Texas Senate takes first step toward school finance overhaul
The Senate has tasked a new budget working group with coming up with ways to overhaul the state's school finance system. Full Story
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![Senate Committee on Education Chairman Sen. Larry Taylor R-Friendswood during a Aug 3, 2016 hearing]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: Spinning numbers in lawmakers’ proposed budgets
For lessons in how to speak positively about bad news — without telling lies — you might consider studying at the feet of the people who write the Texas budget. Full Story
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A conversation with Burrows and Darby (video)
Full video of Evan Smith's 1/19 conversation with state Reps. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, and Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, on the campus of Howard College in San Angelo. Full Story
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Analysis: Legislators start with a $5.3 billion difference of opinion
In their first-day numbers, the Texas Legislature's two chambers didn’t even agree on the size of the current budget. The House baked in some supplemental expenses that the Senate left that out. Full Story
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Analysis: Texas budget writers treasure that school tax you hate
In the midst of all the gloomy state budget news, this stuck out like a gold nugget in a cow patty: Rising property values in the state’s school districts translate into higher local tax revenue, cutting the state's obligation to education. Full Story
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With funding tight, legislators weigh options on school finance
With funding tighter than the previous legislative session, lawmakers are not expected to inject much more money into public education. For now, some are backing a plan to increase money to all school districts through the general appropriations bill. Full Story
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Explore thousands of Texas public schools
Use the Tribune's Texas Public Schools Explorer to find graduation rates, test scores and more for all of the 1,219 school districts and 8,646 public school campuses in Texas. Full Story
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School finance, testing fiasco topped 2016 education news
School districts lost a court case that could have forced the state to reform its school finance system, and federal officials toured Texas to investigate claims that special education services were arbitrarily capped. Full Story
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![Protesters at a press conference held by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in May, 2016 calling on Fort Worth Independent School District Superintendent Kent Scribner to resign over the district's bathroom guidelines for transgender students.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Why rising property values don’t lower school taxes
Rising property values in Texas should have lowered school property tax rates. But they didn't, and you can thank the folks who write the state budget for that. Full Story
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Analysis: The state’s declining support for public education in Texas
Had the state kept its share of school funding constant for the past 10 years, voters might not be griping about rising property taxes. The state is spending more than it used to, but it's spending less per student. Full Story
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![Chairman of House Committee on Public Education Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, on April 14th, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: The challenge of making a property tax cut pitch pay off in Texas
It's hard to get property tax relief out of a state government that does not levy a property tax. But it's tempting turf for politicians in Texas, and they're going to try again when they meet in January. Full Story
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Analysis: Take it from Texas — an election sweep carries no guarantee
Winning isn't everything when it comes to party control. If it was, Texas lawmakers would have nothing to do. But they still have plenty to fight about, and Republicans in Washington, D.C., will, too. Full Story
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![The 84th legislative session ran from Jan. 13 through Jun. 1. State lawmakers enhanced gun rights, allowed epilepsy patients to use medicinal cannabis oil and outlawed local bans on fracking.]()
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Houston schools measure lags, Austin transit bond leads
Harris County elected a Democratic district attorney, Houston ISD voters thumbed their noses at the Texas school finance system and Austin voters backed a $720 million transportation bond. Full Story
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![As the doors open at 7 a.m. on Election Day 2016, people stream into the George Washington Carver Library in Austin, Texas to cast their vote.]()
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Abbott, Patrick disagree on special session for school funding
Gov. Greg Abbott turned down Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's suggestion that he call a special session to overhaul school funding. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Dallas County sees cluster of competitive Texas House races
Four Republican incumbents in North Texas are fighting off Democratic challengers in what could be some of November's closest contests. Full Story
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![L-R, top row: State Rep. Rodney Anderson, R-Grand Prairie, and Democratic challenger Terry Meza; state Rep. Cindy Burkett, R-Sunnyvale and Democratic challenger Rhetta Bowers. L-R, bottom row: state Rep. Linda Koop, R-Dallas, and Democratic challenger Laura Irvin; and state Rep. Kenneth Sheets and Democratic challenger Victoria Neave.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich, Marjorie Kamys Cotera, campaign website and Facebook pages -
Texas House committee digging in heels for school voucher fight
In a bipartisan sparring match, members of the House Public Education Committee challenged proponents of using taxpayer dollars — or tax breaks — to help parents send their kids to private or parochial schools. Full Story
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A conversation with Price and Smithee (video)
Full video of my 10/4 conversation with state Reps. Four Price, R-Amarillo, and John Smithee, R-Amarillo, on the campus of Amarillo College. Full Story
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Outgoing Lawmakers: Boost Public Ed Funding to Fix School Finance
Texas House budget and public education leaders said Wednesday that the best way to overhaul the state’s school finance system is to increase the base amount of money it gives to each district per student. Full Story
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Texas Lawmakers to Highlight Education Spending Divide
The state’s escalating dependence on local tax dollars to fund public schools is expected to be a focus during a joint hearing of two House committees Wednesday and Thursday. Full Story
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![House Public Education Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, pulled down a school finance bill during the 84th legislative session on May 14, 2015.]()
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Analysis: A Game of Chicken Between Texas, Its Biggest School District
Voters in the state's largest school district can say no to sending money to other school districts, putting Texas lawmakers in a bind and — maybe — raising their own school taxes in the process. Full Story
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Credit: Shelby Knowles