Just as death and taxes are certainties, we can be sure that several cloaked voucher bills will be introduced by the Legislature. No matter how it is sliced and diced, no matter its moniker, if passed it will result in public dollars going to private schools.
Public Education
Explore The Texas Tribune’s coverage of public education, from K-12 schools and funding to teachers, students, and policies shaping classrooms across Texas.
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Public Education
Guest Column: Choice is the Way to Save Our Schools
Choice would empower parents to select the best schools for their children and would empower teachers to earn more. Our failing schools would improve.
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Higher Education
TribuneFest: Building a Better Teacher
At the Trib’s February 25 symposium on public education at Rice University, Morgan Smith talked about what it takes to find and retain great teachers with Linda McSpadden McNeil of Rice University, Elisa Villanueva Beard of Teach for America, Gayle Fallon of the Houston Federation of Teachers and former U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige.
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Texas Tribune Public Schools Explorer 2.0
In the latest iteration of our one-of-a-kind Public Schools Explorer, compare individual schools and districts to one another, cross-filter by metrics like performance and spending, and check out the latest data on everything from TAKS to enrollment.
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Public Education
TribuneFest: Ex-Commissioners Confidential
At the Trib’s February 25 symposium on public education at Rice University, I talked choice, testing, school finance and the intersection of policy and politics with four former state commissioners of education: Mike Moses, Jim Nelson, Shirley Richardson and Robert Scott.
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Higher Education
TribuneFest: Choice and Charters
At the Trib’s February 25 symposium on public education at Rice University, Morgan Smith talked about the prospect of greater choice and more charters with Caprice Young of the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, Rosemary Perlmeter of Teaching Trust, Duncan Klussmann of Spring Branch Independent School District and David Anthony of Raise Your Hand Texas.
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Public Education
For Elected Judges, Facing Voters Without Heeding Political Urges
For the elected judges on the state’s highest civil court, the trick is to survive politically without thinking about politics — even on big political issues like school finance.
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Health care
Senator Would Fund Mental Health Training for Teachers
State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, on Thursday filed the latest in a slew of proposals aimed at improving school safety. His bill would provide state funds to train Texas teachers to recognize and respond to mental illnesses.
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Public Education
Senate Panel Backs More Money for Public Schools
A panel of senators voted Thursday to put $1.5 billion in additional public school funding in the state’s two-year budget. That includes more money for pre-kindergarten programs, the state’s Virtual School Network and Teach for America.
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Higher Education
TribuneFest: Accountability and Student Testing
At the Trib’s February 25 symposium on public education at Rice University, I talked accountability and student testing with Robert Duron, the state’s deputy commissioner of education; Susan Kellner of Texans Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessment; Tom Pauken of the Texas Workforce Commission; and former U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings.