The latest public education news from The Texas Tribune.
A bill scrapping the state’s standardized test heads over to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. It would replace STAAR with three shorter tests at the beginning, middle and end of the year. Full Story
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The endorsement comes as Texas elected officials push for more Christianity in public life and as Paxton’s office fights a legal challenge to religion in education. Full Story
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Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath is considering the state’s second-largest district takeover due to failing accountability ratings. Full Story
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The suit alleges the new state law unconstitutionally silences the viewpoints of students and teachers. The law’s supporters say DEI programs use public funds to promote political agendas. Full Story
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More than 75 Texas camps have met dozens of safety standards to become accredited by the American Camp Association, which can be a lengthy and costly process. Full Story
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New laws range from school vouchers and water infrastructure funding to a ban on city and county-funded abortion travel funds. Full Story
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The numbers may grow as the state collects more data. Some districts adopted the plan not for its religious emphasis but for more funding and to better align with teaching requirements. Full Story
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Democrats say recent changes to the bill give too much power to the TEA and fall short of meaningfully easing the pressures of standardized testing. Full Story
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Senate Bill 8, which now heads to the House floor, would restrict which bathrooms in government buildings transgender people would be allowed to use. Full Story
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Senate Bill 1, which would require more oversight of emergency plans and evacuation procedures at summer camps, was advanced after the emotional hearing Wednesday. Full Story
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The Texas Tribune’s database now includes the state education agency’s 2024-25 ratings of public and charter schools. Full Story
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Lawmakers also approved new teacher raises, banned DEI initiatives and gave schools more flexibility to discipline students. Full Story
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Federal funding cuts to immunization efforts and a new law that allows exemption forms to be downloaded, instead of mailed, could drive up exemptions in the future. Full Story
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Test scores rose slightly after math scores previously fell last year. Full Story
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The state can take control of a school district if at least one of its campuses receives a failing grade five years in a row. Full Story
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More than 500 schools are using four-day school weeks, a dramatic increase from two years ago driven by fierce competition for educators amid a statewide teacher shortage. Full Story
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In the 2024-25 school year, 14% of Texas school districts got an A, 71% got a B or a C, and 15% got a D or an F, new state data shows. Full Story
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Fewer schools received a D or an F in the 2024-25 school year than the year prior. But for campuses that are underperforming, two or more years of low grades in a row means more pressure to improve — or risk more state oversight. Full Story
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Sweeping and sudden funding changes this year put two revered after-school programs for low-income Texans and a rural teacher training initiative at risk of closure. Full Story
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An investigation by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune found more than 60 instances of nepotism, self-dealing and conflicts of interest among 27 private schools that likely would have violated state laws had the schools been public. Full Story
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