public education

Video: The Week in Texas Politics Recap: June 6 to June 10, 2011

By Justin Dehn June 10, 2011

Want a quick recap of some of the happenings this week in the Texas Legislature? We've made it easier for you with our weekly video rundown of the action under the dome. Full Story
Amid School Finance Scuffle, Pre-K Measure Makes a Return

By Morgan Smith June 9, 2011

Expect the Texas House to revisit old battles over school finance — and open a new one, for the lower chamber at least, over pre-kindergarten accountability — when it takes up Senate Bill 1 today on the floor. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Special Session Revives Class-Size Debate

By Mose Buchele, KUT News June 7, 2011

Talk of lifting the state's student-teacher class-size ratio has returned after a bill on the matter died in May. As Mose Buchele of KUT News reports, though some say debate on the issue has downplayed the potential harm for students, others call the worries overblown. Full Story
Video: Teachers, Parents Protest Education Cuts

By Justin Dehn June 6, 2011

Teachers and parents gathered today at the state Capitol to protest budget cuts to education funding. Full Story
With Filibuster, Wendy Davis Talks Herself Into Political Spotlight

By Emily Ramshaw June 5, 2011

State Sen. Wendy Davis' controversial decision to torpedo the 82nd Legislative session with a filibuster has catapulted the Fort Worth Democrat into the spotlight, which she has seized to try to mobilize the state’s downtrodden and outnumbered Democrats. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Evan Smith June 4, 2011

Aaronson and Grissom on a freshman lawmaker who didn't mind making waves, Aguilar on E-Verify's new lease on life, Galbraith on the state's plodding progress toward solar power, Hamilton on Warren Chisum's exit, Philpott on the remapping of Lloyd Doggett's district, Ramsey on a proposed change to ethics laws for Texas pols, Ramshaw on efforts by the state to take control of Medicaid and Medicare, Root on why a Rick presidential bid shouldn't be underestimated, M. Smith on the unraveling of school finance legislation and Tan and Dehn on the highs and lows of the 82nd legislative session: The best of our best content from May 30 to June 3, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
This Time, Budget Bills Sail Through Senate

By Morgan Smith June 3, 2011

After last ditch efforts from Democrats to increase funding for schools through closing tax loopholes and tapping the Rainy Day Fund failed, two budget bills quickly cleared the Senate Friday night. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Video: The Week In Politics Recap May 30 - June 3, 2011

By Justin Dehn June 3, 2011

Want a quick recap of some of the happenings this week in the Texas Legislature? We've made it easier for you with our weekly video rundown of the action under the dome. Full Story
School Finance Returns to Senate; What Next?

By Morgan Smith June 3, 2011

School finance likely hits the Senate floor this afternoon. Will anything change? Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
The 82nd Lege Session: The Highlights Reel

By Justin Dehn and Thanh Tan June 2, 2011

The Trib's multimedia team highlights some of the most memorable — and surprising — moments from the 82nd Legislative Session. Our lawmakers sure do love to make a statement, complete with finger pointing, yelling and props. (Some video courtesy the Texas House, the Texas Senate and legetv.org.) Full Story
How School Finance Legislation Unraveled — and Might Again

By Morgan Smith June 2, 2011

In the end, a late-night filibuster in the Senate killed school finance for the regular session. But SB 1581’s earlier crash-and-burn in the House is an odyssey worth revisiting as lawmakers take up the issue in their special session. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Updated: Teacher Furloughs Fair Game for Special

By Morgan Smith May 31, 2011

Rep. Rob Eissler has filed his mandate relief bill, and while it doesn't lift the class-size ratio, it virtually ensures a school district would recieve a waiver from the requirement upon request — as long as that wouldn't result in more than 25 students in a classroom, a district-wide average of more than 22 students per class, or "negatively affect the education of students." Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
House and Senate Adjourn; Special Session to Begin Tuesday

By Brandi Grissom, Emily Ramshaw, Morgan Smith, Julián Aguilar and Thanh Tan May 30, 2011

Both the House and Senate have adjourned sine die. But without a school finance deal in the Senate, Gov. Rick Perry is expected to call a special session for 8 a.m. Tuesday. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Video: Dems Ready for Special Session

By Justin Dehn May 30, 2011

Texas Democrats, unhappy with the GOP budget, discussed possible strategies today for the coming special session. Full Story
Guest Column: Dems Face Uphill Battle Winning Public Opinion

By Jim Henson May 30, 2011

Republican skepticism about public education spending joined with the governor’s determination to hold the line on spending, including on public education, is likely to carry the day — whether it takes a few hours or 30 more days. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Video: "She Raised A Hurdle. That's Her Call."

By Justin Dehn May 30, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry talked this morning about the late-night filibuster by state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, that kept the upper chamber from voting on SB 1811, a critical piece of the budget puzzle. Full Story
20 Weeks in Which the Budget Held Sway

By Brandi Grissom, Reeve Hamilton, Ross Ramsey, Emily Ramshaw, Morgan Smith, Julián Aguilar and Kate Galbraith May 29, 2011

The 82nd Texas Legislature’s regular session ends as it started, with lawmakers arguing about a shrunken state budget and redistricting. Full Story

Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller
Final Update: What $4 Billion Less Means For Your School District

By Morgan Smith and Ryan Murphy May 28, 2011

A school finance plan has at last emerged from talks between budget and education chiefs in the House and Senate. Here's what may be the final update to our searchable database. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Ryan Murphy / Morgan Smith / Todd Wiseman
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey May 28, 2011

Root profiles conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan, Aaronson on the Senate's flare-up over an airport groping ban, Grissom on some twisted logic in the state's same-sex marriage laws, Murphy and Macrander expand and refresh our public employee salary database, yours truly with the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll results on politics, issues, the state's finances, and race, Ramshaw's report on how some of the governor's former aides now represent clients who want more money in the state budget, M. Smith on last-minute efforts to save education legislation that didn't make it through the process, Tan reports on efforts to finish the state budget before the session ends on Monday, and Dehn with the video week in review: The best of our best from May 9 to 13, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Updated: A Deal on School Finance, Dewhurst Says

By Morgan Smith May 27, 2011

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said leaders in the House and Senate had agreed on a school finance plan as he left a meeting with education and budget chiefs from both chambers. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich