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Why is the TEA considering taking over South San Antonio ISD?
Read full article: Why is the TEA considering taking over South San Antonio ISD?The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is considering replacing the elected board of South San Antonio ISD due to long-standing governance issues. Since 2016, the district has faced multiple challenges, including the appointment of a conservator, frequent superintendent changes, and controversial board decisions like reopening and then closing several schools.
South San ISD could become 1 of 5 districts in Texas to have school board replaced by TEA-appointed members
Read full article: South San ISD could become 1 of 5 districts in Texas to have school board replaced by TEA-appointed membersThe Texas Education Agency is considering whether to replace the South San ISDās board of trustees with appointed board managers.
Texas Education Agency accepts applications for new South San ISD leadership
Read full article: Texas Education Agency accepts applications for new South San ISD leadershipThe conservator overseeing the South San Independent School District Board of Trustees has written a letter to the Texas Education commissioner, recommending that a board of managers be appointed to govern the district.
Houston ISD superintendent didnāt illegally funnel state money to out-of-state schools, TEA says
Read full article: Houston ISD superintendent didnāt illegally funnel state money to out-of-state schools, TEA saysThe Texas Education Agency found that checks mailed to Milesā charter school network in Colorado were eventually deposited into the networkās Texas account.
Latest effort to block school ratings cracks Texas districtsā once-united front
Read full article: Latest effort to block school ratings cracks Texas districtsā once-united frontDozens of districts sued Texas saying the ratings painted an unfair picture of their schools. Others voluntarily have released their own.
Dozens of Texas school districts press state to suspend new student data reporting system
Read full article: Dozens of Texas school districts press state to suspend new student data reporting systemThe superintendents said they havenāt received enough support from the state or time to fix errors the system generated.
Texas school districts say upgrades to the stateās student data reporting system could hurt their funding
Read full article: Texas school districts say upgrades to the stateās student data reporting system could hurt their fundingThe Texas Education Agency says thereās time to fix problems before officially reported data is used to determine how much money districts get.
After six years of low scores for students learning English, Texas educators say itās the testās fault
Read full article: After six years of low scores for students learning English, Texas educators say itās the testās faultStudentsā scores in a test that gauges their English skills have been low since a redesign introduced computer scoring.
Judge blocks Texas from releasing this yearās school accountability ratings
Read full article: Judge blocks Texas from releasing this yearās school accountability ratingsThe ruling marks the fifth consecutive year Texas families have not received a full picture of their schoolsā ratings, which are used to determine how they are performing.
Texasā Christian-influenced curriculum spurs worries about bullying, church-state separation
Read full article: Texasā Christian-influenced curriculum spurs worries about bullying, church-state separationSome secular groups and members of other faiths say the curriculum could give schools too much control over how children are taught religion.
State Board of Education fields concerns about Christian bias in proposed K-12 curriculum
Read full article: State Board of Education fields concerns about Christian bias in proposed K-12 curriculumThe proposal comes as part of a larger effort by officials in Texas and across the country to inject Christianity into public life.
How San Antonioās biggest school districtsā STAAR test scores compare to state averages
Read full article: How San Antonioās biggest school districtsā STAAR test scores compare to state averagesData released Friday showed Texas studentsā math and science scores on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness continue to slip since the pandemic.
Some Texas school officials are skeptical that a K-12 curriculum with Christian influences is the lifeline state leaders promise
Read full article: Some Texas school officials are skeptical that a K-12 curriculum with Christian influences is the lifeline state leaders promiseProposed lesson plans could improve student performance and help teachers, Texas education officials say. Not all district leaders and education advocates are convinced.
Houston ISD superintendent accused of funneling tax dollars out of state
Read full article: Houston ISD superintendent accused of funneling tax dollars out of stateA state lawmaker and Houston residents urge the Texas Education Agency to investigate whether the state-appointed superintendent improperly sent public funds to out-of-state charter schools.
Some South Texas school employees could be barred from holding elected office after fraud investigation
Read full article: Some South Texas school employees could be barred from holding elected office after fraud investigationA state-appointed board of managers overseeing the La Joya Independent School District is set to consider the policy this week.
Texas will use computers to grade written answers on this yearās STAAR tests
Read full article: Texas will use computers to grade written answers on this yearās STAAR testsThe state will save more than $15 million by using technology similar to ChatGPT to give initial scores, reducing the number of human graders needed. The decision caught some educators by surprise.
Texas places stateās largest charter school network under conservatorship
Read full article: Texas places stateās largest charter school network under conservatorshipThe state had been investigating IDEA Public Schools since 2021 and raised questions on its spending on things like a luxury driver and private jet.
After 7 years of state oversight, Texasā takeover of Marlin ISD starts winding down
Read full article: After 7 years of state oversight, Texasā takeover of Marlin ISD starts winding downThe transition at the Waco-area school district will shed light on how a democratically elected school board resumes control after a takeover.
Texas children are still struggling with math after the pandemic. Some schools are trying a new approach.
Read full article: Texas children are still struggling with math after the pandemic. Some schools are trying a new approach.Policy experts worry students will fall short of the state's future workforce needs. Educators hope the new curriculum will help them.
Texas Education Agency takes over La Joya ISD after investigating school board for fraud and conflicts of interest
Read full article: Texas Education Agency takes over La Joya ISD after investigating school board for fraud and conflicts of interestThe TEA appointed a āboard of managersā to replace the districtās school board trustees and named a new superintendent.
Texasā school ratings remain in limbo as the state and school districts fight over how strict the grading should be
Read full article: Texasā school ratings remain in limbo as the state and school districts fight over how strict the grading should beDozens of school districts sued the Texas Education Agency last fall, claiming revisions to the stateās accountability system would hurt them.
Struggling to find teachers close to home, some Texas schools are looking overseas for help
Read full article: Struggling to find teachers close to home, some Texas schools are looking overseas for helpPublic schools got little help from lawmakers this year to address the stateās chronic teacher shortage, so theyāve turned to other creative solutions ā like leaning on cultural exchange programs to recruit international teachers.
An effort to prepare West Texas students to work in the oil and gas industry is expanding
Read full article: An effort to prepare West Texas students to work in the oil and gas industry is expandingThe expansion, which will start with a smaller pilot in four high schools between Texas and New Mexico, is being paid for by the Permian Strategic Partnership, a group funded by major energy producers.
South San ISD given one year to improve board governance, avoid state takeover
Read full article: South San ISD given one year to improve board governance, avoid state takeoverThe Texas Education Agency has given the South San Antonio ISD board one year to become more stable with the help of a conservator, or it will implement its own board of managers.
Texas judge temporarily blocks release of āunlawfulā school accountability ratings
Read full article: Texas judge temporarily blocks release of āunlawfulā school accountability ratingsThe ruling comes after dozens of school districts sued the Texas Education Agency, claiming the revised accountability system would hurt their ratings.
Gov. Abbott directs Texas schools to resources for teaching about Israel-Hamas war
Read full article: Gov. Abbott directs Texas schools to resources for teaching about Israel-Hamas warAs tensions have flared in the escalating conflict and protests have spread across Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Education Agency would provide resources to schools to counter misinformation and antisemitism.
Why a North Texas suburban school district is opening a new health clinic for students on Medicaid
Read full article: Why a North Texas suburban school district is opening a new health clinic for students on MedicaidThe new clinic met resistance from a vocal group of parents who raised concerns the district was overstepping its authority in caring for students.
Voucher proposal spurs mix of excitement, wariness in Texas home schooling community
Read full article: Voucher proposal spurs mix of excitement, wariness in Texas home schooling communityParents of Texasā growing population of home-schooled students are split over whether education savings accounts would give them much-needed financial help or represent an unwanted government involvement in their kidsā educations.
Support for Houston ISDās Spanish speakers has dwindled under state-appointed leader, parents say
Read full article: Support for Houston ISDās Spanish speakers has dwindled under state-appointed leader, parents sayFor one reading class, Superintendent Mike Miles said instruction would focus on English, even if it meant risking state funding for dual-language programs. Parents say it goes further than that, adding that their kids are receiving no assistance in Spanish at all.
Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles says he needs four to five years to turn the district around
Read full article: Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles says he needs four to five years to turn the district aroundMiles said he should be held accountable and be fired if the district doesnāt improve academically in the next two years.
