The latest public education news from The Texas Tribune.
In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: Thousands of STAAR exams are affected by a computer glitch, a study shows grades improve with 20 more minutes of sleep, and a Q&A with Tracy Weeden, president and CEO of Neuhaus Education Center. Full Story
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A special panel of state lawmakers On Wednesday began trying to figure out how to address skyrocketing premiums for teachers under state-run health insurance plans. Full Story
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The State Board of Education took more steps this week toward allowing two new companies to begin administering high school equivalency tests in Texas, but the pace is frustrating adult education advocates. Full Story
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Technical issues last week that caused students to lose their answers on state standardized exams impacted about 14,220 computerized tests, Commissioner Mike Morath told the State Board of Education on Wednesday. Full Story
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In the Roundup: Donald Trump scores an unprecedented endorsement, Rick Perry’s Republican primary ballot might have gotten lost in the mail and a higher ed admissions policy goes under the microscope. Full Story
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Use this interactive to look up Texas public high schools and find out how many of its students enrolled at UT-Austin in 2015. This is part of the Tribune's "The Price of Admission" series. Full Story
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Full video of our 3/31 conversation about the Top 10 Percent Rule with Austin ISD Superintendent Paul Cruz, former UT-Austin President Larry Faulkner, and state Reps. Donna Howard, D-Austin, and John Zerwas, R-Richmond. Full Story
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As many UT-Austin administrators say the Top 10 Percent Rule hurts the university's national prestige, the college is focused on helping UT-Austin students who might not have otherwise been admitted. This is part of the Tribune's "The Price of Admission" series. Full Story
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In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: The Tribune looks at various impacts of the Top 10 Percent Rule in its "Price of Admission" series, a call for schools to better support LGBT students and lawmakers take a new look at protecting privacy of student records. Full Story
The Top 10 Percent Rule aims to give all Texas public high school students an equal shot at getting into the state's top public universities. But that doesn't guarantee that qualifying students will seize that opportunity. This story is part of the Tribune's "Price of Admission" series. Full Story
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Texas lags most other states in preparing high schoolers for college and needs to update its readiness standards, Higher Education Coordinating Board Commissioner Raymund Paredes told state senators at a hearing on Tuesday. Full Story
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The controversy over Texas' Top 10 Percent Rule for college admissions shows how fraught the debate over race and higher education has become. This story is part of our "Price of Admission" series. Full Story
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Controversial Texas Board of Education hopeful Mary Lou Bruner, a Mineola grandmother who's made national headlines with her Facebook posts, thinks a return to morality and religion will help Texas recapture better days. Full Story
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In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: In Alaska, sagging oil revenues cause school funding crunch, Ag Commissioner Sid Miller says he can advocate for cupcakes and fight obesity among schoolchildren and an interview with David Coleman of the College Board and Sal Khan of Khan Academy. Full Story
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller pushed back Thursday against those who say his policies encourage kids to eat unhealthily. Full Story
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In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: A new approach uses schools as part of a holistic strategy on childhood poverty, a runoff is set for controversial board of education election and an interview with Victor Saenz of the University of Texas at Austin. Full Story
An East Texas Republican who once claimed President Obama used to be a gay prostitute appears headed for a May 24 primary runoff in the race to represent District 9 on the State Board of Education. Full Story
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Beginning Aug. 1, birth certificates will be the official determinant of a high school student-athlete’s gender in Texas — a policy transgender advocates describe as exclusionary and outdated. Full Story
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In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: Outspoken candidates could lead to renewed rancor on education board, a new UN report looks at racial inequality in U.S. schools and an interview with Jackie Lain, CEO and founder of Learning List. Full Story
Candidates running for the State Board of Education include a Republican who once claimed President Obama used to be a prostitute and a Democrat who described herself as a “MeXicana Empowerment Specialist." Full Story