The latest public education news from The Texas Tribune.
While most states have mandated the closure of schools, bars and restaurants; deployed their militaries; or diverted state resources to COVID-19 response, Texas is largely leaving it up to schools and local governments to decide how to proceed. Some say the approach can undermine response efforts. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott also said he would ask the federal government to waive federal testing requirements, which apply to all states. Full Story
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In separate calls with superintendents and lawmakers Sunday, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said decisions on extended school closures would be left up to locals. Full Story
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The East Texas district's elected school board voted to drop any outstanding lawsuits blocking the state's takeover of the district. Board members also ended a contract with lawyers involved in the dispute. Full Story
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Some of the districts extending their spring breaks are working on contingency plans to transition hundreds of thousands of students and teachers to remote learning in the event of even longer closures. Full Story
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The closures of Montgomery and Alvarado schools are short term, but hundreds of public school districts may face similar decisions. A big challenge for officials is figuring out how to feed low-income students in the event of prolonged shutdowns. Full Story
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State officials were stopped from swearing in an appointed board of managers to run the East Texas school district where two schools received failing grades for years. Full Story
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The Texas Education Agency announced a new appointed board and a new superintendent Friday for Shepherd Independent School District, where two schools failed to meet state academic standards for five years. Full Story
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District officials announced their plans Friday to implement Texas’ so-called Guardian Plan, which lets local school boards authorize specific employees to carry on campus at all times and determine their training standards. Full Story
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The Texas Tribune's Evan Smith moderates a discussion with Mike Morath, who has been the state's education commissioner since 2016. Full Story
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Despite his history of sexist, racist tweets and conspiracy-laden rants, more than 54,000 Republican voters propelled Robert Morrow into a runoff for a seat on the State Board of Education. GOP leaders are terrified he might actually win. Full Story
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The survey on preparedness for active shooter situations and other crises will inform the largest needs assessment on school safety in Texas history. Full Story
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Neither party wants to see Morrow, who has a history of sexist and racist rhetoric, elected to the board, but he is headed to a runoff for the District 5 seat. Full Story
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It's unclear why the FBI showed up at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center and the home of a district official, but Houston ISD said there is no danger to students, staff or the community. Full Story
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Voter registration activity at Texas high schools spiked ahead of the 2018 general elections, when young and Hispanic voters turned out in record numbers for a midterm. Full Story
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Your responses will help us better understand the people consuming our journalism and how they use it — and that will make us better equipped to serve you. Full Story
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As part of the settlement, the school district agreed to provide mandatory training to human resources and counseling staff on LGBTQ issues in schools, and to require its board of trustees to vote on whether to add protections for sexual orientation into its policies. Full Story
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At a divisive and dramatic moment in U.S. politics, we'd like students and teachers to tell us what they're learning, talking about and missing as they follow the presidential race. Full Story
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Eight seats are in play for the 15-member State Board of Education, which decides what Texas children are taught. Democrats hope to pick up seats in November, but for now, both parties just want to see Robert Morrow lose his GOP primary. Full Story
It's not a new contradiction, but it's persistent: Texas voters think that property taxes are too high and that school spending is too low, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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