The voter approval rate for school maintenance and construction costs dipped in 2021 after lawmakers required school boards to call them “tax increases.”
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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Politics
Texas’ part-time Legislature has been at it all year. Now they’re heading into a rare fourth special session
A full 30-day session amounts to about $1 million in per diem payments to lawmakers, which are meant to cover their expenses in Austin.
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Politics
Abbott calls lawmakers back for fourth time to try again on school vouchers and border security
The governor announced the fourth special session would start an hour after the previous session adjourned.
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Going Beyond the Build for Rural Texas Future
By Dalila Wilson-Scott ComcastDalila Wilson-Scott is EVP & Chief Diversity Officer for Comcast Corporation and President of Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDnTFzDj4Fs Across our footprint, we strive to provide the resources needed to create the best future for individuals and their families. And we know that one of the best ways to do this is to […]
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Texas Legislature 2023
The Texas House’s new priority education bill offers concessions to sway voucher skeptics
The revised bill promises a significant funding increase for public schools and academic accountability measures for students participating in the proposed voucher program, two of the biggest requests from voucher opponents.
Posted inPolitics, Public Education, State Government
Taxes, state parks, infrastructure: Texans will decide 14 constitutional amendments today
Texans are being asked to cut property taxes, create a new fund for water infrastructure and give child-care facilities a tax exemption among other propositions. Here’s a breakdown of each constitutional amendment and what you need to know to vote.
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Public Education
Proposition 9 would increase pensions for retired teachers and public school employees
If approved by voters on Nov. 7, the proposal would allocate $3.3 billion to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, increasing pensions between 2% and 6%.
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The Texas Tribune-ProPublica Investigative Unit
Dark money nonprofit with ties to Texas billionaire works to defeat Midland school bond
Tim Dunn’s public policy groups have helped ensure that tax hike language is attached to every school bond ballot measure in the state. Now he is using that language to cast doubt on a bond in his hometown of Midland.
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Public Education
Texas GOP lawmakers’ border and education wishlist would expand state budget by $2.7 billion — and counting
If bills now being considered pass, lawmakers will be left with $3.3 billion to take care of unforeseen costs over the next two years. Some experts worry that Texas can’t sustain its massive spending on the border and public education.
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Texas Legislature 2023
These home-schooling moms want to create a “microschool” for Black kids. They need vouchers to make it happen.
The mothers, who are counting on state legislators to reach a deal on education savings accounts, say their public schools were not equipped to create a learning space that is safe for Black kids.