In a hearing on Wednesday, senators probed Michael Williams, the new head of the Texas Education Agency, on student assessments and funding for remedial tutoring.
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
Texas Schools Look for Guidance on Gun Policies
Amid concerns over the safety of Texas’ public schools in the wake of the Connecticut school shooting, at least a dozen of the state’s districts are considering policies that would permit employees to carry concealed handguns.
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Public Education
Senate Education Leader Files Testing Overhaul Bill
State Sen. Kel Seliger, the Amarillo Republican who leads the Senate’s Higher Education Committee, filed a bill Tuesday offering broad changes to student assessment and high school graduation requirements in the state.
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Public Education
Texas’ Rank in Graduation Rate Study Presents a Contrast
A new national report puts Texas high school graduation rates at slightly above average, contrasting with a federal study released late last year that ranked the state among the best at graduating students within four years.
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Criminal Justice
Variety of Gun-Related Bills on Table for Session
At least 20 bills have been filed or proposed by Texas lawmakers on the subject of guns, with most of the legislation aiming to widen access to guns. Here’s a roundup of the proposals.
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Guides
Texplainer: Will Legislature Take On School Funding Despite Trial?
With a major school finance trial under way, lawmakers are reluctant to take up public education funding before a court ruling on the matter. What they’ll do in the meantime remains uncertain.
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Public Education
Preschool Part of Education Funding Scramble
In light of the improved economic forecast announced recently by the state comptroller, education advocates are asking for more money to go to Texas’ public education system — the state’s preschools included.
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Higher Education
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Batheja on growing calls for infrastructure spending, Dehn and Rocha report on voters’ legislative wishes, Murphy counts noses in the new Legislature, KUT’s Philpott sniffs out a push for tax relief, M. Smith tracks House Speaker Joe Straus after his re-election, Kalifa’s lovely time-lapse look at the Legislature’s first day, Aaronson on the Medicaid expansion, Aguilar on hopes for immigration reform, Grissom on the tribulations of Kerry Max Cook, Hamilton looks into a college curriculum battle, and E. Smith’s TribLive interview with Michael Williams: The best of our best for the week of Jan. 7, 2013.
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Public Education
Dewhurst: Texas Should Fund Teacher Firearms Training
In the wake of the Connecticut school shooting, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst called Friday for the state to consider funding specialized firearms training for school employees.
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Public Education
TribLive: A Conversation with Michael Williams
Full video of my Jan. 10 TribLive conversation with Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams.