The latest public education news from The Texas Tribune.
Coronavirus is a risk for his students, Premont ISD Superintendent Steve VanMatre says, but so is seeing their educations stop cold. He's trying to safely address both while getting kids back in front of teachers. Full Story
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The Texas Health and Human Services Commission on Monday extended the deadline for applying to July 31. Full Story
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Long-stay hotels are often the last resort for struggling families, even more so during the coronavirus pandemic. Many children are receiving little education with schools closed, and school districts have simply lost track of thousands of students. Full Story
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Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath told local school officials Thursday they can expect $1.29 billion in federal coronavirus relief to start flowing this summer, helping shore up district budgets for next school year. Full Story
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Most of the money is expected to go directly to local districts to help vulnerable students during the coronavirus pandemic. But advocates are trying to steer some into controversial policies like expanding virtual schools. Full Story
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A child care subsidy program for essential workers will stop taking applications after Wednesday, and on June 1, low-income parents will stop getting an extra subsidy they have been receiving to help during the pandemic. Full Story
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School districts can keep their ceremonies virtual, celebrate seniors while they drive in a procession, knit pictures of individual seniors into a graduation video or host a socially distanced outdoor ceremony, said Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath. Full Story
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It's way too early to know how COVID-19 cases will trend over the next few months, but school leaders are trying to draw up preliminary plans for bringing students back to classrooms. Full Story
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Restaurant, retail and movie theater workers may be called back to work as soon as Friday. But licensed child care remains open only for children of "essential" workers. Full Story
Doctors and health experts say it isn't safe to let students go back to their schools, the governor said at a news conference announcing executive orders intended to slowly reopen the Texas economy. Full Story
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Karen Sams and Michelle Sandoval, both 2020 Texas Teachers of the Year, know how important it is to see their students in the classrooms and hallways. Without that contact, they fear some are slipping away. Full Story
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Phillip Perry was the leader many believed would rescue a troubled Waco middle school and help its students soar. Two weeks after his death from the coronavirus, students and teachers learn the added pain of mourning during a pandemic. Full Story
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Before the coronavirus pandemic, Texas schools were already failing many students with disabilities. School closings have made the job tougher and forced many parents to become amateur special ed teachers. Full Story
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The pandemic's impact on the Texas economy is a full-on recession, state Comptroller Glenn Hegar said Tuesday. And hard financial decisions will mark the next session of the Texas Legislature. Full Story
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With schools closed statewide to halt the spread of the new coronavirus, hourly workers like custodians and bus drivers worry how long their paychecks will keep coming. Substitute teachers aren't finding paid work at all. Full Story
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The new coronavirus has forced Texans online for education, commerce, work and entertainment. But a third of the state's residents don't have broadband in their homes. Full Story
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We sat down for a live virtual interview with Aldine ISD Superintendent LaTonya Goffney to discuss the novel coronavirus outbreak in Texas and its impact on public education in the state. Full Story
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The new coronavirus has prompted parents to pull their kids from day care, and thousands have closed. But essential workers like nurses, police officers and grocery store clerks desperately need safe places to leave their children. Full Story
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The state standardized test, taken in third through 12th grade, determines whether students can graduate or move on to the next grade and whether schools can stay open. Full Story
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Lower-income households are being hit the hardest by school closings as parents try to hang on to jobs and care for their children. Districts are cobbling together ways to keep their educations on track. Full Story
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