The Brief: Oct. 20, 2014
Voters can cast ballots today for the Nov. 4 general election as the two-week early voting period commences. Full Story
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The latest public education news from The Texas Tribune.
Voters can cast ballots today for the Nov. 4 general election as the two-week early voting period commences. Full Story
Though Texas schools are relying on the guidance of health officials to determine the level of risk to their communities, they are making decisions like whether to cancel classes, give notice to parents, or change health screening policies largely on their own. Full Story
In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: pre-K programs expand in Texas, middle schoolers train for cyber threats and an interview with Michael Hooten, superintendent of Trinity Environmental Academy. Full Story
Dan Patrick, the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor, has made clear that he wants to lower property taxes. What he has left unclear — both to voters and to prominent business groups that have endorsed him — is exactly how he'll do that. Full Story
If roughly 47,000 high school seniors in December fail to pass the state exams required to earn a diploma, their last shot at graduating with their peers in the Class of 2015 may depend on the quick movement of state lawmakers. Full Story
Tuesday turned into a topsy turvy day in the federal courts for the state of Texas with the voter ID law conserved for the Nov. 4 general election but a new delay placed on enforcing the new abortion law. Full Story
Most of the fifth- and eighth-graders who failed their state reading and math exams will likely move on to the next grade anyway. Full Story
Confirmation came Sunday afternoon that a second person has been diagnosed with the Ebola virus in Dallas. Full Story
Listen to audio of the 2014 Texas Tribune Festival's public education track, which featured panel discussions on education reform, the algebra II debate, early college high schools and insight from superintendents. Full Story
At our 10/2 Triblive conversation, Kathie Glass, the Libertarian Party nominee for Texas Governor in 2014, argued the state spends too much on public education. Full Story
In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: rethinking the parent-teacher conference, more cuts to come on education and nutrition programs and an interview with David Anthony of Raise Your Hand Texas. Full Story
UPDATED: Attorney General Greg Abbott will appeal a ruling that the Texas school finance system is unconstitutional, according to a notice his office sent Friday to attorneys in the case. The appeal is set to go directly to the Texas Supreme Court. Full Story
Texas' headway with high school graduation rates hasn't been matched by similar success in measures that track students’ college and career readiness, prompting questions about what it takes to earn a high school diploma. Full Story
The facts of the auditor's report released Thursday on the administration of Gov. Rick Perry's Texas Enterprise Fund are, as the Tribune's Aman Batheja termed it, "damning." Full Story
Gov. Rick Perry, speaking on Sunday at The Texas Tribune Festival, said he still supports a Texas law that grants in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants. He also said he would not decide whether he was going to run for president until 2015. Full Story
We're liveblogging the sessions from the 2014 Texas Tribune Festival's Public Education track. The sessions include panels on education reform, the new math requirements for high school graduation, early college high schools, and insight from superintendents. Full Story
In the run-up to tonight's first televised debate between the two leading candidates for governor — Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Wendy Davis — as much attention is being paid to the setting of the encounter as the substance. Full Story
State Board of Education members said Thursday that they hoped to persuade regulators overseeing the teaching profession to reconsider a decision made against raising the minimum GPA for educator certification programs. Full Story
In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: tackling the lack of male teachers in schools, school finance system found unconstitutional again and an interview with Jane Arnold Lincove, an expert on educator effectiveness. Full Story
Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples lost out on his bid to be lieutenant governor, but he might be in line for another job before his term ends in January. Full Story