Texas Education Agency delays release of annual school ratings
Read full article: Texas Education Agency delays release of annual school ratingsTEA said it needs to make adjustments to account for changes in studentsā academic performance after the pandemic. The delay comes after several school districts sued to stop the agency from releasing school rankings produced under a new rating system.
School safety, tutoring and hair: These are some of the new education laws that go into effect this year
Read full article: School safety, tutoring and hair: These are some of the new education laws that go into effect this yearLawmakers failed to pass legislation on school vouchers or teacher raises this year, but they approved other education-related laws like an $800 million investment in high-quality instructional materials and new rules for students found vaping or using marijuana.
Federal judge bars Texas from enforcing book rating law
Read full article: Federal judge bars Texas from enforcing book rating lawHouse Bill 900 requires book vendors to rate all their materials based on their depictions or references to sex before selling them to schools. Vendors say the law aims to regulate protected speech with āvague and over broadā terms.
Booksellers sue over Texas law requiring them to rate books for appropriateness
Read full article: Booksellers sue over Texas law requiring them to rate books for appropriatenessTwo Texas bookstores and three national bookseller associations file suit over House Bill 900, which requires private booksellers to rate books on appropriateness, and bans āsexually explicitā material from libraries.
New school safety laws seek to add armed guards, chaplains and mental health training. Hereās what you need to know.
Read full article: New school safety laws seek to add armed guards, chaplains and mental health training. Hereās what you need to know.Experts say many of the changes will bolster school safety but some requirements may be challenging for public schools to implement by the upcoming school year with limited funding and staffing constraints.
Texasā pick to lead Houstonās schools used aggressive, polarizing methods in Dallas
Read full article: Texasā pick to lead Houstonās schools used aggressive, polarizing methods in DallasMike Miles has wasted no time in restructuring schools and proposing administrative layoffs. The changes are designed to pay teachers at struggling schools more if their students show improvement.
How Texasā plan to curb school violence was knocked down by a pandemic and little oversight
Read full article: How Texasā plan to curb school violence was knocked down by a pandemic and little oversightThreat assessment teams were created to prevent the next school shooting. However, confusion surrounds how these teams operate and what they even do with a child exhibiting threatening behavior.
No teacher raises. A failed school voucher push. Armed guards. Hereās what changed for public education this legislative session.
Read full article: No teacher raises. A failed school voucher push. Armed guards. Hereās what changed for public education this legislative session.Lawmakers sacrificed school funding to block school vouchers, but the issue could be debated again in a special session. Districts will get new funds for school safety, though Uvalde families were ultimately left disappointed with inaction on gun restrictions.
Texas Education Agency picks Mike Miles for Houston ISD superintendent as state takeover begins
Read full article: Texas Education Agency picks Mike Miles for Houston ISD superintendent as state takeover beginsThe former Dallas ISD superintendent and a state-appointed board of managers will replace Houstonās elected school board in response to years of poor academic outcomes at a single campus in the district.
Texas Senate passes school safety bill that would require districts to bolster their active-shooter plans
Read full article: Texas Senate passes school safety bill that would require districts to bolster their active-shooter plansBoth chambers have said school safety is a priority this session after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at a Uvalde elementary school last year.
Texas Houseās version of the Senateās voucher bill would change eligibility to the program and replace the STAAR test
Read full article: Texas Houseās version of the Senateās voucher bill would change eligibility to the program and replace the STAAR testThe Texas Houseās education committee is soon expected to discuss the new version of Senate Bill 8, which was heavily modified to sway votes in the lower chamber.
Texas lawmakers hope an investment in teacher training will help keep new educators in the classroom longer
Read full article: Texas lawmakers hope an investment in teacher training will help keep new educators in the classroom longerA bill passed by the Texas House on Wednesday would also help schools rehire retired teachers and offer other incentives in an effort to fight the stateās teacher shortage.
Texas House votes to require panic buttons in every classroom and armed guards in every school
Read full article: Texas House votes to require panic buttons in every classroom and armed guards in every schoolLawmakers have said school safety is a priority this session, but it is still unclear whether theyāll listen to Uvalde families who want to raise the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic guns from 18 to 21.
Natalia ISD finalizes retirement agreement with 4th superintendent to leave in a decade
Read full article: Natalia ISD finalizes retirement agreement with 4th superintendent to leave in a decadeNatalia ISD finalized a voluntary retirement agreement with its superintendent in early April after two years of service. It's the fourth superintendent to serve the district in just over 10 years.
