Texas is one step closer to funding virtual learning, but could leave out many students of color
The bill, which would provide funding through September 2023, will head back to the Senate before reaching Gov. Greg Abbott's desk. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a726020d6c0324454d07cea7fc972f60/Phan%20-%20Remote%20Learning%20JV%20TT%2005.jpg)
-
![Sophomore Alexis Phan does her Algebra 2 homework remotely, from her home in Pflugerville on Nov. 16, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas says schools now must notify families of positive COVID-19 cases in classrooms
This is a reversal of the Texas Education Agency’s previous guidance, which didn’t explicitly require school districts to notify parents of a close contact with the virus. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/dbb70d2612a5a459065bb510900300db/EPISD%20Mask%20mandate%20IPA%20TT%201060.JPG)
![Students arrive at Morehead Middle School on Aug. 19, 2021, in El Paso. The school district, EPISD, as of today voted a mask mandate for all teachers, staff and students in school facilities, defying Gov. Abbott's order that restricted local entities from instituting mask mandates.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
Joe Biden takes aim at states blocking mask mandates, setting Gov. Greg Abbott up for showdown with feds
Biden said he will use the U.S. Department of Education’s civil rights enforcement authority to deter states from blocking mask mandates in classrooms. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0825c12ccde17a1e73e5eb5a698491d2/Biden%20COVID%20REUTERS%20TT.jpg)
![President Joe Biden delivered remarks on the nation's COVID-19 response and vaccination program during a speech in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 18, 2021.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz -
Analysis: Groundhog Day in Texas
A lot of the news from the last few days — about the Legislature, about COVID-19 and about immigration — has a real déjà vu quality to it. And there’s a good reason for that. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/856cbbaba33fe79be6c79c53691c9827/McAllen%20Catholic%20Charities%20Migrants%20TT%2019.jpg)
![A migrant child waits with his family in front of the Catholic Charities RGV Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen on July 27, 2021.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
With school openings near, parents and teachers say state leaders have stripped them of weapons against COVID-19
Public health experts and medical professionals are sounding the alarm over the highly transmissible delta variant of COVID-19. The governor has stood firm on his ban against masking mandates in schools. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ff758b0f125387c72a8862549d71f2ad/AISD%20Vaccine%20Event%20SP%20TT%2025.jpg)
![Anthony Peña, 15, sits after receiving a dose of the Pfizer vaccine at a clinic organized by the Travis County Mobile Vaccine Collaborative at Rodriguez Elementary School on July 28, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
CDC wants more vaccinated people and schoolchildren to mask up — but Texas keeps it voluntary
Texas Republican state leaders held their ground against allowing local schools and governments to require masks. The CDC guidelines are not mandates and have no weight of law. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf28de5581c402988820c31b476bae49/McKinney%20ISD%20Vaccines%20BT%20TT%2012.jpg)
![McKinney ISD registered nurse Jennifer Beaverson, left, administers a COVID-19 vaccine to Rory Augustin, 15, at McKinney ISD Stadium and Community Event Center on May 20, 2021.]()
Credit: Ben Torres for the Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate approves limits on transgender athletes, but bills are still in limbo
Transgender students would be prevented from joining public school and university sports teams that correspond to their gender. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ed8d8e01dd0126f7af2ac9158916f7d4/House%20Floor%20May%2023%20JV%20TT%2003.jpg)
![Transgender rights activists gather outside the entrance to the House floor on May 23, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas’ 1836 Project aims to promote “patriotic education,” but critics worry it will gloss over state’s history of racism
The project is essentially an advisory committee designed to promote the state’s history to Texas residents, largely through pamphlets given to people receiving driver’s licenses. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d6a67677d63073f65e9d862117738122/Tejano%20Monument%201836%20SP%20TT%20002.jpg)
![The Tejano Monument, commemorating the contributions that Tejanos made to Texas history and culture, sits on the southern lawn of the Texas Capitol on June 8, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Texas educators worry bill limiting the teaching of current events and historic racism would “whitewash history”
Texas educators say they’re concerned they won’t be able to have open conversations about what’s happening in the world if the Texas Legislature approves a bill that restricts how teachers can discuss current events in the classroom. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bbc6ac04afcd9184d5149b8205088c6d/Classroom%20CollegeReady017%20TT.jpg)
![Students in class at Bowie High School in Austin.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
Texas families with students receiving free or reduced-price lunches could be eligible for up to $1,200 in food aid
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission will allocate around $2.5 billion in food benefits to all eligible families. School districts will notify families about eligibility by June 2. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/725bebcdd5b6c7705065dd047e2b5d39/Jacobs%20Well%20Elementary%20JV%2010.jpg)
![Students sit at socially-distanced intervals in the lunch room at Jacob’s Well Elementary School in Wimberley on Sept. 4, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for the Texas Tribune -
Point of Order: Big man on campus
In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to former state Rep. Pete Gallego about his first year as the president of his alma mater, Sul Ross State University in Alpine, and the challenges and opportunities ahead for higher ed as the state comes out of the pandemic. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ee3b23c67609fb74b29eb60f2b7d02d0/TT-PointofOrder-podcast-launch-art.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
School nurses have become crucial in battling the pandemic, but Texas doesn't require districts to have them
With more students going back to classrooms and no more statewide mask mandate, nurses say their jobs are set to become even more challenging. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f24de9638dc043e365c9101426757434/Marisa%20Thomison%20MM%20TT%2039.jpg)
![Marisa Thomison poses for a portrait in the courtyard of Veterans' Hill Elementary School in Round Rock on March 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Montinique Monroe for The Texas Tribune -
Millions of Texans still don’t have broadband access. Some lawmakers are trying to change that.
Although much of the attention is focused in the lack of infrastructure in rural areas, large numbers of urban residents also don't have broadband subscriptions. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9d474915e55d81a9e01aa44dce785e7d/Keyboard%20Computer%20Typing%20iStock%20TT.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto -
Texas schools won't lose state funding this academic year for coronavirus attendance declines
School districts must keep or increase the rate of students learning in person in order to avoid losing funds, Gov. Greg Abbott and education officials announced Thursday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d58b83763d4d09cfe30257a436d88da3/COVID%20Highland%20Village%20Elem%20ST%20TT%2039.jpg)
![Students in Mrs. Cazares' third-grade class on the first day of in-person classes at Highland Village Elementary on Sept. 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Student files class-action lawsuit against UT-Austin, saying online education last year wasn't worth the tuition
The suit claims that the quality of classes dropped and argues the tuition should have too. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e582371e7758886639e0b38f2740cead/UT%20Austin%20Texas%20Flag%20EG%20TT%2004.jpg)
![The Texas flag flies on the south lawn of The Univerisity of Texas at Austin campus on Dec. 3, 2019.]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Texas schools still tallying storm costs, and some won't reopen soon
School districts report flooded classrooms and gyms, and teachers have lost supplies and learning materials. The damage is further disrupting a school year already upended by the pandemic. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ced6291ae96d2518a439bbf7e60e24d2/ATX%20Snowstorm%20Feb%2018%20MG%20TT%2025.jpg)
![Cots and bags with items at Reilly Elementary School in North Austin. The school was turned into a warming shelter during the recent winter storm. Feb. 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
We’ve updated our Texas Public Schools Explorer with 2019-20 data
Use our database to learn about Texas public school districts and campuses, including hundreds of charter schools and alternative campuses. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the state waived accountability ratings for the 2019-20 school year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ba9b75d6f897304f373db474be3a1ccd/COVID%20Highland%20Village%20Elem%20ST%20TT%2010.jpg)
![Students draw their self-portraits, including their masks, in Mrs. Hogan's kindergarten class on the first day of in-person classes at Highland Village Elementary on Sept. 8, 2020.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Texas students slammed again as storm scrambles already chaotic school year
The pandemic had already destabilized parents, teachers and students. Now the winter storm's damage to buildings is preventing schools from even serving as lifelines for students in need of shelter and food. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2bf631ead89d033175ce7d7d5ff08874/Winter%20Storm%20SMTX%20JV%20TT%2004.jpg)
![Frozen jackets sit on a bench at an elementary school in San Marcos as Texas continues to deal with sub-zero temperatures and widespread power and water outages on Feb. 17, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Point of Order: The disconnect
In the latest episode of our podcast about the Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Rep. Trent Ashby about his bill to create a state broadband plan — a long-overdue effort to address our digital deficiency at a time when school, work and health care have all moved online. Full Story
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Many Texas students can skip STAAR tests this year, but high schoolers might have to show up to graduate
There will be few consequences if parents worried about the health risks of in-person testing keep their elementary and middle school students in virtual learning at home. But high schoolers still must pass certain exams to graduate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cbf402e8066ff87d7518eeb0435e42ba/Pre-AP%20Algebra%20Class%20TK%20TT.jpg)
![Hank Warner teaches a pre-advanced placement algebra course for ninth graders at Bowie High School in Austin.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune