Education Agency Recommends Class Size Limits for Pre-K
To improve pre-kindergarten education, Texas schools should keep class sizes small and student-teacher ratios low, according to a newly released state report. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/18/DISDPre-K3.jpg)
-
![Pre-kindergarten students at the Dallas Independent School District's Cesar Chavez Learning Center.]()
Credit: Robert W. Hart -
Embattled STAAR Test Vendor Facing $20 Million Fine
The Texas Education Agency is slapping the New Jersey-based company that develops and administers the state's controversial STAAR tests with a $20.7 million fine over widespread logistical and technical issues. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/05/24/staar-logo.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Texas Education Agency / The Texas Tribune -
How a South Texas School District Spurred a Massive Turnaround
After five years of landing on the state’s list of low-performing schools, a tiny South Texas district that drew national headlines for cutting its sports program to ward off closure is now meeting state academic standards. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-PremontSlide-012.JPG)
![Premont High School cheerleader Stacy Morales, 17, and student basketball player Ernesto Gonzalez leave the gym after a game in 2012 — the year before the long-struggling school district opted to suspend its sports program to ward off closure.]()
Credit: Eddie Seal for The Texas Tribune -
Failing Texas Schools Facing Tougher State Intervention
Education Commissioner Mike Morath on Tuesday outlined plans to crack down harder on chronically low-performing schools, saying he wants to cut in half the number of them that end up on the state’s failing list over the next five years. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/08/16/_Education0523CMS.jpg)
![State Education Commissioner Mike Morath testifies Tuesday Aug 16, 2016 before the Senate Education Committee at the Texas Capitol.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/Texas Tribune -
Panel Backpedals on Swapping Out STAAR Tests
A special panel recommending changes to the state’s public school testing and accountability system has stopped short of proposing that Texas scrap the controversial assessment regime known as STAAR. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/07/27/3U2A6338_copy.jpg)
![Theresa Treviño, president of Texans Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessment, speaks at a special panel charged with suggesting changes to the state’s testing and school accountability system on July 27, 2016.]()
Credit: Qiling Wang/The Texas Tribune -
In School Choice Fight, a Fresh Force Emerges
An ambitious new player has emerged in the controversial effort to use taxpayer dollars to help Texas parents send their kids to private or religious schools. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/07/22/SchoolChoice-Crop.jpg)
![Texans for Education Opportunity Executive Director Randan Steinhauser, also an adviser for National School Choice Week, speaks during a school choice rally at the Texas Capitol in 2015.]()
-
Half of Students Who Failed Exams Cleared to Graduate, State Data Shows
Nearly 6,000 Texas high school students were cleared for graduation in 2015 even though they didn't pass all of their end-of-course exams, according to data the Texas Education Agency posted online this spring but did not announce. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/06/11/STAAR_Classroom.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Sameer Vasta/The Texas Tribune -
Deaf Texans' Suit Against State Reaches U.S. Supreme Court
Before they can get driver's licenses, some young Texans must take state-mandated driving courses taught by private contractors. Five deaf students sued the state after they couldn't get anyone to provide sign-language interpreters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/06/29/DriversEdSupremeCourt.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Mauro Grigollo/Trekandshoot / iStock.com -
Education Commissioner Expands on Decision to Scrap School Test Scores
Education Commissioner Mike Morath expanded Monday on his decision to waive requirements for 5th and 8th graders who failed this year's STAAR exams, saying that a delay in the return of test scores forced the need to take action. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/12/14/MikeMorath.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Facebook, Mike Morath for Dallas School Board -
Eanes District, Vendor at Odds Over Supposed Loss of State Exams
A high-performing West Austin school district says it was told the state’s new testing vendor misplaced some or all of the STAAR exams its 3rd through 8th graders took this spring. But New Jersey-based Educational Testing Service says that’s not true. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/STARR-Test.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Parents Sue Texas Education Agency Over STAAR Exams
A backlash against this year’s STAAR exams escalated Monday when a group of parents sued the state in an attempt to keep schools from using 2016 test scores to rate students. Full Story
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Texas Education Agency / The Texas Tribune -
Republic of Turkey Targets Houston-Based Charter School
Lawyers working for the Turkish government plan to file a complaint with the Texas Education Agency next week against Houston-based Harmony Public Schools, alleging financial malfeasance and other misconduct, school officials said. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/04/29/CharterCrowd1.jpg)
![Advocates showed their support for charter schools during an April 29, 2015, rally at the Texas Capitol.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas AG Seeks Clarification on Federal Transgender Directive
Three state attorneys general are asking the federal government for clarification of its recent directive to accommodate transgender students or risk losing federal funding. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/07/15/Abbott-Obama-Paxton.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Callie Richmond / Bob Daemmrich / Pete Souza -
Mike Morath on School Finance, Bathrooms, STAAR (Video)
Check out the full video of our May 17 conversation with Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/MikeMorath2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Texas Education Chief Morath Mum on Transgender Bathroom Issue
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath on Tuesday praised the state Supreme Court's recent opinion upholding the state’s public school funding system and demurred on questions about bathroom use by transgender students. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/05/17/ShelbyKnowles-May_16_2016-2.jpg)
![Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, right, discusses public education with Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith at the Austin Club in Austin on May 17, 2016.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Superintendents: Texas Schools Shouldn't Be Rated on 2016 STAAR Tests
Citing problems with the administration of this spring's STAAR exams, the head of the Texas Association of School Administrators says that 2016 STAAR scores shouldn't be used to rate schools or determine whether a student should graduate or advance to the next grade. Full Story
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Teacher Group Sues Over Plan to Tie Educator Evaluations to Tests
A teacher group filed a lawsuit Wednesday in an attempt to block the state from implementing a controversial system that for the first time ties assessments of educators to student performance on standardized tests. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/ExamsDesks.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
New Education Chief Overhauls Top of Agency
Three of the five key hires announced Thursday by Education Commissioner Mike Morath have extensive charter school experience, and only two appear to have solid Texas ties — something teacher groups and traditional public schools were quick to point out. Full Story
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Facebook, Mike Morath for Dallas School Board -
Computer Glitch Affected Thousands of Exams
Technical issues last week that caused students to lose their answers on state standardized exams impacted about 14,220 computerized tests, Commissioner Mike Morath told the State Board of Education on Wednesday. Full Story
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Video: A Conversation with Mike Morath
At our 1/22 symposium on urban public education, I talked accountability, demographic change, school choice and school finance with Mike Morath, the state's new commissioner of education. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/_F0U8037.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()