The Brief: May 8, 2014
Not even Disney movies are safe when it comes to the scorched-earth tactics in the race for the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera / Mark Graham -
TribLive: Life After House Bill 5
Watch the video of our panel discussion on HB 5, the sweeping education bill passed by the 83rd Legislature, at our symposium on STEM education at UT-Dallas. See the rest of the day's panels on our multimedia page. Full Story
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TribLive: Innovations in Educational Technology
Video from our symposium on STEM education at UT-Dallas. Innovations in Educational Technology featured Ian Temple, Peter Balyta and Douglas Moore. Full Story
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TribLive: Building Tomorrow's Workforce
Here's video from the first panel at our symposium on STEM education at UT-Dallas: Building Tomorrow's Workforce. Full Story
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Houston Teachers Sue District Over Test-Based Evaluation
Seven teachers, backed by the Houston branch of the American Federation of Teachers, are suing the Houston school district over a new approach tying standardized test results to pay and employment decisions. Full Story
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![A public education rally at the Capitol on March 11, 2013, sponsored by the Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
New in Trib+Edu: Standardized Testing, Earlier Career Path Choices
In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: more questions about standardized testing, students making decisions earlier and earlier on career paths and an interview with the TEA's Heather Mauzé. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Jacob Villanueva -
Davis Education Proposal Would Reduce Emphasis on Standardized Tests
In her latest education proposal, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis is calling for reduced emphasis on standardized testing and more local control of educational accountability measures. Full Story
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![Texas Senator and Gubernatorial candidate, Wendy Davis during an education rally in Austin on April 14th, 2014]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Law Limits Standardized Tests, but Not Prep Work
House Bill 5, which reduced standardized testing in public high schools, also included a provision aimed at easing the pressure of high-stakes exams for students in lower grades. But it may not be having the intended effect. Full Story
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![A student works on math problems in Keith Marquez's summer school geometry class at McAllum High School in Austin, Texas, Jul. 31, 2013.]()
Credit: Gabriel Cristóver Pérez -
The Brief: April 28, 2014
As state officials prepare to meet with the man who has become the face of the increasingly politicized spat between Texas and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the Tribune's Jim Malewitz has an exhaustive background story on the seeds of the conflict. Full Story
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Credit: Texas General Land Office -
Abbott Calls for More Local Control of School Options
In his latest education policy plan, Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott proposes giving school districts and parents more control of students' education by tossing out state mandates and regulations. 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.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
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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Credit: Illustration by Jacob Villanueva -
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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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
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]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
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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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
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
![Attorney General Greg Abbott promoting his pre-kindergarten education proposal on April 2, 2014, at the IDEA Carver Academy in San Antonio.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
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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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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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Chris Cole / Paul Sounders -
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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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman