Public education in Texas — like everywhere in the country — is hurting after more than two years of pandemic. But many in the political class are preoccupied with reforms that have more to do with social issues than with education.
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.
Posted in
Politics
Texas Education Agency’s new school library standards push for more scrutiny and parental input
School districts are not required to adopt the agency’s recommendations but can use them as guidance as they develop new procedures or alter their policies for selecting or removing library books.
Sponsor Post
Why college and career readiness is a unicorn for ESSER funds
In Texas, districts can receive millions of dollars every year for students considered college-, career- and military-ready. Why not invest the billions in unspent COVID relief dollars directly into solutions that increase the number of students reaching this status?
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LGBTQ+ Texans
Critics of Texas’ push for a “Don’t Say Gay” bill say acknowledging LGBTQ people isn’t the same as teaching kids about sex
Republicans say they don’t want young kids learning about sex. Educators say that’s already the standard.
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Public Education
Texas teachers say they’re pushed to the brink by law requiring them to spend dozens of hours unpaid in training
K-3 teachers in Texas have until 2023 to complete a 60-hour Reading Academies course to keep the job. It’s taking some 120 hours on their own time to finish.
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Public Education
Analysis: Property tax relief that doesn’t lower your tax bill
Texas lawmakers tried to lower property tax bills during their 2019 session, and a new report says they put a dent in the problem: Taxes aren’t rising as quickly as they would have. But they didn’t solve it: Property taxes are still rising.
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Coronavirus in Texas
Texas schools won’t lose funding for attendance drops during the pandemic
In Texas, schools are funded based on the number of students enrolled and the daily attendance on campus.
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T-Squared
T-Squared: Save the date! The Texas Tribune Festival is Sept. 22-24 — in person, in Austin, just as you remember it
We cannot wait to see you there. With elections looming and issues aboil, we have our best-ever program planned.
Posted in
LGBTQ+ Texans
In defiance of Attorney General Ken Paxton, Austin ISD’s Pride Week marches on
Paxton equated the week of LGBTQ-inclusive activities with sex education in a letter to the district. Austin ISD says it’s about acceptance.
Posted in
The Texas Tribune-ProPublica Investigative Unit
North Texas superintendent orders books removed from schools, targeting titles about transgender people
The Granbury superintendent’s comments, made on a leaked recording, raise constitutional concerns, legal experts said.