Mental health support for toddlers has lagged in Texas. That’s now changing.
Lawmakers and child care centers are pushing for a statewide mental health system for toddlers. Full Story
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![Children work on letter puzzles at Kid's Castle Family Daycare and Preschool in Pflugerville on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
Abortion, private school vouchers and legislative control are the key issues in Texas’ 2024 election
Texan voters will have significant influence in November, both within and outside the state. They will be electing a U.S. senator, 38 U.S. House members, 150 state House members, as well as various judges and local elected officials. Additionally, they will have influence over important questions. Full Story
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![The Capitol Dome overlooks the city on Tuesday, June 24, 2024, at the Texas Capitol Building in Austin.]()
Credit: Olivia Anderson for The Texas Tribune -
How a school voucher supporter won in a Texas House district with almost no private schools
Gov. Greg Abbott said the primary showed Texans want vouchers. In House District 18, an ad blitz and immigration fears may have played a larger role. Full Story
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![A mascot poses with students during the "Meet the Wildcats" community event at Splendora High School on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, in Splendora.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
A battered child care industry’s latest challenge? Competing for 4-year-olds.
A 2019 state law requiring schools to offer full-day pre-K is capturing child care’s most profitable customer base: 3- and 4-year-olds. Full Story
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![Tim Kaminski, director of operations for Gingerbread Kids Academy and Gingerbread After School Programs, smiles as he interacts with students preparing crafts for a fall celebration on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2024, in Richmond, TX.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
A Black student punished for his hairstyle wants to return to the Houston-area school he left
The legal request comes after a judge dismissed most of the claims in a lawsuit accusing Barbers Hill ISD of discrimination. Full Story
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![Darryl George,18, stands next to his mother, Darresha George in front of Galveston County Court House on Thursday, May 23, 2024, in Galveston. George will spend the remainder of the year in in-school suspension, extending a punishment that was first imposed in August over his hairstyle that district officials say violates their dress code policy.]()
Credit: Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle -
Latest effort to block school ratings cracks Texas districts’ once-united front
Dozens of districts sued Texas saying the ratings painted an unfair picture of their schools. Others voluntarily have released their own. Full Story
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![Students leave the classroom to work in the computer lab at Mata Intermediate School.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Texas education commissioner calls for student cellphone ban in schools
Mike Morath made the recommendation as concerns rise that phones are harmful to students’ mental health and distract them from learning. Full Story
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![High school students walk to their next class after the bell rings at Elsik Ninth Grade Center in Houston on March 28, 2018.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
Dozens of Texas school districts press state to suspend new student data reporting system
The superintendents said they haven’t received enough support from the state or time to fix errors the system generated. Full Story
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![TEA Commissioner Mike Morath addresses the State Board of Education on June 26, 2024, at the William B. Travis Building in Austin.]()
Credit: Olivia Anderson/The Texas Tribune -
Democrats hope campaign against school vouchers will help retake South Texas House seat
The first-term Republican defending her seat said a private school voucher program will help her community, especially students from low-income families. Full Story
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![From left: Democrat Jonathan Gracia is challenging Republican incumbent Janie Lopez in state House District 37, which covers part of the Rio Grande Valley, which includes Harlingen and part of Brownsville.]()
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Texas school districts say upgrades to the state’s student data reporting system could hurt their funding
The Texas Education Agency says there’s time to fix problems before officially reported data is used to determine how much money districts get. Full Story
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![A school bus drives past the Texas Capitol Complex as State Board of Education members hold a meeting in the William B. Travis building on Nov. 17, 2023, in Austin.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribune -
Former schools police chief says he was not at fault in Uvalde shooting, asks judge to toss charges
Pete Arredondo’s lawyers tell the court that the shooter, not the police, was to blame for the school violence. Full Story
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![Pete Arredondo, chief of the Uvalde school district police, on a dirt road on the outskirts of Uvalde on June 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
Texas schools are hiring more teachers without traditional training. They hope the state will pay to prepare them.
Schools are hiring instructors with different types of backgrounds to deal with critical staff shortages. Full Story
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![First year educator Amanda McIntyre interacts with her students at Freeport Intermediate School in Freeport, Texas, on August 16,2024. She recently completed her teacher apprenticeship program.]()
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Professors and students need to understand AI to better shape how it’s used in higher education, panelists say
Watch a discussion on how artificial intelligence is already transforming colleges and universities in Texas. Full Story
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A South Texas school district received a request to remove 676 books from its libraries
The request came from a local pastor who is part of a group that trains people to “defend their freedom and liberty.” Other faith leaders have pushed back. Full Story
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![Books at Vandegrift High School's library on March 2, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
Federal judge in Texas expands ruling that blocks Biden administration protections of LGBTQ students
The decision in the case brought by the Texas Attorney General preempts any future Title IX regulations that extend federal protections to LGBTQ students. Full Story
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![Scenes from Austin Pride 2024 on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, at on Congress Ave in Austin. The day-long celebration featured drag performances, booths and floats of Austin’s businesses and many Texans clad in rainbow.]()
Credit: Olivia Anderson/The Texas Tribune -
After six years of low scores for students learning English, Texas educators say it’s the test’s fault
Students’ scores in a test that gauges their English skills have been low since a redesign introduced computer scoring. Full Story
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![The library at West Avenue Elementary in Waco on April 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Greta Díaz González Vázquez for The Texas Tribune -
Church, state and the Texas Legislature: Debate heats up over what students should learn
House hearing focuses on a curriculum plan and on school vouchers. Full Story
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![Odessa High School students walk between classes Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.]()
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Judge blocks Texas from releasing this year’s school accountability ratings
The ruling marks the fifth consecutive year Texas families have not received a full picture of their schools’ ratings, which are used to determine how they are performing. Full Story
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![Lorenzo G Alarcon Elementary School received Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to create a calming and quiet room with the school counselor in San Elizario, Texas on July 23, 2024.]()
Credit: Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribune -
After Uvalde city officials end battle over shooting records, victims’ families say other agencies need to follow suit
The city’s release ends a legal battle with news outlets, but other government agencies are withholding materials. Full Story
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![Authorities gather outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde after a gunman entered and killed 19 students and two teachers on May 24, 2022.]()
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Texas’ youngest students are struggling with their learning, educators say
A national study found young children are faring worse academically than their peers before the pandemic. The problem’s scope in Texas is unclear. Full Story
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![A Texas flag hangs in Heather Harris' classroom Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Plains.]()
Credit: Trace Thomas for The Texas Tribune