With just 56 students, Marathon ISD is one of the state’s smallest. But its fate is critical to the West Texas town’s survival. And if what is happening here works, it could serve as a model for other towns looking to shield their way of life from the death knell of school closures.
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.
Eissler: Don’t Check Immgration Status of Students
In our TribLive conversation this morning, state Rep. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands, the chair of the House Public Education Committee, said he opposed a bill by state Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Houston, that would require school districts to check the immigration status of students enrolling in Texas public schools.
Eissler: Don’t Check Immgration Status of Students
In our TribLive conversation this morning, state Rep. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands, said he opposed a bill that would require school districts to check the immigration status of public school students.
Athletics: Where Budget Balancers Fear to Tread?
With Texas public schools facing cuts of as much as $10 billion in state funding, predictions of the consequences have been dire: teacher layoffs, bigger class sizes, fewer instructional days. One topic conspicuously absent from the conversation: athletics.
LiveBlog: TribLive with Rob Eissler
House Public Education Committee Chairman Rob Eissler talked with Texas Tribune CEO and Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith this morning. Here is our liveblog.
Paige & Spellings: The TT Interview
At a recent forum titled “Improving Productivity in Public Education,” former U.S. Secretaries of Education Rod Paige and Margaret Spellings under George W. Bush took time to discuss the state’s looming budget cuts, the Bush legacy, the Obama administration and what they believe needs to change in public education.
Ed Commissioner: Don’t Lose Cool Over Cuts
“Now is not the time to point fingers and scream and yell. Now is the time to solve the problem,” Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott told more than 6,000 public school leaders from across the state today.
Gail Lowe Reappointed as Education Board Chair
Pending Senate confirmation, Gail Lowe will serve another term as head of the State Board of Education.
TribBlog: Superintendents Speak Out
Leaders from school districts across Texas had tough words for lawmakers as they gathered this morning to denounce the “devastating” cuts to state public education funding.
Business: Hands Off Public Education
Lawmakers will soon take an ax to the state budget, but business leaders are hoping one big-ticket item will be spared. At its annual conference in Austin this week, the Texas Association of Business sounded warnings about potential cuts to public education. Erika Aguilar of KUT News reports.


