The latest public education news from The Texas Tribune.
Historically, anti-drug messaging in schools has failed to acknowledge the mental health reasons that youth self-medicate. Without that key lesson, advocates worry House Bill 3908 will be another D.A.R.E. campaign. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4e7781b50beb1f32b73a2d59df707faa/Lessons_Students_PYH_TT.jpg)
Test results have gone up since the pandemic in both subjects, but math scores are still below 2019 levels and about half of Texas students read below the level appropriate for most children in their grade. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0926dec47e170becb1033baf0cebead4/STAAR%20Testing%20Elsik%20High%20School%20PYH%2001.jpg)
The House blocked school vouchers during this year’s regular lawmaking session, but a report released Friday shows some members might be willing to approve a scaled-back version of the program that doesn’t compete with public schools for funds. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/297802febde23ee7efd64f9ec5b7b1f9/Cactus%20Elementary%20MG%20TT%2013.jpg)
Education is arguably the most important issue in Texas, as today’s students are tomorrow’s workforce and innovators. We are committed to expanding and deepening our education coverage. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/463a035f74b2cf07fc73510e349b6db4/EducationTSquared_Cardenas_LW_20230725.png)
Two Texas bookstores and three national bookseller associations file suit over House Bill 900, which requires private booksellers to rate books on appropriateness, and bans “sexually explicit” material from libraries. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9b41031f9a0311fb0326c47c09d5c344/Book%20File%20LW%20TT%2013.jpg)
After the tragic Uvalde school shooting in 2022, Abel Ortiz, an art professor at Southwest Texas Junior College, asked artists from across the state to come together to use the power of art to heal. See the results of their efforts in this video. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c269c89ed939c6350f4fbe2d2521f511/1022%20Final%20Mural%20EL%2003.jpg)
At a time when the state has some of the nation’s highest property taxes, the initiative was a cornerstone of his 2022 reelection campaign. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c64f332c175af9819b46a11f5fc60147/0602%20Abbott%20TPPF%20Lege%20Recap%20EL%20TT%2012.jpg)
Panelists in a Texas Tribune event recapped lawmakers’ hits and misses on education during the regular legislative session and shared their thoughts about the likely debates that will take place during an expected special session later this year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e843e2d241cb17912ceb225a868f0b48/07-25_PublicEd-Lead-Title-01-v1.png)
The small district’s apprenticeship program lets aspiring teachers earn a bachelor’s degree and teacher certification at no cost. In return, participants must work at the district for at least three years. Observers hope state lawmakers will use the program as a model for legislation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9b7cd89f2f8d50e79b1caaa9f9143446/0504%20Teacher%20Certificates%20BV%20TT%2013.jpg)
Experts say many of the changes will bolster school safety but some requirements may be challenging for public schools to implement by the upcoming school year with limited funding and staffing constraints. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8a3df2ca01344e56ffabb6e8c29eb296/School%20Security%20TK%20TT%2003.jpg)
Lawmakers this year didn’t approve extra money to help schools pay for raises despite having an unprecedented $32 billion surplus — even after Gov. Greg Abbott commissioned a task force last year to improve teacher pay and retention. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a07e31d42a377f561b7a4aa801ad4dc8/Jacobs%20Well%20Elementary%20JV%20TT%2014.jpg)
Mike Miles said the cuts will be mostly from academics-related departments with more positions to be cut in coming weeks, he said. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6cf4eb6545bc6bd1b7314f3dc182333e/20230602%20HISD%20Mike%20Miles%20MDJ%20HL.jpg)
The state police agency had been withholding nearly all of its records on law enforcement’s botched response to Texas’ deadliest school shooting. DPS will have an opportunity to redact the files before they are released. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b55637ccf6cba37a149f41300914a8cb/Uvalde%20Victims%20March%20EL%20TT%2003.jpg)
Many Texas residents can opt for a variety of different educational programs that are shorter, more appropriate to their needs and often cost less than a bachelor’s degree. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7bc7366503c239c6d11409c13874300c/1024%20TSTC%20Tour%20EL%20TT%2012.jpg)
Mike Miles has wasted no time in restructuring schools and proposing administrative layoffs. The changes are designed to pay teachers at struggling schools more if their students show improvement. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7d40396de84324cbbd01e87fd8fc5ec2/Wheatley%20HISD%20PY%20TT%20352.jpg)
The state recently took over the Houston school district. The new officials restricted the number of people allowed in the board room, requiring many people to watch from an overflow space. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6e85b7d0389a5dbbe853d09db2bfc888/20230615_HISD%20BOARD%20MEET%20061423_AM_05.JPEG)
State law that limits transgender student athletes’ participation in sports runs afoul of the updated federal civil rights law, which was expanded to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ students, potentially putting Texas schools at risk of losing federal funding. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/733bfc44925047a1988413bcb6de8a30/Track%20and%20Field%20REUTERS%20TT%2002.jpg)
Phelan announced the formation of a House committee that could set the tone in favor of vouchers ahead of an expected special session on education. The move comes weeks after Abbott sided with Phelan on a plan to lower property taxes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3bbc019d89ae5fbacf78c5627cf288f7/House%20Opening%20Day%20BD%20TT%2024.jpg)
What a Houston-area school district calls a mistake points at deeper problems related to dress codes. Advocates say it also amounts to systemic racism. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/01a6c453424d3dbf36ae34d0e75dd3ed/Viky%20Cruz%20graduation%20MYL%20TT%2001.jpg)
Threat assessment teams were created to prevent the next school shooting. However, confusion surrounds how these teams operate and what they even do with a child exhibiting threatening behavior. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fdfe844fa88265412e92bd314c17d1bd/_ThreePanel0134_Crowdlow.JPG)