At schools across Houston, students and parents protest Texas Education Agencyās takeover of stateās largest district
Read full article: At schools across Houston, students and parents protest Texas Education Agencyās takeover of stateās largest districtAt one elementary school, protesters chanted as the school day was about to begin. Parents sought petition signatures at a high school. The demonstrations are planned throughout the day.
Texas Education Agency moves to appoint conservators for Austin ISD
Read full article: Texas Education Agency moves to appoint conservators for Austin ISDThe TEA recommended the move, citing the districtās failures serving special education students. The announcement comes two weeks after the agency appointed a board of managers to oversee Houston ISD.
Civil rights organizations file federal complaint against Texasā takeover of Houston ISD
Read full article: Civil rights organizations file federal complaint against Texasā takeover of Houston ISDThe ACLU of Texas, the Houston NAACP and other groups say the takeover is a violation of the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution.
Parents share their outrage during first public meeting over Houston ISD takeover
Read full article: Parents share their outrage during first public meeting over Houston ISD takeoverThe Texas Education Agency announced on March 15 that it would replace the current superintendent and its democratically elected school board with a new board of managers as soon as June 1.
What happens when Texas takes over a school district like Houston ISD
Read full article: What happens when Texas takes over a school district like Houston ISDWhen do state takeovers of Texas public schools or districts happen? How long can they last? We provide answers to some of the questions surrounding the takeover of Houston ISD.
Houston ISD families blast the stateās takeover of the district as an intervention that wonāt improve student learning
Read full article: Houston ISD families blast the stateās takeover of the district as an intervention that wonāt improve student learningParents and students of the Houston Independent School District decried the stateās decision to take control of the school system. Despite the news, many questions remain about how it would affect them.
Texas education agency ready to find new leaders for Houston school district, documents show
Read full article: Texas education agency ready to find new leaders for Houston school district, documents showTexasā education agency first moved to take over the district in 2019 after years of low student performance at a single Houston ISD high school. Critics said the district has made improvements since then.
Texas Families would get $8,000 in tax dollars to send students to private school in sweeping āparental rightsā bill backed by Lt. Gov.
Read full article: Texas Families would get $8,000 in tax dollars to send students to private school in sweeping āparental rightsā bill backed by Lt. Gov.The bill, which has the blessing of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, will create new rules on how gender and sexual orientation is taught. It will face a tougher test in the House.
Texas Education Agency would have new power to enforce school safety plans under Senate bill
Read full article: Texas Education Agency would have new power to enforce school safety plans under Senate billThe bill, introduced months after the Uvalde school shooting, also allocates more funds to the stateās school safety allotment, which is money given to districts to improve campus security.
Texas teachers need raises, more training and better working conditions to fix shortages, state task force finds
Read full article: Texas teachers need raises, more training and better working conditions to fix shortages, state task force findsThe yearlong review also recommends increasing the funds schools get per student, a measure already favored by lawmakers looking how to spend a historic state budget surplus.
School districts face millions in extra costs as Texas program that backs bond debt hits its limit
Read full article: School districts face millions in extra costs as Texas program that backs bond debt hits its limitWithout the stateās safety net, districts with pending bond projects must now decide whether to pay more in interest or halt construction.
In audio, high-ranking TEA official admits public school funds could drop with voucher-like programs
Read full article: In audio, high-ranking TEA official admits public school funds could drop with voucher-like programsāSchool districts, what they have to do if they lose a student, [is] be smart about how they allocate their resources and maybe thatās one less fourth grade teacher,ā Steve Lecholop, a TEA deputy commissioner, said in a call with a parent that was secretly recorded.
Texas senators seem open to major change in stateās public education funding formula
Read full article: Texas senators seem open to major change in stateās public education funding formulaSenators in the finance committee asked questions Monday about the pros and cons of basing the amount of money that schools get per student on enrollment instead of attendance. Districts say the change could mean millions in additional funding.
Canyon Lake HS warns parents another teacher may have had āinappropriate communicationā with a student
Read full article: Canyon Lake HS warns parents another teacher may have had āinappropriate communicationā with a studentPrincipal Mark Oberholtzer told parents in a letter on Tuesday that he had learned the day before about allegations of a teacher, Orlando Naumann, having engaged in āinappropriate communicationā with a student. Naumann resigned in the face of an investigation, but has not been charged or arrested.
