Public education

Texas Southern University regents link president's ouster to alleged admissions improprieties

by Shannon Najmabadi

The board's statement does not directly tie President Austin Lane to the alleged problems but says he was interviewed before he was placed on leave. Full Story 

Texas education officials consider new rules to fast-track charter school expansion

by Aliyya Swaby

Teachers groups and some education advocates are criticizing the proposed changes, saying more charter schools will siphon money and students away from traditional public schools. Full Story 

State judge temporarily blocks Texas from taking over Houston school district

by Aliyya Swaby

Texas will not be able to seize power of Houston ISD's school board until the state judge issues a final ruling on the lawsuit challenging the takeover. Full Story 

Analyzing 2019: The 86th Texas Legislature

by Ross Ramsey

Texas lawmakers, convinced that 2018’s voters were telling them to get some serious work done, steered (mostly) away from social and cultural issues to concentrate on “meat and potatoes” items voters demanded, starting with schools and property taxes. Full Story 

Revisit some of The Texas Tribune’s best stories of 2019

by Corrie MacLaggan

Our reporters crisscrossed the Texas Capitol and traveled to the Panhandle and East Texas — as well as the Netherlands and Honduras — to tell stories about the state's politics, people and places. From a story on a migrant's desperate journey to a look at how coal companies are leaving behind contaminated land, here is a selection of their best work of the year. Full Story 

Federal judge dismisses Houston ISD lawsuit seeking to avoid state takeover

by Aliyya Swaby

U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel rejected the district's argument that ousting the Houston school board would disenfranchise voters. Full Story 

Students face felony charges, expulsions as Texas schools ramp up fight against vaping

by Aliyya Swaby and Jolie McCullough

Caught off guard by the increase in teen vaping, schools are grasping every tool at hand, including expulsions and suspensions. In some districts, students can face harsh discipline and jail time for having a vape pen in their backpack. Full Story 

Midland County officials just found a missing ballot box. It may change the result of a $569 million bond election.

by Stacy Fernández

A proposal for a $569 million bond failed, then passed and could fail again after the discovery of missing ballot box from the November election. Full Story 

A year before Fort Worth ISD fired a teacher over her tweets about immigrants, students say she threatened to call the FBI on them

by Chase Karacostas

Fort Worth ISD fired Georgia Clark after she asked President Trump on Twitter in May to "remove the illegals from Fort Worth." The Texas Education Agency reversed their decision late last month mostly on procedural grounds, but the school district plans to appeal. Full Story 

Houston school district asks federal judge to put the brakes on likely state takeover

by Aliyya Swaby

Houston ISD lawyers told a federal judge the education commissioner is exceeding his authority and asked for a preliminary injunction stopping him from booting out the elected school board of the state's largest district. Full Story 

State-ordered study finds STAAR not too hard for young readers

by Aliyya Swaby

Questions about the reading and writing tests arose after some education advocates pointed to studies showing passages were written above elementary and middle schoolers' grade levels. Full Story 

Fort Worth teacher who asked Trump to deport students said her tweets were protected by the First Amendment. Texas officials agreed.

by Davis Rich and Chase Karacostas

Commissioner of Education Mike Morath wrote that Georgia Clark did not waive her First Amendment rights when she signed her contract with Fort Worth ISD. Full Story 

Feds order Texas Education Agency to pay fired special education director more than $200,000

by Aliyya Swaby

The U.S. Department of Education found that Laurie Kash's disclosures about how the TEA awarded a contract were "contributing factors" in her termination. Full Story 

Texas education officials face local resistance to Houston ISD board takeover

by Aliyya Swaby

Houston ISD parents and residents made it clear Thursday night that they don't want the state to replace their elected school board. Full Story 

Watch: Conversations on the future of urban Texas

by Texas Tribune Events Staff

We're livestreaming our two-day event in Houston exploring the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Texas' largest cities. Full Story 

Texas education board likely to approve African American studies course in 2020

by Aliyya Swaby

"We will be passing this," said Pat Hardy, a Republican on the Texas State Board of Education. Full Story 

After state takeover news, Houston ISD clams up, leaving parents and teachers scrambling for insight

by Aliyya Swaby

The state's announcement that it will seize control of its largest school system has been met with notable silence from Houston ISD administrators and local elected officials. Full Story 

Texas Tech football coach defends his role in Utah State sexual assault scandal

by Shannon Najmabadi

A federal lawsuit filed this month alleges Coach Matt Wells failed to respond to sexual assault allegations. Full Story 

This school district has been at risk of state takeover for years. Some blame white flight.

by Aliyya Swaby

In a 2003 lawsuit, Hearne Independent School District officials said the state's failure to stop white students from transferring to a nearby district contributed to their academic struggles. Full Story 

Texas education officials recommend replacing Houston ISD's elected school board

by Aliyya Swaby

A Texas Education Agency final investigative report, sent to lawmakers Wednesday evening, recommends the state appoint new leaders of Texas' largest school district. Full Story