The latest Texas Education Agency news from The Texas Tribune.
State officials were stopped from swearing in an appointed board of managers to run the East Texas school district where two schools received failing grades for years. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dae7f2350dce5902d69b8035f56edf74/SHEPHERD%20ISD%20MS%20TT%209383.jpg)
The Texas Education Agency announced a new appointed board and a new superintendent Friday for Shepherd Independent School District, where two schools failed to meet state academic standards for five years. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4aa599bc747714fc62f66e1ce3e8898f/Mike%20Morath%20TEA%20EW%20TT.jpg)
Teachers groups and some education advocates are criticizing the proposed changes, saying more charter schools will siphon money and students away from traditional public schools. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/34e2f673096c45af8609facd5b9e9267/Charter%20School%20MKC%20TT%2001.jpg)
Texas will not be able to seize power of Houston ISD's school board until the state judge issues a final ruling on the lawsuit challenging the takeover. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/17bbcde7cee21c45e33d79fb44c6af58/Wheatley%20Houston%20ISD%20PH%20TT%200352.jpg)
U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel rejected the district's argument that ousting the Houston school board would disenfranchise voters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ae0ee383f42badbeefbe0d26856defb/Wheatley%20Houston%20ISD%20PH%20TT%200296.jpg)
Caught off guard by the increase in teen vaping, schools are grasping every tool at hand, including expulsions and suspensions. In some districts, students can face harsh discipline and jail time for having a vape pen in their backpack. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7a10eba8dff9e73b0eb638bd07303518/Georgetown%20Vape%20Arrest%20AP%20TT%2007.jpg)
Fort Worth ISD fired Georgia Clark after she asked President Trump on Twitter in May to "remove the illegals from Fort Worth." The Texas Education Agency reversed their decision late last month mostly on procedural grounds, but the school district plans to appeal. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d97a76e5296ee89dade8e39481f59fc7/Amon%20Carter%20Riverside%20High%20School%20TT.jpg)
Houston ISD lawyers told a federal judge the education commissioner is exceeding his authority and asked for a preliminary injunction stopping him from booting out the elected school board of the state's largest district. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e23a7981aa0bf538b675e6803190f998/Wheatley%20Houston%20ISD%20PH%20TT%200357.jpg)
Questions about the reading and writing tests arose after some education advocates pointed to studies showing passages were written above elementary and middle schoolers' grade levels. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TestTakers.jpg)
Commissioner of Education Mike Morath wrote that Georgia Clark did not waive her First Amendment rights when she signed her contract with Fort Worth ISD. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/946e14cbceb5f7a12d467fb3c44c2086/Georgia%20Clark%20FWISD%20TT.jpg)
The U.S. Department of Education found that Laurie Kash's disclosures about how the TEA awarded a contract were "contributing factors" in her termination. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/47df27f124810c67d99943b4f86ce1f9/Laurie%20Kash%20TT.jpg)
Houston ISD parents and residents made it clear Thursday night that they don't want the state to replace their elected school board. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cc69761c100b55dcc4417391da501be0/Wheatley%20Takeover%20HISD%20PY%20TT%20137.jpg)
The state's announcement that it will seize control of its largest school system has been met with notable silence from Houston ISD administrators and local elected officials. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e18da18b2b9b5eba6c45815f054fe139/04_Buffalo_ISD_MS_TT.jpg)
Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath informed Houston ISD of those plans in a letter Wednesday. He also sent letters saying the state would take over Shepherd and Snyder ISDs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/aa520ad15ef51535c0c32daa3615cf6a/Mike%20Morath%20MKC%20TT.jpg)
In a 2003 lawsuit, Hearne Independent School District officials said the state's failure to stop white students from transferring to a nearby district contributed to their academic struggles. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d105f8fe98d706f588615b5d9d5fd893/HEARNE%20AP%20TT%203.jpg)
A Texas Education Agency final investigative report, sent to lawmakers Wednesday evening, recommends the state appoint new leaders of Texas' largest school district. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/student-classroom-back.jpg)
Texas saw a significant decrease in eighth-grade reading scores and stagnant results in other measures. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a475ee80e24a014552d1c2241821a54a/090519-Hemphill%20Elementary-003%20TT.jpg)
Educators and advocates pointed out several errors in the massive school finance law passed in May that have resulted in confusion for school districts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d27df7adcfe6e8bce417600897205db8/Texas%20House%20Commiittee%20on%20Public%20Education%20EG%20TT%2003.jpg)
The approach is intended to quickly cut down on the number of low-performing schools in the state. So far, Texas has seen mixed results. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/189f50b2728dd13dc978ef183fc6ce0f/School%20Segregation%20Ogden%2008%20LS%20TT.jpg)
Arguments over standardized tests in Texas public schools obscure another problem with accountability: Why does it take so long to respond when educators think a school isn't educating its students? Full Story