In an academic year scrambled by the pandemic and a deadly winter storm, Texas school students face makeup work and rounds of standardized testing. Many parents and teachers say it’s unnecessary.
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
Texas Legislature 2021
Transgender students in Texas would be barred from school sports teams matching their gender identity under a bill advanced by state Senate
The proposal would prohibit students from participating in a sport “that is designated for the biological sex opposite to the student’s biological sex as determined at the student’s birth.”
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2021
As Texas Legislature considers anti-trans bills, NCAA announces it will not hold events in states that discriminate against trans students
Texas lawmakers have filed six bills that target transgender students’ sports participation — and two of those bills would affect colleges and university sports in addition to K-12.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
“I’ve never done any of this”: A Texas parent reluctantly dives into a school district’s battle over masks
Olivia Weisinger found herself thrust into a new, unofficial public role after the Comal Independent School District decided to lift its mask requirement.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Technical difficulties hampered the STAAR test. One Austin teacher called it a sign.
Patty Young, a middle school language arts teacher, says the state assessments are causing kids unnecessary stress. Listen in the weekend edition of The Brief podcast.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2021
Analysis: A $5.5 billion shift in who pays for public education in Texas
It’s an old and bittersweet story in Texas: Property values rise, local property tax revenue rises and the state government spends less on public education.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2021
Congress allocated $19 billion in federal stimulus money to Texas public education, but schools have yet to see an extra dime
Three federal stimulus packages passed during the pandemic included more than $19 billion for Texas public schools, but state leaders have yet to distribute most of the money. Local districts say they need it to cover pandemic-related costs.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2021
Texas Senate approves a $250 billion state budget — but questions remain about how federal aid will be used
The budget does not factor in over $35 billion in federal aid. Senators said they don’t yet know when that money will come in and what strings could be attached.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
First day of STAAR testing canceled for thousands of students experiencing technical issues across Texas
Texas officials mandated that students take the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness in person this year at monitored test sites, although millions of students are still learning remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Posted in
Coronavirus in Texas
Parents sue Katy ISD for keeping mask mandate after Gov. Greg Abbott lifted statewide requirement
The lawsuit claims district policies are unconstitutional and violate Abbott’s recent executive order.