Public education

National media outlets told the story of David Briscoe surviving the Santa Fe shooting. He wasn’t there.

by Alex Samuels

A man who claimed he was a substitute teacher at Santa Fe High during the 2018 shooting told a harrowing story of survival. But the school district says he never worked there. Full Story 

As Texas overhauls schools, property taxes, voters wary, UT/TT Poll says

by Ross Ramsey

Texas lawmakers are boasting about ambitious education and property tax legislation they passed this year, but voters don't appear to be completely sold, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story 

Gov. Greg Abbott signs $11.6 billion school finance measure into law

by Patrick Svitek

The high-priority bill boosts per-student funding and reduces property taxes across the state. Full Story 

Gov. Greg Abbott signs several school safety bills in wake of shooting at Santa Fe High

by Alex Samuels

The bills would, among other things, strengthen mental health initiatives available to children, abolish the cap on how many school marshals can carry guns on public school campuses and allot money to school districts that can go toward “hardening” their campuses. Full Story 

Analysis: The latest Texas legislative session proves elections have consequences

by Ross Ramsey

The marked difference between the 86th Legislature and its predecessors followed an election year that changed politicians' minds about who deserved their attention. Full Story 

Texas lawmakers boosted special education funding this year, prompting hope for more from advocates

by Aliyya Swaby

The Legislature committed about $223 million to pay off a federal financial penalty and will study the possibility of overhauling special education funding in 2021. Full Story 

Texas lawmakers approve $1.1 billion from state savings to fix teacher pension fund

by Aliyya Swaby

Senate Bill 12 would increase state, teacher and school district contributions to the pension fund over the next six years and give retired teachers a $2,000 supplemental check. Full Story 

Texas House, Senate approve budget deal with agreements on school finance, property taxes, Hurricane Harvey recovery

by Edgar Walters

Completing negotiations that have taken place over the last few months, Texas House and Senate lawmakers accepted a compromise on a state spending plan for 2020-21. Full Story 

Texas House, Senate pass school finance bill mandating teacher raises and cutting taxes

by Aliyya Swaby

The $11.6 billion school finance and property tax reform bill is now poised to head to Gov. Greg Abbott. Full Story 

Analysis: Texas legislators had a successful session, but not a historic one

by Ross Ramsey

Lawmakers delivered on their promises of school finance and property tax reforms, agreeing to spend $11.6 billion on a combination of education changes and tax cuts. It's big, but is it really "transformative"? Full Story 

Teacher raises and all-day pre-K: Here's what's in the Texas Legislature's landmark school finance bill

by Aliyya Swaby

The $11.6 billion legislation is on a path to the governor's desk and includes property tax cuts, a hike in per-student funding and money to ease the state's reliance on the "Robin Hood" program. Full Story 

Texas' legislative leaders say they have a deal on school finance and property tax reform

by Cassandra Pollock and Aliyya Swaby

Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen announced they have finalized the details of the three bills that will accomplish their top policy goals. Full Story 

This session's biggest mental health bill got killed on a technicality — then resurrected

by Cassandra Pollock, Edgar Walters and Elizabeth Byrne

Senate Bill 10, focused on connecting children to mental health services, was knocked out of contention with a parliamentary maneuver Tuesday night but was revived as an amendment to another bill hours later. It's one of several measures the state's GOP leaders championed in the wake of the deadly shooting last year at Santa Fe High School. Full Story 

Texas school safety measures expanded with House amendments to sweeping legislation

by Alex Samuels

Tentative approval of the bill comes days after the one-year anniversary of a shooting at Santa Fe High School that left 10 dead and another 13 wounded. Full Story 

Can pay raises help rural Texas districts like Buffalo retain teachers?

by Aliyya Swaby

Starting teacher pay in Buffalo is thousands below the state average, and it's hard to attract people from outside the small town. The district's superintendent hopes school finance reform will help. Full Story 

Texas teachers often spend their own money on supplies. This year, lawmakers are pondering giving them raises.

by Forrest Milburn

“I don’t think twice about spending the money on those kids, other than it’s unfortunate that I have to do it," one teacher said. Full Story 

Bill to reinstate Texas A&M and UT football game never gained ground

by Carlos Anchondo

After it failed to move out of the House Higher Education Committee on Monday, a proposal to bring back the annual game seems all but dead. Full Story 

Texas Senate approves school finance reform bill but opts not to fund it with a sales tax hike

by Aliyya Swaby

The chambers will need to negotiate how to give teachers pay raises, whether to adjust how students take standardized tests and how to provide long-term property tax relief for Texans. Full Story 

Analysis: Betting a whole legislative session on one big issue

by Ross Ramsey

The pieces are in place. There's a month to go. And the three leaders who bet big on school finance, education and property taxes are in a familiar place, imploring reluctant legislators to take the kinds of high-stakes votes that make and break political careers. Full Story 

Gov. Greg Abbott, legislative leaders assert confidence as deadline to cut property taxes nears

by Aliyya Swaby and Cassandra Pollock

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen did not close the door on passing a sales tax swap with a simple majority instead of the current approach requiring two-thirds support of lawmakers and voter approval. Full Story