Public education

A year after the Texas Freedom Caucus first launched, the bloc of hardline conservatives in the Texas House is optimistic it will broaden its membership before state lawmakers head back to Austin in 2019.

Full Story 

In the latest chapter of an ongoing fight over how involved public school districts may get in this year's elections, Attorney General Ken Paxton has warned three Texas school districts to "cease and desist" what he called illegal electioneering efforts. 

Full Story 

State lawmakers are not solely to blame for the increasing burden on local property taxpayers, but they are certainly as responsible as anyone else.

Full Story 

Powerful conservatives have taken several shots over the past few months at an educational advocacy group aiming to promote voting. 

Full Story 

Districts often say they will only hire uncertified teachers for career and technology courses. But because there are no state restrictions, some experts are concerned that uncertified educators will teach core classes. 

 

Full Story 

The Texas Education Agency created a policy in 2004 that led school districts to deny special education services to thousands of students. Some educators and officials say that cap started with the federal government.

Full Story 

The State Board of Education is considering creating standards for an official Mexican-American studies course after two failed attempts to approve a textbook for the subject.

Full Story 

Gov. Greg Abbott released his second "Report to the People of Texas," which chronicles the state's victories in 2017. But it skims over a few major challenges Texas faced during the past year.

Full Story 

The Texas Commission on Public School Finance will meet for the first time this week as it develops legislative recommendations for overhauling the state's beleaguered system for funding public education.

 

Full Story 

The Texas Education Agency released a preliminary plan for reforming special education, addressing federal concerns about the state's failure to serve students with disabilities.

Full Story 

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an official, nonbinding opinion Wednesday saying school districts cannot provide transportation to get students to polling places unless the trip serves an educational purpose. 

Full Story 

Penny Schwinn, who oversees Texas Education Agency policy on special education, is a finalist for Massachusetts education commissioner — a month after a special education contract she spearheaded took a nosedive.

Full Story 

In the wake of a federal report finding Texas was failing its kids with disabilities, educators say the state is to blame and that Texas legislators first suggested cutting back special education services to keep costs low.

Full Story 

A U.S. Department of Education investigation concluded Thursday that Texas violated federal law by failing to ensure students with disabilities were properly evaluated and provided with an adequate public education. 

Full Story 

Take a look back at our 2017 public education coverage and read about how the Texas Legislature failed to overhaul the school finance system, how several Texas students and teachers are still recovering from a devastating hurricane, and more.

Full Story 

Use our Texas Higher Ed Outcomes Explorer to track the educational milestones of every student who started eighth grade in a Texas public school between 1997 and 2005. You can see figures broken down by county, ethnicity and other factors.

Full Story 

Now that the Texas Education Agency has terminated a controversial no-bid contract aimed at improving special education services, critics are questioning how a relatively unknown Georgia company got the job in the first place.

Full Story 

As state cuts to public education become more common, school communities must frequently debate where and how to trim their limited budgets without harming students or teachers.

Full Story 

After pushback from special education advocates, the Texas Education Agency is terminating a no-bid contract with a company to analyze thousands of personal records of students with disabilities — and reviewing agency contract processes.

Full Story 

A state lawmaker is seeking a legal opinion on whether an educator group is encouraging improper use of public funds to get out the vote. Teachers say they are modeling civic engagement for their students within legal limits, and the letter is motivated by a backlash against public education.

Full Story