lower public tuition rates, the 24-year-old law was no more. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3d336410cf72665ddb57373fd44f430e/UT%20Austin%20Covid%20File%20TT%2012.jpg)
![Students walk through campus at the University of Texas at Austin on Aug. 25, 2021.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Greg Abbott signs $8.5 billion public education funding plan into law. Here’s how it works.
The spending package will give schools more money for staff pay raises, operational expenses, special education and more. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/32f2fdf762776dc794ede2c7be2860b3/0417%20Teacher%20Incentive%20Allotment%20IPL%2030.jpg)
![A kindergartener's classroom at Kennedy-Powell Elementary in Temple, Texas.]()
Credit: Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Texas Tribune -
From vouchers to a cellphone ban, this year’s lawmaking session brought transformative changes to Texas schools
An agenda driven by conservative priorities, schools’ financial duress and teacher needs led to an $8.5 billion boost, new discipline rules, more Christianity in classrooms and a DEI ban. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f2eb3ed4f8c2c402083af2ef531ad1a8/0417%20Teacher%20Incentive%20Allotment%20IPL%20TT%2034.jpg)
![JoMeka Gray teaches a class of kindergarteners at Kennedy-Powell Elementary in Temple on April 17, 2025.]()
Credit: Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Texas Tribune -
School vouchers, THC ban, property tax cuts: Here’s what Texas lawmakers did in the 2025 regular session
The Legislature wrapped up without the same drama that defined the end of the last two sessions, with state GOP leaders checking off nearly everything on their to-do lists. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/af0e284d192e1616f6685c4cd7167a31/0526%20House%20Floor%20EG%20TT%2025.jpg)
![State Rep. Ann Johnson, D-Houston, looks out the window from the Texas House of Representatives chamber as the lawmakers debate on bills at the Texas Capitol, on Monday, May 26, 2025.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Education Agency extends Houston school district takeover through 2027
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath applauded the district for its improvements while citing the need for more time to “achieve lasting success for students.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d60877cd24fb0010705b05707be8fbf8/2606%20SBOE%20Meeting%20OA%200018.jpg)
![TEA Commissioner Mike Morath addresses the State Board of Education at the start of their meeting on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at the William B. Travis Building in Austin. Morath recommended the SBOE approve five new charter school systems in the state.]()
Credit: Olivia Anderson/The Texas Tribune -
How RFK Jr., Democrats and Republicans found common ground over food labels in Texas
Texas is poised to lead the country in an initiative to inform denizens of what’s in their food. Food industry experts say it’s going too far. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f82ffba8b8845c0e745fcd84735d40d5/0629%20Mine%20to%20Garden%20JT%20TT%2050.JPG)
![A woman pushes her shopping cart down an aisle at a Brookshire Brothers grocery store in Buffalo, Texas, on June 29, 2023. According to clients of The Lord’s Pantry of Leon County, Brookshire Brothers is the only grocery store in the county which they describe as a food desert.]()
Credit: Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribune -
Bill to scrap STAAR test dies in the Texas Legislature
The state standardized test has long been criticized for taking instructional time away from teachers and putting unnecessary pressure on students. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/490cffb755af85c90b24f92bd05c06e0/STAAR%20PYH%20TT%2001.jpg)
![STAAR themed decorations adorn the hallways of Wharton Elementary School in Wharton on April 21, 2018.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Democrats lash out as Legislature bans school clubs that support gay teens
Tensions flared and the debate turned personal as Republicans said their bill empowered parents and denied predictions that the ban will endanger children. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/23608926b754cf166515c53b749b8b86/AISD%20Pride%20Event%20LW%20TT%2013.jpg)
![Pride flags, stickers and masks, pronoun buttons and other merch are handed out at the AISD "Pride Out!" Party in the Park event at Eastside Early College High School in Austin on March 26, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Legislature approves $338 billion two-year spending plan with a focus on property tax relief
A boost in public school spending, school vouchers, and money for water systems are other highlights of the state budget, which was bolstered by a $24 billion surplus. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f33f037e2eb1c56a2049fba5ab091f77/Capitol%20File%20AI%20TT%2001.jpg)
