The latest public education news from The Texas Tribune.
The $193.8 billion budget approved by the House Appropriations Committee includes an extra $2.5 billion for public education. The bill is smaller than the Senate budget by about $1.7 billion. Full Story
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When the state closes a decade's worth of testing under the TAKS exams in April, it will mark the end of a period that saw students’ scores on the standardized tests soar. But that success hasn't translated to improvement on national measures. Full Story
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At SXSWedu, reporter Morgan Smith discusses ways to keep schools safe with Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas; Texas Association of School Boards attorney Joy Baskin; Texas School Safety Center Director Victoria Calder and Barbara Beto, the Texas PTA's legislative action chairwoman. Full Story
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On this week's Agenda Texas from KUT News: How many tests are too many? State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, is leading the charge to reduce the number of high school STAAR tests from 15 to five. But critics worry that cutting tests could also cut standards. Full Story
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Sen. Dan Patrick's Senate Bill 2 is the most ambitious attempt to expand the state’s charter school system since it was established in 1995. It will have to pass a Legislature that defeated more modest proposals two years ago. Full Story
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House members unanimously approved a bill largely devoted to addressing a shortfall in Medicaid. Health providers for poor children and the disabled in Texas won't get paid starting Thursday unless Gov. Rick Perry signs the bill soon. Full Story
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Ask any of the estimated 2,700 members of the American Federation of Teachers who came out Monday for the group's lobby day, and they’ll tell you their top priority is restoring the $5.4 billion in cuts made last session to public education. Full Story
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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