Tax relief for property owners joins a packed to-do list for Texas lawmakers — which includes redistricting, COVID-19 vaccine mandates and a spending plan for $16 billion in federal stimulus dollars.
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
Coronavirus in Texas
Texas’ ban on school mask mandates draws federal investigation for possibly violating the rights of students with disabilities
The U.S. Department of Education announced the inquiry days after the Texas Education Agency quietly updated its guidance to say school districts can’t require masks.
Posted in
The 2021 Texas Tribune Festival
Watch Texas A&M Chancellor John Sharp talk about the pandemic, college football and more at The Texas Tribune Festival
Sharp talked about how higher ed survives the pandemic, the obstacles to running a world-class public university and the future of college football.
Posted in
The 2021 Texas Tribune Festival
Watch Texas lawmakers Larry Taylor and Harold Dutton discuss education and the Legislature at The Texas Tribune Festival
Taylor, a Friendswood Republican, chairs the Senate Education Committee. Dutton, a Houston Democrat, chairs the House Public Education Committee.
Posted in
Demographics
How a Black high school principal was swept into a “critical race theory” maelstrom in a mostly white Texas suburb
James Whitfield was put on paid leave about a month after being accused of teaching critical race theory. His future could soon be decided after an evidentiary hearing where he can argue his case to the school board.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Delta variant, lax mask policies delay Plano family’s return to school
Parents remain divided over whether to require masks in the classroom. For Carmen Campbell, there’s just too much uncertainty right now to feel comfortable sending her son back. Listen in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
A Texas school district doesn’t require masks. The state is suing the district anyway.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued nine more school districts over their masking rules. One says it doesn’t mandate them. Another says it doesn’t enforce mask-wearing at Paxton’s request.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Texas sues six school districts that issued mask mandates in defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott’s order
Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have long threatened to sue school districts that defy Abbott’s ban on local mask mandates. On Friday, Paxton made good on that threat.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
The pandemic’s toll on educators has made Texas’ teacher shortage worse
Teachers report being spread thin by the demands of remote learning and exhausted by the constant health concerns.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
At least 45 districts shut down in-person classes due to COVID-19 cases, affecting more than 40,000 students
Caseloads have left districts scrambling when many have said they have fewer tools at their disposal to combat the spread of the virus.