At the Trib’s February 25 symposium on public education at Rice University, I talked choice, testing, school finance and the intersection of policy and politics with four former state commissioners of education: Mike Moses, Jim Nelson, Shirley Richardson and Robert Scott.
school finance
For Elected Judges, Facing Voters Without Heeding Political Urges
For the elected judges on the state’s highest civil court, the trick is to survive politically without thinking about politics โ even on big political issues like school finance.
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.
Handicapping the High Court on School Finance
When the Texas Supreme Court last considered school finance system in 2005, it upheld one of the trial court’s findings and overturned another in a 7-to-1 decision. There has been high turnover on the court since that ruling.
TribLive: Straus on School Finance
At Wednesday’s TribLive conversation, House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, reacted to this week’s ruling on the school finance lawsuit and talked about what happens now.
Texplainer: Has State Spending on Schools Increased?
Hey, Texplainer: I keep hearing that the money the state spends on public education has increased over the past decade. But the ruling in the school finance trial said Texas schools are underfunded. Who is right?
Updated: School Finance Ruling Favors Districts
In a decision sure to be appealed to the Texas Supreme Court, state district Judge John Dietz ruled Monday in favor of more than 600 school districts on all of their major claims against the state.
Pitts and Williams Say School Funding Debate Can Wait
Ongoing school finance litigation will likely prevent the Legislature from discussing education funding issues this session, two Republican budget leaders said at a TribLive event Thursday.
TribLive: Dewhurst on Funding Public Education
At this morning’s TribLive conversation, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst talked about whether public education funding in Texas is sufficient and where additional money might come from.
Budget Plans Target Incentives and Testing
The budget proposals released by lawmakers this week show an interest in revamping school testing and the state’s economic incentive programs.


