The latest Texas Education Agency news from The Texas Tribune.
Despite just-released ratings that show huge improvements, a Texas Tribune analysis finds that the performance of the state's public schools — when decoupled from the controversial Texas Projection Measure — is little changed from 2008, the year before the accountability formula took effect. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-RiggedResults005.png)
In new public school ratings released this afternoon, three-fourths of the state's public schools — graded under a controversial formula called the Texas Projection Measure — now rank "exemplary" or "recognized," the highest two of four categories of performance. Less than two percent of schools are ranked "unacceptable." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/robert_scott.png)
The Texas Education agency plans to release school accountability ratings for every campus in the state on Friday. For the second year, the rankings will be filtered through the controversial Texas Projection Measure, which critics fault for inflating the school scores. Full Story
A new study suggests that while the state's English curriculum is among the best in the nation, our math curriculum doesn't measure up to a set of new national standards. Matt Largey of KUT News reports. Full Story
In this week's TribCast, Ross, Elise, Ben and Brandi discuss the issues framing Texas politics this week — education, immigration and campaign finance numbers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TT-TribCast-002.png)
Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott has been taking heat for ducking questions from reporters and a legislator regarding the Texas Projection Measure, the magic formula that last year suddenly moved thousands of Texas schools into higher state rating categories with little underlying achievement gain by students. He finally took questions from the Tribune, walking a fine line between defending the formula’s much-maligned statistical validity and saying it wasn’t his idea in the first place and, as he put it, “I’m happy to scrap it” if legislators and other critics have a big problem with it. Full Story
Last school year, the Texas Education Agency implemented a new “growth measure” purported to reward schools for improving student performance — even if they still fail state tests. The effect on state accountability ratings was immediate and dramatic: The number of campuses considered “exemplary” by the state doubled, to 2,158. But a new analysis shows the projections of future student success may be wrong as much as half the time. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/GradeInflation.png)
Less than a third of the state's 3rd-to-12th-grade students can pass a physical fitness test — and that’s an improvement. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/PE_GymShoes_And_Ball.jpg)
The Senate Committee on Education got a painful preview today of the problems in special education that they’ll have to tackle during the 2011 legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/florence_shapiro.jpg)
Texas' participation in the federally funded summer food service program is dismally low compared to the national average — meaning only a small percentage of the state's 2.5 million low-income kids are getting free meals. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/20100607_MG_1790x.jpg)
A published report Tuesday highlighted concerns over whether the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test, the standardized exam for the state's public school students, is rigorous enough. Nathan Bernier of KUT News talked to Houston Chronicle reporter Ericka Mellon, whose analysis of Texas Education Agency data found that the TEA lowered its passing standards more this year than it did at least over the last two years. Full Story
Efforts to contain the oil still gushing into the Gulf of Mexico finally seem to be making headway, but the government is now warning that the remaining slick may have a mind of its own. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/BPOilSpill_nasa.jpg)
Last week's request for additional budget cuts of 10 percent is expected to have a dramatic effect on state services — and local ones, too. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports on how a new round of slashing will affect school districts in particular. Full Story
Ramshaw on geriatric care in state prisons, with Miller's photo essay inside those walls; M. Smith interviews the state's newest Supreme Court justice, Debra Lehrmann; Aguilar finds fewer Mexicans seeking asylum in the U.S; Galbraith sorts out the politics of pollution and whether our air is dangerous to breathe; Thevenot discovers authorities writing tickets for misbehavior to elementary school kids; Philpott reports on early hearing about political redistricting; Kreighbaum examines fines levied against polluters and finds they're often smaller than the economic benefits of the infractions; and Stiles and Babalola spotlight some of our data projects from our first seven months online: The best of our best from May 31 to June 4, 2010. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/tribweek-june05-2010.jpg)
Gov. Rick Perry wasn't interested in federal "Race to the Top" money before — and he isn't now, either. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/110509_bookswarehouse001_go.jpg)
The world-renowned Dallas doctor who essentially invented jogging as exercise talks with the Tribune about health care reform, the crisis of obesity in Texas, and what lawmakers must do to shore up the physical-education legislation they passed last session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/cooper.jpg)
More than two-thirds of Texans say their confidence in the state's public schools ranges from shaky to nonexistent, according to the new University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll. A majority of Texans believe that crime, low academic standards, lack of parental involvement and not enough funding are "major" problems that public schools face — but two-thirds say "too much religion in the schools" is not a problem. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/tt-educationpoll001.png)
You know that prayer that before today's State Board of Education meeting, which some found so inappropriate? It was read by arch-conservative Cynthia Dunbar, R-Richmond — but not written by her. In a gag on her detractors, she lifted the text from U.S. Supreme Court Justice and liberal icon Earl Warren. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/mcleroyanddunbar.jpg)
Members of the State Board of Education, meeting in Austin this week, are scheduled to take a final vote on new social studies curriculum standards that will remain in place for a decade. Outside the meeting room at the William B. Travis Building, there is no shortage of opinions about the board's work. Nathan Bernier of KUT News reports. Full Story
The show outside this week's State Board of Education meeting is almost as interesting as the show inside. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f64700857b8705aeb812c818b5d6c53a/BD%20INC%20SBOE%2003%202009)