Democrats in the Texas House last week launched an effort to restore public education cuts, setting up a potential battle over an emergency supplemental appropriations bill.
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
Existing School Transfer Program is Underused
A scholarship to help students trapped in failing public schools attend another of their choice is near the top of the legislative agenda for top Republican leaders. But Texas has a similar existing program, and it is dramatically underused.
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Public Education
Straus on Priorities; More Campaign Woes for Dewhurst
The speaker of the House dampens expectations for vouchers, tax breaks and transportation without ruling any of those things out. And the lieutenant governor unpeels another layer of problems he says arose from a campaign manager’s embezzling.
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Public Education
House Might Restore Some Education Cuts to Current Budget
Members of the Texas House are in talks to add some money to public education in the current two-year budget. The Texas Legislature cut $5.4 billion from education last session.
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Higher Education
Williams Seeks Higher Ed Input on High School Requirements
Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams implored higher education leaders Thursday to engage in discussions about the state’s high school requirements.
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Interactive: 2011-12 STAAR End-of-Course Results by District
Last spring, Texas ninth graders took the STAAR end-of-course exams for the first time. Use our interactive to see how each of the state’s school districts performed on the new tests.
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Health care
Plan Emerging for Legislature to Pay IOUs
As they do every two years, state lawmakers are preparing to pay billions in lingering bills. What is usually an easy process could become challenging as House Democrats plan to push to restore public education cuts made in 2011.
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Politics
Former House Public Education Chairman Lobbying for Pearson
Former House Public Education Chairman Rob Eissler, now a lobbyist, has taken on publishing and testing giant Pearson as a client, according to recent Ethics Commission reports. The company holds a $468 million contract with the state.
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Public Education
Handicapping the High Court on School Finance
When the Texas Supreme Court last considered school finance system in 2005, it upheld one of the trial court’s findings and overturned another in a 7-to-1 decision. There has been high turnover on the court since that ruling.
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Public Education
Senators to Vote on Education Board Leader’s Nomination
On Monday, a panel of senators questioned Barbara Cargill on her appointment to lead the State Board of Education. If she wins their approval, she will be the first SBOE leader to earn confirmation from the Legislature since 2005.