State Gets Waiver From No Child Left Behind
Under a federal waiver that was announced Monday, only the lowest-performing 15 percent of Texas public schools will be subject to a series of federally prescribed interventions. Full Story
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Liveblog: Public Ed at The Texas Tribune Festival
We have liveblogged each of the sessions from The 2013 Texas Tribune Festival's Public Education track, which featured panel discussions on early childhood education, charter schools, innovations in teaching and public education reform. Full Story
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Patrick Defends Charter School Bill Before SBOE
Key charter school legislation would not have passed during the last legislative session without a provision removing much of the State Board of Education's authority in approving applications, state Sen. Dan Patrick said Wednesday. Full Story
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Evolution, Textbook Review Focus of SBOE Hearing
A past Texas State Board of Education chairman and outspoken creationist urged his former colleagues on Tuesday to approve high school biology textbooks he said would "strike a final blow to the teaching of evolution." Full Story
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Despite New Efforts That Target Cheating on State Tests, Doubts Remain
The Texas Education Agency is stepping up its scrutiny of accountability violations with a new department devoted to investigating complaints of cheating. But questions remain about the agency's ability to effectively operate the division. Full Story
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No NCLB Waiver for Texas on Testing for Younger Students
A state request to waive No Child Left Behind testing requirements for students in elementary and middle school has been denied by the federal government, thwarting a state effort to end some tests for high-performing students. Full Story
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![Texas Education Agency commissioner Michael Williams announces at a press conference that he is stripping all authority from the El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees. The move comes in the wake of a cheating scandal that landed the former superintendent in federal prison.]()
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Options for Full-Time Online Instruction Expand in Texas
The number of full-time cyber schools serving public school students will double in the upcoming year despite a history of lackluster performance and a new law limiting how many online courses students can take at the state’s expense. Full Story
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Interactive: Search CSCOPE Lesson Plans
We've obtained the complete set of curriculum content produced by CSCOPE. Review the more than 10,000 lessons in social studies, science, math and language arts for yourself in our searchable interactive to see what the controversy is — or isn't — about. Full Story
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Order Blocking District's CSCOPE Use Gets High-Profile Praise
A group of plaintiffs in the Llano Independent School District has obtained a court order banning the use of CSCOPE lessons until those lessons get State Board of Education approval. Full Story
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Charter Schools' Presence in Churches Draws Both Praise and Concerns
Charter schools with ties to faith-based organizations have cropped up across Texas. Proponents say that's a result of smart budgeting, but critics have concerns about oversight and worry that faith-based instruction could enter some classrooms. Full Story
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![Latisha Andrews is shown on the playground of Beta Academy, which is housed at the Christian Temple Assembly of God Church in Houston on Aug. 6, 2013. She is applying to convert the private school into a charter school.]()
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Under New State Ratings, Most Schools Met Standards
Under a new accountability system, Texas schools are placed in two categories: "met standard" or "needs improvement." The state education agency announced Thursday that 93 percent of Texas school districts achieved the first designation. Full Story
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New Council to Focus on Extended Learning Programs at Schools
The state’s new Expanded Learning Opportunities Council will be charged with developing a statewide action plan to improve and create extended learning opportunities in public schools. This story is part of our monthlong 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
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CSCOPE Changes Focus of Confusion at SBOE Meeting
UPDATED: The State Board of Education will take up the issue of whether school districts can continue to use lessons from a controversial state curriculum system at its September meeting. And the Texas Attorney General's office, along with Education Chairman Dan Patrick, has requested an official state audit of the program. Full Story
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State Auditor Finds Lacking Oversight of Testing Contract
After a report from the State Auditor's Office pointed out flaws in the Texas Education Agency's oversight of a $462 million testing contract, the agency said Tuesday it will "immediately" implement new monitoring guidelines. Full Story
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Texas Reports "Stable" STAAR Testing Results
After the second year of a new statewide assessment program, Texas students' scores on standardized tests remain roughly the same, according to new data released by the Texas Education Agency. Full Story
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Perry Signs High School Curriculum, Testing Bill
Gov. Rick Perry signed House Bill 5 on Monday, ending weeks of speculation that he might veto the high-profile education legislation that adjusts high school graduation standards. Full Story
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Efforts to Reform Teacher Evaluations Hit Snag
Some critics of Texas' largely subjective state teacher evaluations want them to include more emphasis on measures of student performance like standardized exams. But with support among lawmakers to scale back testing, those efforts have hit a roadblock. Full Story
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STAAR Results May Hold Back 80,000 Fifth-Graders
More than 80,000 fifth-graders and 60,000 eighth-graders in the state are at risk of being held back this year because of poor performance on state standardized tests under a Texas law banning social promotion. Full Story
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Despite Concerns, TEA Moving Forward on A-F School Ratings Plan
Against the recommendation of school leaders and amid skepticism from some lawmakers, the Texas Education Agency will continue working toward a transition to a public school accountability ratings system with grades of A through F. Full Story
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Senate Panel Discusses Scrutiny of State Testing Contracts
The procedures that led to the state's five-year, $468 million standardized testing contract with Pearson were the focus of a Senate panel's hearing Tuesday on legislation that would change how the state handles future agreements. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
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