An Escape with Few Takers
When public schools fail, students are allowed to transfer to better campuses. But only a tiny fraction ever do. Full Story
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The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
When public schools fail, students are allowed to transfer to better campuses. But only a tiny fraction ever do. Full Story
Rep. Carl Isett, R-Lubbock, has his hometown buzzing with rumors that he won't seek an eighth term in the Texas House. Isett didn't return calls and texts to confirm, and his office said simply that he'll have an announcement on Friday. Full Story
The CPPP says Texas' high per capita child abuse and neglect death rate is due to the state's high child poverty and teen birth rates — but also how Texas tallies its numbers. Full Story
School superintendent salary data offers a unique window into the vast diversity of Texas districts, from massive to miniscule, and the way they pay their chief executives. One new trend: Performance pay. Full Story
On the eve of a noisy election year, the former lieutenant governor of Texas takes us on a tour through voting and demographic statistics. Full Story
Mindful of the down economy, more public school districts are paying their superintendents bonuses rather than giving them raises. Full Story
The home health care cuts that Congress will likely make to fund federal health care reform will take an extra large swipe at Texas. Full Story
When political consultants take on wealthy candidates, does that mean they can milk them and their campaigns for all they’re worth? Are they simply trying to help good people get elected? Or both? Full Story
Can Texas lottery winners sell all of their payments to private finance companies? State attorneys say no. A state appeals court says yes. The Texas Supreme Court will decide. Full Story
The inflamed immigration rhetoric of the past couple of years has waned, but a report the National Conference of State Legislatures released today shows that state lawmakers still have passion for the issue. Full Story
If at first you don't succeed, you'd better hope the GAO gives you a second chance. Full Story
Texas voters won't be offered a real chance at change in the Legislature and Congress next year. Four out of five state and federal lawmakers face no real competition in their primary or general elections. Full Story
Humorist and author Kinky Friedman is setting his sights on a new prize: the agriculture commissioner post. Full Story
Think like the political pros and your mind will go to the long game instead of the short one. The short game is the elections of 2010. The long game is redistricting in 2011, when maps are drawn that corral the voters into the districts that will elect legislators for the next ten years. Full Story
One education model — with unproven results — serves almost a third of pre-kindergarteners in Texas. Its grade? Incomplete. Full Story
Some Texas sheriffs are looking to an unlikely source to get them out of the hole as private prisons win away federal contracts for inmates and put the financial squeeze on county jails. Full Story
Congratulations, Mayor-Elect. Now you get to govern a great city — Houston — that’s much bigger than the electorate and much more complicated than the campaign. Perhaps you’d like some aspirin? Or a re-count? Full Story
Alberto Gonzales — remember him? — in Esquire. Full Story
The feds want Texas to sign onto a movement toward national education standards in order to get up to $700 million in "Race to the Top" money. Texas officials say our students —and our curriculum — aren't for sale. Full Story
As anticipated, Cynthia Dunbar has officially announced that she will not seek re-election to her spot on the State Board of Education Full Story