After a brief but heated debate, a measure from state Rep. Abel Herrero, D-Corpus Christi, that would ban the use of public dollars for private schools passed the House 103-43 with bipartisan support.
Dan Patrick
Posted in
Public Education
Charter School Expansion Effort Faces Big Hurdles
Sen. Dan Patrick’s Senate Bill 2 is the most ambitious attempt to expand the state’s charter school system since it was established in 1995. It will have to pass a Legislature that defeated more modest proposals two years ago.
Posted in
Public Education
Patrick Presents Details of Tax Credit Scholarship Plan
State Sen. Dan Patrick has filed legislation to create an Equal Opportunity Scholarship Program, which would allow economically disadvantaged and at-risk students who attend public schools to transfer to private schools.
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Public Education
TribLive: Aycock on School Choice
At Thursday’s TribLive conversation, state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee, talked about the prospects for school choice legislation this session — and why a business tax credit might not pass muster.
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Public Education
Senator Files Tax Credit Scholarship Bill
State Sen. Ken Paxton has filed a bill that would enact a business tax credit scholarship program touted by state Sen. Dan Patrick and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst at a December media conference.
Posted inState Government
A-List Lobbyists Disclosed Little After Swanky Parties
Lobbyists Andrea and Dean McWilliams are big entertainers, and they don’t mind sharing details of their big soirees with society magazines. But they haven’t disclosed much of it to the Texas Ethics Commission.
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Public Education
Senate Panel Backs More Money for Public Schools
A panel of senators voted Thursday to put $1.5 billion in additional public school funding in the state’s two-year budget. That includes more money for pre-kindergarten programs, the state’s Virtual School Network and Teach for America.
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Public Education
Jeb Bush Talks Education Reform With Texas Lawmakers
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush told Texas senators on Wednesday “to go big or go home” when it comes to pushing changes to public education policy.
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Public Education
TribuneFest: A Conversation with Aycock and Patrick
At the Trib’s February 25 symposium on public education at Rice University, I talked school finance, accountability, choice and other hot-button issues with state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee, and state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, the chairman of the Senate Public Education Committee.
Posted in
Public Education
Existing School Transfer Program is Underused
A scholarship to help students trapped in failing public schools attend another of their choice is near the top of the legislative agenda for top Republican leaders. But Texas has a similar existing program, and it is dramatically underused.
