The Evening Brief: March 11, 2013
Your evening reading: at education rally, Davis knocks Combs over revenue estimate; committees hear $2 billion water plan proposal; Garcia sworn in to Senate seat Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/11/D54H7968.jpg)
-
![A public education rally at the Capitol on March 11, 2013, sponsored by the Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
The results of the new University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll on everything from the top race of 2014 to the gun debate, Aaronson on Medicaid expansion, Aguilar on a financial thaw in the Mexican oil patch, Batheja on cents and sensibility, M. Smith on school choice, Rocha and Dehn on TWIA reform, Galbraith on water and fracking, Murphy’s interactive map of poverty in the state, E. Smith's TribLive interview with House Public Education Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock and Root on a lobby couple living large and reporting small: The best of our best content from March 4-8, 2013. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/08/03042013-Tribweek.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Patrick Presents Details of Tax Credit Scholarship Plan
State Sen. Dan Patrick has filed legislation to create an Equal Opportunity Scholarship Program, which would allow economically disadvantaged and at-risk students who attend public schools to transfer to private schools. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Patrick-Dewhurst.jpg)
![Lt. Governor David Dewhurst and Sen. Dan Patrick R-Houston, during press conference to discuss education reform in Texas including school choice.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
TribLive: A Conversation with Jimmie Don Aycock
Full video of my 3/7 conversation with state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Aycock096CMS_1.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
New School Choice Bill Would Allow Local Accountability Plans
House Bill 300 from state Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, would allow local school boards to opt out of most state regulations to set their own accountability goals. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/07/_KCA8409.jpg)
![Rep. Jason Issac, R-Dripping Springs on the House floor, February 8, 2011.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
TribLive: Aycock on Testing and Accountability
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee, talked about correct number of tests a student should take and how he'd revise the state's accountability system. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/image_3.19.29_PM.jpeg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
TribLive: Aycock on School Choice
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee, talked about the prospects for school choice legislation this session — and why a business tax credit might not pass muster. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Aycock096CMS.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
UT/TT Poll: Texans Favor Surcharge to Help State Pay for Water Projects
Water is a top issue with lawmakers, if not quite there with voters, according to the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. And voters prefer adding a surcharge, based on water usage, to help pay for water projects. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/06/UT-TxTrib-Poll2013-d3.001.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Senator Files Tax Credit Scholarship Bill
State Sen. Ken Paxton has filed a bill that would enact a business tax credit scholarship program touted by state Sen. Dan Patrick and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst at a December media conference. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/NewGuys-Standing.jpg)
![Triblive event with Rep. Kelly Hancock R-Ft. Worth, Rep. Ken Paxton R-McKinney, and Rep. Larry Taylor R-League City on September 6th, 2012]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Updated: Chief Justice Pushes for "Innocence Commission"
Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson pushed lawmakers to establish a commission to investigate wrongful convictions at his biannual State of the Judiciary speech on Wednesday. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Guest Column: Choice is the Way to Save Our Schools
Choice would empower parents to select the best schools for their children and would empower teachers to earn more. Our failing schools would improve. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Guest Column: A Voucher is a Voucher is a Voucher
Just as death and taxes are certainties, we can be sure that several cloaked voucher bills will be introduced by the Legislature. No matter how it is sliced and diced, no matter its moniker, if passed it will result in public dollars going to private schools. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/28/TxTrib-Zornes001.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
TribuneFest: Building a Better Teacher
At the Trib's February 25 symposium on public education at Rice University, Morgan Smith talked about what it takes to find and retain great teachers with Linda McSpadden McNeil of Rice University, Elisa Villanueva Beard of Teach for America, Gayle Fallon of the Houston Federation of Teachers and former U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/image_8.jpeg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Texas Tribune Public Schools Explorer 2.0
In the latest iteration of our one-of-a-kind Public Schools Explorer, compare individual schools and districts to one another, cross-filter by metrics like performance and spending, and check out the latest data on everything from TAKS to enrollment. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/04/Education-App-2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
TribuneFest: Ex-Commissioners Confidential
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. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Confidential-still.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
TribuneFest: Choice and Charters
At the Trib's February 25 symposium on public education at Rice University, Morgan Smith talked about the prospect of greater choice and more charters with Caprice Young of the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, Rosemary Perlmeter of Teaching Trust, Duncan Klussmann of Spring Branch Independent School District and David Anthony of Raise Your Hand Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/image_8.54.13_PM.jpeg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
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 — even on big political issues like school finance. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TexasSupremeCourt.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Frank Swift -
Senator Would Fund Mental Health Training for Teachers
State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, on Thursday filed the latest in a slew of proposals aimed at improving school safety. His bill would provide state funds to train Texas teachers to recognize and respond to mental illnesses. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/27/D54H4667.jpg)
![Sen. Charles Schwertner R-Georgetown, at a February Texas Tribune event.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Senate Panel Backs More Money for Public Schools
A panel of senators voted Thursday to put $1.5 billion in additional public school funding in the state's two-year budget. That includes more money for pre-kindergarten programs, the state's Virtual School Network and Teach for America. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/SenateFinance.jpg)
![August 29th Senate Committee on Finance with newly appointed Chair Sen. Tommy Williams R-The Woodlands]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
TribuneFest: Accountability and Student Testing
At the Trib's February 25 symposium on public education at Rice University, I talked accountability and student testing with Robert Duron, the state's deputy commissioner of education; Susan Kellner of Texans Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessment; Tom Pauken of the Texas Workforce Commission; and former U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/image_7.jpeg)
![Article thumbnail]()
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8718d42c08584855350fa2b73d66e55b/BD%20INC%20Jefferson%20SOJ-2%202013)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ffd95fb09318b98d11df43ddc0248562/TT%20Event%20School%20Finance%203313%202013)