Texas Supreme Court clears way for stateās education agency to take over Houston ISD
Read full article: Texas Supreme Court clears way for stateās education agency to take over Houston ISDThe decision from the stateās highest court would allow the TEA to move forward with its plan to replace Houston ISDās school board members over low academic scores.
Texas greenlighted a felon to train school board members. Now education officials are examining their rules.
Read full article: Texas greenlighted a felon to train school board members. Now education officials are examining their rules.Records show James Dunn was convicted twice for defrauding federal government agencies. He registered his school board training, which he described as an alternative to āwokeā programs, with the Texas Education Agency this fall.
Texas studentsā math scores saw a sharp decline during pandemic
Read full article: Texas studentsā math scores saw a sharp decline during pandemicState math scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress dipped significantly between 2019 and 2022, but reading scores for fourth and eighth graders held steady.
Texas Supreme Court weighs whether to allow stateās education agency to oust Houston school board
Read full article: Texas Supreme Court weighs whether to allow stateās education agency to oust Houston school boardAmong other issues, the court will consider whether a law that updated the education code last year has any bearing on TEA Commissioner Mike Morathās attempt to replace HISDās board members over low academic scores.
When Texas students campaigned for a more diverse history course, they got a lesson in politics
Read full article: When Texas students campaigned for a more diverse history course, they got a lesson in politicsStudents had been pushing for the State Board of Education to adopt a new, more inclusive social studies curriculum this year. Instead, the board delayed their scheduled update until at least 2025.
Politics and pandemic are driving Texas teachers to consider quitting, survey finds
Read full article: Politics and pandemic are driving Texas teachers to consider quitting, survey findsAn online survey of 1,291 teachers by the Charles Butt Foundation shows more teacher dissatisfaction as Texas school districts scramble to attract talent.
High-poverty schools struggle to earn Texasā highest rating. Some in the Rio Grande Valley break that trend.
Read full article: High-poverty schools struggle to earn Texasā highest rating. Some in the Rio Grande Valley break that trend.The Texas Education Agency has dismissed the notion that the accountability ratings are a poverty rating. As evidence, they point to districts like those in the Rio Grande Valley, which have achieved high marks while serving a high number of economically disadvantaged students.
A-F accountability ratings for San Antonio-area charter school districts
Read full article: A-F accountability ratings for San Antonio-area charter school districtsThe Texas Education Agency released grades this week for each school district and campus across the state, and that includes the charter districts in the area.
TEA releases A-F accountability ratings for San Antonio-area schools
Read full article: TEA releases A-F accountability ratings for San Antonio-area schoolsThe Texas Education Agency released a list of A-F accountability ratings for districts ā the first issued since the coronavirus pandemic caused learning disruptions and teacher shortages across the state.
Texas school ratings show improvement compared to 2019, but those in poorer neighborhoods still lag
Read full article: Texas school ratings show improvement compared to 2019, but those in poorer neighborhoods still lagThis yearās TEA ratings were done differently than in previous years. Instead of the usual A-F ratings, which were last given in 2019, the agency gave only A-C ratings. Districts and schools that would have received a D or F instead received a āNot Ratedā label this year.
After the Robb Elementary shooting, some Uvalde parents are choosing private or online education
Read full article: After the Robb Elementary shooting, some Uvalde parents are choosing private or online educationFollowing a state report showing that almost 400 law enforcement officers showed up at the school on May 24, some Uvalde parents are doubtful over whether their kids will be safe in the district.
Itās not just COVID-19: Why Texas faces a teacher shortage
Read full article: Itās not just COVID-19: Why Texas faces a teacher shortageTexas schools have long had too few teachers. The pandemic made the situation worse ā but issues like low pay, poor benefits and polarizing statewide politics all have an impact, too.
After Uvalde shooting, Texas leaders will spend more than $100 million on school safety, mental health
Read full article: After Uvalde shooting, Texas leaders will spend more than $100 million on school safety, mental healthAlmost half the money is going toward bullet-resistant shields for school police officers, a move that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called on fellow state leaders to support.
