Schools Get Military Gear Through Federal Program
At least 10 Texas school districts have received armored plating, tactical vests, military vehicles, rifles, pistols and rounds of ammunition through a federal military surplus program. Full Story
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![Austin Police Officer Cory Ehrler monitors the entrance to Ridgetop Elementary School after classes start on the Monday following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. As the 83rd legislative session approaches, Texas lawmakers are considering making firearms more available to teachers and other school personnel.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa -
Texplainer: What's Next for State After School Finance Ruling?
Hey, Texplainer: I know the state plans to appeal a judge's recent decision that Texas' school finance system is unconstitutional. But what will the state's defense be moving forward? Full Story
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![Shelley Dahlberg, an assistant attorney general, spoke to District Court Judge John Dietz of Austin on on Feb. 3, 2013, during closing arguments of a trial challenging the state's school finance system.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
In School Finance Battle, Legal Fees Accumulate
Texas school districts will have accumulated a legal tab of over $8.5 million in the course of challenging the state's school finance system — a sum that the state will have to pay if they prevail. Full Story
![Shelley Dahlberg, an assistant attorney general, spoke to District Court Judge John Dietz of Austin on on Feb. 3, 2013, during closing arguments of a trial challenging the state's school finance system.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
New in Trib+Edu: Teens Need Their Sleep
In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: pediatricians push for later school start times, a study on the impact of tough math and science classes on dropout rates and an interview with Catherine Clark, formerly of the Texas Association of School Boards. Full Story
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Education Commissioner: "The System Needs to Catch Up"
UPDATED: Asked why the state had delayed a transition away from lower passing standards on state exams, Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams told state lawmakers Tuesday that classroom instruction had failed to meet the rigor demanded by the new tests. Full Story
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![Education Commissioner Michael Williams, a former railroad commissioner, is shown at a TribLive event on Jan. 27, 2011.]()
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A Pass on State Math Exams for Fifth- and Eighth-Graders
Texas' education commissioner announced on Friday that the state would suspend a law that requires fifth- and eighth-graders to pass end-of-year math exams to advance to the next grade level. Full Story
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In Texas, Efforts to Raise Teacher Certification Standards Falter
For-profit teacher certification companies are flourishing in Texas. But as the industry grows, so do questions about the state's ability to control the quality of training the programs provide. Full Story
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New in Trib+Edu: New Approaches Needed To Teach Math
In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: U.S. slow to improve math instruction, testing the Good Behavior Game and an interview with Bonny Cain of the State Board for Educator Certification. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Jacob Villanueva -
Nearly All Texas School Districts Meet State Ratings
In the second year of a new school accountability system, nine out of 10 Texas districts met state standards, according to ratings released by the Texas Education Agency on Friday. The 2014 ratings show a slight decline from last year. Full Story
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Charter Schools Push Back Against New State Law's Measure on Closures
In December, the Texas Education Agency moved to shutter six charter school operators under a new law. Nearly 10 months later, three of those schools remain open — fighting a process they say is overly simplistic. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Van de Putte Calls for Reducing High-Stakes Testing
Leticia Van de Putte, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, calls for reducing high-stakes testing in a new plan for Texas schools. The campaign of her Republican opponent, Dan Patrick, said the plan would do nothing to help turn around underperforming schools. Full Story
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![State Sen. and Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor Leticia Van de Putte at the Democratic state convention on June 27, 2014.]()
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Texas Posts Top High School Graduation Rates, Again
As Texas education officials announced the third year of record-breaking high school graduation rates on Tuesday, critics continued to raise questions about the method the state uses to calculate them. Full Story
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With Uncertainty, Schools Prepare for New Arrivals
Many unaccompanied minors fleeing violence in Central America remain in Texas, and public school administrators face the challenge of providing an education for them. Full Story
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![On June 24, 2014, volunteers gather at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in McAllen, where the Rio Grande Valley Catholic Charities have a makeshift shelter to help handle the surge of immigrants who have crossed into the U.S. in recent weeks.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Technical College System Looks to Break Mold on Workforce Development
With the launch of a new initiative on Monday, the Texas State Technical College System could help revolutionize how colleges align their curriculum with workforce demands and help their students match up better with employers’ needs. Full Story
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![Keith Plantier lectures in a "Wind Safety" course at Texas State Technical College in Sweetwater, Texas, on July, 22, 2013. The college is placing more of an emphasis on courses that will help their students find employment in the growing number of oilfields and wind farms in West Texas.]()
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New in Trib+Edu: New Teacher Evaluations Delayed
In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: poor districts can't afford good textbooks, new teacher evaluations delayed and an interview with HD Chambers, Alief ISD superintendent. Full Story
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Texas Delays Rollout of New Teacher Evaluations
Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams told federal education officials the state would take an additional year to pilot a new teacher evaluation system based in part on student standardized test performance. Full Story
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As Teacher Pay Lags, Attrition, Class Size Grow
Stacked up against other states, Texas public schools could win the best-bang-for-your-buck competition. The state spends less than most others, and its students perform better than many. But the commitment to fiscal restraint has come with its own burdens for teachers. Full Story
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![A study released by Sam Houston State University in October 2013 that was commissioned by the Texas State Teachers Association showed a marked increase in teachers reporting that they had taken second jobs during the school year to make ends meet.]()
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New in Trib+Edu: Schools Prepare for Child Migrants
In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: schools prepare for influx of child migrants, giving boys a better emotional toolbox and an interview with María Robledo Montecel of IDRA. Full Story
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Academic Gains Slowing; No Consensus on Why
Over the last decade, Texas students have made steady progress on a number of academic measures. But in recent years, that improvement has begun to stall. Full Story
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![Texas' improvement on national academic measures has begun to stall in recent years. In 2013, for the first time in 15 years, math and reading scores went down or stayed the same for black and Hispanic students in both fourth and eighth grades. The scores also went down for Anglo students in some areas.]()
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TEA Chief Circumvents State Board Charter School Veto
Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams has effectively overruled a vote by the State Board of Education to deny an Arizona-based charter school's expansion into the Dallas area. Full Story
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![Parents look over books and ask questions about curriculum during a parent information session for the new Great Hearts Monte Vista Charter School to open in San Antonio at Temple Beth-El, October 29, 2013.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney