New in Trib+Edu: Testing Questioned, Healthy Students
In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: rethinking standardized testing, getting students moving and an interview with David Dunn of the Texas Charter Schools Association. Full Story
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Polling Center: Leaving Tests Behind
The same voters who responded well to George W. Bush's education policies oppose one of its main components: the standardized tests introduced to make schools more accountable. Full Story
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![Bayless Elementary teacher Holly Guillmen identifies and explains the use of the contents of the Waterwise home water conservation kit provided to students by the High Plains Underground Water District in Lubbock, Texas, Oct. 17, 2012.]()
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State's STAAR Calculator Directive Draws Concerns
Starting in the 2014-15 school year, eighth-graders in Texas public schools will be required to have graphing calculators or tablets for STAAR assessments. Some poorer school districts are concerned that the mandate ignores fiscal challenges they're already facing. Full Story
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Davis Continues Attacks on Abbott's Education Proposals
At an event in Austin on Monday, Democrat Wendy Davis accused Republican gubernatorial opponent Greg Abbott of proposing increased testing and denying equal access to pre-K education. Full Story
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![Texas gubernatorial candidate, Sen. Wendy Davis speaks to press following an education rally in Austin, Texas on April 14th]()
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Davis: Abbott is Backing Away From Pre-K Plan
At the Texas State Teachers Association’s convention in San Marcos on Saturday, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis accused her Republican opponent, Greg Abbott, of retreating from his early education policy proposal. Full Story
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![Senator Wendy Davis addresses the Texas Democratic Women’s Convention in Austin, TX.]()
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SBOE Opts for Compromise on Mexican-American Studies
UPDATED: Instead of making Mexican-American studies an official high school course, the Texas State Board of Education settled on a tentative compromise that would leave the decision whether to offer it to school districts. Full Story
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Abbott Campaign: Pre-K Plan Does Not Mean More Tests
After questions were raised about language in a policy proposal that appears to call for the biannual testing of pre-kindergarten students, Greg Abbott’s campaign is clarifying his early education plan, saying he is not calling for such tests. Full Story
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![Attorney General Greg Abbott promoting his pre-kindergarten education proposal on April 2, 2014, at the IDEA Carver Academy in San Antonio.]()
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SBOE May Get Private Funds to Visit Out-of-State Charter Schools
A proposal under consideration by the Texas State Board of Education would allow private foundations to pay for elected officials on the 15-member board to visit out-of-state charter schools whose applications they approve. Full Story
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Tax Relief or Targeted Spending Hikes? Surplus Projections Fuel Debate
With expectations that state lawmakers will have a budget surplus of several billion dollars, lawmakers, activists and business groups are already discussing what to do with the money. Full Story
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Sales Tax Plan Would Challenge Local Control in Texas School Districts
Replacing property taxes with sales taxes sounds simple, but would have huge consequences for the state's school districts and for other local governments. Full Story
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T-Squared: Trib+Edu is Our Newest Newsletter
Today we're expanding our newsletter family with the launch of Trib+Edu, a twice-monthly product focused on public education that we're producing in conjunction with UT-Austin's College of Education. Full Story
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Analysis: Abbott Aims Big on Education Reform, but He Must Aim Carefully
Gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott says he's looking “to make Texas the No. 1 education system in the United States within 10 years.” He has to find a way to suggest improvements while not criticizing his ally Rick Perry. Full Story
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![Attorney General Greg Abbott speaks to press after voting in the primary on March 4th, 2014 at South Austin church. Abbott is running for the Republican nomination for Governor of Texas]()
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Report: Public School Enrollment Tops 5 Million in Texas
Surpassing the 5 million mark, student enrollment in Texas public schools has hit a new record, according to the Texas Education Agency. And Hispanic enrollment continues to mark the majority. Full Story
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Abbott: Tie Additional Pre-K Funding to Outcomes
Announcing the first of his education policy proposals Monday, Greg Abbott called for reforming pre-kindergarten programs before expanding access, saying that additional funding should be tied to academic outcomes. Full Story
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![Candidate for governor Greg Abbott outlines his vision for Texas in a speech to TPPF on Jan. 10. 2014]()
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As Testing Begins, Push to Opt Out Draws Attention
A Waco family has made headlines for publicly telling their school district that they do not want their fourth-grader taking state standardized tests, which begin this week. Read the full story at KUT News. Full Story
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Conflict in Laws Could Mean "Double-Testing" for Some Eighth-Graders
Federal and state officials are in talks to work out a conflict in testing requirements under the state’s new high school graduation standards and federal education law that could mean "double-testing" eighth-graders. Full Story
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Report: Many Youths Still Detained for Minor Infractions
The number of youths detained for minor infractions has fallen nationally and in Texas, but thousands of youths remain in detention for misbehaviors like violating curfew, according to a report released this week. Full Story
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Charter School Serving Dropouts Fights Closure
As six charter schools face automatic closure under a new Texas law, the state is facing questions over the guidelines used to decide which schools to close. Full Story
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![Parc Smith, CEO of American YouthWorks, a dropout recovery charter school facing closure by the state, looks in a student locker.]()
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Early College High Schools Proliferate Amid Effort to Raise Enrollment
The number of early college high schools, which allow students to get a head start on college credits without paying tuition, has surged in Texas. Full Story
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In Austin, College Board Announces Major SAT Changes
Among the changes to the SAT being announced by the College Board in Austin on Wednesday: The test will revert to a 1,600-point scale, and the essay portion will be optional and scored separately. Full Story
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