Locks on 340,000 exterior school doors across Texas will be checked as part of Uvalde shooting response
Read full article: Locks on 340,000 exterior school doors across Texas will be checked as part of Uvalde shooting responseTexas has more than 1,200 school districts, but the education commissioner promised plans for the review will be completed this summer.
āItās truly just voter intimidationā: NISD pressured staff, tracked votes during bond election, records show
Read full article: āItās truly just voter intimidationā: NISD pressured staff, tracked votes during bond election, records showEmployees at multiple Northside Independent School District campuses have told the KSAT 12 Defenders in recent weeks that administrators relentlessly pressured them to vote on a May bond measure, tracked whether they had cast a ballot and in one instance threatened discipline if they failed to do so.
Texas will resume grading public schools based on studentsā STAAR test results
Read full article: Texas will resume grading public schools based on studentsā STAAR test resultsFor the first time since the pandemic, Texas schools will again be rated based on standardized tests. But for one year only, schools that receive a D or F will get a ānot ratedā label.
Facing a teacher shortage, Texas considers a more rigorous teacher certification exam
Read full article: Facing a teacher shortage, Texas considers a more rigorous teacher certification examTwo states have dropped the Educative Teacher Performance Assessment, and three others passed on it or want it gone.
Texas Education Agencyās new school library standards push for more scrutiny and parental input
Read full article: Texas Education Agencyās new school library standards push for more scrutiny and parental inputSchool districts are not required to adopt the agencyās recommendations but can use them as guidance as they develop new procedures or alter their policies for selecting or removing library books.
Texas teachers say theyāre pushed to the brink by law requiring them to spend dozens of hours unpaid in training
Read full article: Texas teachers say theyāre pushed to the brink by law requiring them to spend dozens of hours unpaid in trainingK-3 teachers in Texas have until 2023 to complete a 60-hour Reading Academies course to keep the job. Itās taking some 120 hours on their own time to finish.
In defiance of Attorney General Ken Paxton, Austin ISDās Pride Week marches on
Read full article: In defiance of Attorney General Ken Paxton, Austin ISDās Pride Week marches onPaxton equated the week of LGBTQ-inclusive activities with sex education in a letter to the district. Austin ISD says itās about acceptance.
Districts not applying for extra funds to help protect students who walk to school in high violence areas, TEA says
Read full article: Districts not applying for extra funds to help protect students who walk to school in high violence areas, TEA saysThe Texas Education Agency says no school districts in the state have applied for available funds that would help with protecting students in high crime areas who walk to and from school.
Texas now requires new charter schools to ensure they wonāt teach critical race theory
Read full article: Texas now requires new charter schools to ensure they wonāt teach critical race theoryThe new requirement applies to charter schools set to open in August. The agency did not elaborate why this one law needed a separate assurance.
Texas schools struggle to stay open as teachers and bus drivers call in sick with COVID-19
Read full article: Texas schools struggle to stay open as teachers and bus drivers call in sick with COVID-19School district leaders are desperately trying to fill vacant roles to stay open and some say they have no choice but to close.
San Antonio school districts lay out COVID-19 policies as cases continue to surge
Read full article: San Antonio school districts lay out COVID-19 policies as cases continue to surgeSeven of the cityās 16 school districts, including three of the cityās largest, have laid out the COVID-19 policies each has in effect as students, teachers, and staff whoād fallen ill prepare to return to campus.
Omicronās swift emergence tests Texas public schools as a new semester begins
Read full article: Omicronās swift emergence tests Texas public schools as a new semester beginsMany schools are pushing through with plans for in-person classes despite a surge in COVID-19 cases as they try to reassure parents and students they are prepared to open safely this week.
Texas education officials investigating whether Keller school district has books with sexually explicit content
Read full article: Texas education officials investigating whether Keller school district has books with sexually explicit contentThe district appears to be the first one to be investigated since Republicans started raising questions in October about content in public school libraries.
As critical race theory and mask mandate debates heat up, Texas GOP takes aim at local school board and municipal races
Read full article: As critical race theory and mask mandate debates heat up, Texas GOP takes aim at local school board and municipal racesThe Republican Party of Texas announced Monday it had launched a new Local Government Committee to work with county parties on backing candidates for nonpartisan local offices.