![The State Capitol on Nov. 19, 2020.]()
Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribune -
Bill that would ban cellphones in Texas public schools heads to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk
Research shows cellphones interfere with students' ability to focus in class. Texas would join at least nine other states that ban students from using their phones during the school day. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3d1419f802a1ffb38bb0b095f7dccfa2/0913%20Odessa%20School%20Tours%20EH%2030.jpg)
![Nimitz Middle School students line up to enter their next class Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Legislature approves $8.5 billion boost for public schools after years of stagnant funding
Gov. Greg Abbott has already said he intends to sign the bill, which will give schools funding for salary increases, special education, teacher preparation and operational costs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/986658b7de604911087f55467589335e/090519-Hemphill%20Elementary-006%20TT.jpg)
![Pre-K students learn their numbers at JoAnn Zavala's classroom on Sept. 5, 2019 in Hemphill Elementary.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas poised to add $100 million to child care scholarship program
Reallocated funding for the program that will go to providers will benefit nearly 95,000 children on a waitlist for scholarships. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/40e5b29639a55b331336bcd6af49d21c/Yoakum%20Child%20Care%20AM%2029.jpg)
![Teacher Pita Espinosa leads a group of young children in a song that teaches Spanish words at the Learning Tree childcare center in Yoakum on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Texas to expand how schools discipline students
House Bill 6, which now heads to the governor, targets the increase in violence that has plagued schools since the pandemic. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d6eac3ff9c37d0d0b2dc663dd7bf048d/0127%20Student%20Discipline%20CO%2001.jpg)
![A student walks through the halls of Lufkin High School in Lufkin on Jan. 29, 2023.]()
Credit: Callaghan O'Hare for The Texas Tribune -
Watch: Texas policy experts discuss how lawmakers addressed education, infrastructure needs this year
Policy experts discussed a new school funding bill, a $20 billion package to keep up with water demand and the state’s energy fund. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/38149d4d4866fdad078be2f6de60d797/06-06_89thSession-Lead-Logo-v1.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
TribCast: Dan Patrick and Greg Abbott are getting what they want this legislative session
In this week’s episode, Matthew and Eleanor talk with politics reporter Jasper Scherer about education funding, a THC ban and the success of conservative priorities this year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2d333195529dc7403a9564fddeeb7417/TribCast%20May%2027.jpg)
![The Texas House of Representatives debates and votes on bills on the House floor at the Texas Capitol on Monday, May 26, 2025.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
An East Texas community grapples with school closures as education options shift
The schools were closed last week after years of declining enrollment. The school communities said increased choices were to blame. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e5db1b63521bf9f6e71e620169af0c0d/0506%20Coston%20Elementary%20JA%20TT%2002.jpg)
![Starla Hill, principal at Coston Elementary, greets visitors Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in Lufkin, Texas. Lufkin Independent School District will be closing the campus at the end of the school year in an effort to reduce spending.]()
Credit: Joel Andrews for the Texas Tribune -
Bill giving Texas parents, school boards more control over library books heads to Gov. Greg Abbott
Senate Bill 13 would require school boards or advisory councils to approve new books and review complaints. In most cases only 50 parents’ approval would be needed to create the oversight councils. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fc289a1629a24a3664ea1230ac94fd58/0723%20SEISD%20JH%20TT%2001.jpg)
![The Josefa L. Sambrano Elementary School library in San Elizario on July 23, 2024.]()
Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune -
Legislature clears the way for Texas Lottery to continue under a different state agency
SB 3070, which awaits Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature, would move the lottery game to Texas’ Department of Licensing and Regulation and includes new restrictions on ticket purchases. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/507401695989d51e9d2ce4c7962b74a9/0429%20Lottery%20Commission%20LW%20TT%2007.jpg)
![Members of the Texas Lottery Commission at a public meeting in Austin on April 29, 2025.]()
Credit: Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribune