The Brief: Feb. 2, 2015
The weekend saw more lengthy stories on problems in the way the state contracts out services. Full Story
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Abbott: Common Core Users Experiencing "Buyer's Remorse"
On Fox News Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott and former U.S. Education Secretary Bill Bennett debated Common Core – standards overseen by the National Governors Association that Texas lawmakers refuse to use. Full Story
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Top House Lawmaker's Daughter to Step Down as Lobbyist
House Public Education Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock announced Friday that his daughter would be stepping down from her role as a lobbyist for education issues for the upcoming legislative session. Full Story
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![Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock R-Killeen during a public education committee hearing on February 19th, 2013]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: Jan. 30, 2015
In a week where the news was driven to a large degree by rallies on the Capitol grounds — from open carry activists to anti-Muslim protesters — it's perhaps fitting that the week closes with another one. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
State Will Close Three More Charter Schools
Three Texas charter schools will be shut down for failing to comply with the state education code or provisions in their charters, state officials said Thursday. Among their missteps? Failing to file with the IRS and not opening on time. Full Story
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Video: Patrick on Vouchers
At our 1/27 conversation, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick talked about vouchers — and whether the 84th session's outcome on the issue might differ from that of the 83rd. Full Story
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Nelson Emphasizes Property Tax Relief in Senate Base Budget
Nearly two weeks after the House's base budget was released, Senate Finance Chairwoman Jane Nelson presented the Senate's plan, which she said sets aside $3 billion for "meaningful" property tax relief for Texas homeowners. Full Story
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![State Senate Finance Chairwoman Jane Nelson R-Flower Mound, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick discussed the Senate's base budget plan at a Jan. 27, 2015, news conference.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Video: A Conversation With Dan Patrick
Full video of my 1/27 conversation with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who talked about the change in Senate rules, vouchers, tax relief, transportation funding, open carry and more. Full Story
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Dallas Boasts Top AP Exam Passing Rates for Black, Hispanic Students
More black and Hispanic students in Dallas pass Advanced Placement exams than in any other part of the country. That's no accident, thanks to the National Math and Science Initiative, which has been working in Dallas schools for a decade. Full Story
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Patrick Sets Committees; Taylor Gets Education
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's office on Friday announced new committee members. Among the new chairs: State Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, who will lead the Senate Education Committee. Full Story
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Texas Supreme Court May Not Decide School Finance Case Until 2016
Giving both sides time to file briefs and responses will tie up the school finance lawsuit for at least another six months. Then come oral arguments, and the case could easily stretch into next year. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Feds Tell Texas to Try Again on Teacher Evaluations
Rejecting a proposed Texas educator evaluation system, federal officials raised concerns about the lack of information tying standardized test results to measuring educator performance. The rejection puts the state's No Child Left Behind waiver in danger. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Video: Aycock on Pre-K
At our 1/22 conversation, state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee, talked about how the legislature was likely to proceed on pre-K funding and policy. Full Story
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Video: Aycock on Vouchers
At our 1/22 conversation, state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee, talked about the likely prospect of vouchers resurfacing as a hot-button issue in the 84th Legislature. Full Story
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Video: Aycock on School Finance
At our 1/22 conversation, state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee, talked about possible legislation to redesign the state's school finance system. Full Story
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Video: A Conversation With Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock
Full video of my 1/22 conversation with state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee. Full Story
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New in Trib+Edu: Defending the Dream Act
In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: Defenders of the Texas Dream Act rally to its defense, a Humble ISD alternative high school garners kudos and an interview with Pedro Reyes of the Texas Education Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin. Full Story
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The Brief: Jan. 20, 2015
Festivities are the order of the day as the state's newest governor and lieutenant governor are sworn in. Full Story
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The Brief: Jan. 14, 2015
A video of a confrontation between open-carry activists and a lawmaker drew attention to the group's tactics on Tuesday. Full Story
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![Justin Delosh, r, of Lone Star Gun Rights stands with petitions to be delivered to legislators on the first day of the Texas Legislature on Jan. 13, 2015.]()
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Education Chairman Calls for School Finance Discussion
State Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee, says Texas lawmakers shouldn't wait for the outcome of a sprawling school finance lawsuit to discuss changes to the state's public education funding system. Full Story
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![Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen listens to HB5 debate in House on March 26th, 2013. There are currently 165 amendments to the bill and debate is expected to go well into the night]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
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