INSIDER
Texas Republican lawmakers in regions known for support of public schools defended voting for vouchers, saying they gained leverage to seek concessions.
The lieutenant governor proposes that the Texas Senate adopt the House bill, which would eliminate a negotiation over the two versions and cement the victory for supporters.
Anti-voucher Republicans said they voted for the bill so they could fight to improve it, and also to fend off political retribution.
The bill would let families use taxpayer dollars for their children’s private schooling. Lawmakers also signed off on a sweeping $7.7 billion package to boost public school funding.
The lower chamber overwhelmingly voted in favor of House Bill 2, a sweeping $8 billion piece of legislation that would also limit schools’ reliance on teachers without formal classroom training.
A last-minute amendment would require students to go to alternative education settings if they attack a teacher or make terroristic threats.
From The Blast: More than 50 House Democrats have signed on to a plan to spike all constitutional amendments unless the House allows voters to decide whether school vouchers will be legalized.
For the first time since Texas outlawed nearly all abortions, lawmakers are clarifying the “life of mother” exception. But they don’t plan to address cases where the fetus won’t survive.
In a state with a checkered history with federal special education law, advocates say Texas students will see an erosion of their disability rights protections.
The House Public Education Committee voted to advance a pair of priority bills to create education savings accounts and to raise how much state money public school districts receive.
Paxton’s office launched an investigation into the district’s policy after an administrator was caught on tape discussing a possible loophole in the state’s ban.
A Tribune analysis also found the state’s share of the funds that schools receive per student significantly decreased in the last decade until recently.
Lawmakers propose addressing antisemitism by requiring schools to use a set definition. Critics say the measure will stifle speech.
Supporters say diversity initiatives close educational and income gaps born from a history of prejudice. Republican officials say they prioritize identity over merit.
The attorney general office’s lawsuit is based on an undercover video published in February by a conservative activist group.
The proposal aims to make working conditions safer for teachers but critics worry it could push the state’s most vulnerable students out of the classroom.
If the proposal becomes law, Texas would follow in the footsteps of several Democrat- and Republican-led states that have enacted similar bans.
Proponents say the changes would better serve special education students with widely varying needs — and help schools pay for it.
Underprepared teachers have been tied to student learning losses. But amid a teacher shortage crisis, school leaders fear the restrictions will lead to fewer instructors in their classrooms.
The hearing on House Bill 3 started Tuesday and ended Wednesday morning. Hundreds of Texans waited overnight to testify.
The prominent right-wing pastor told state lawmakers that an anti-communist curriculum is crucial to reaffirming that America is a “Christian country.”
Senate Bill 13 would create school library advisory councils largely made up of parents. It would give school boards, rather than librarians, the final say over new books.
Lawmakers this week listened to testimony on House Bill 2, which would raise schools’ base funding per student by $220 — a figure that falls short of what many Texans say is needed.
The bill would require school districts and law enforcement to meet once a year to plan their response to an active shooter situation. It would also mandate annual multi-agency exercise drills on how to respond to an active shooter.
Neither of the Legislature’s voucher bills require private schools to accept certain students, which some warn could block the neediest children from access.
The Lufkin school district says it must do a better job of promoting itself amid growing competition from charter schools and homeschooling.
The bill would ban diversity, equity and inclusion policies related to hiring and programming, while creating ways for parents to complain about violations to the DEI ban.
The proposal sets a few possible points of contention between the House and Senate, including how much money should families get through the program.
Supporters of voucher-like education savings accounts are trying to press their advantage early and build a sense of inevitability.
A recent budget analysis noted the Texas Senate’s voucher bill could affect the fund if it leads students and teachers to leave public schools.
Teachers with three and five years of experience would qualify for raises under Senate Bill 26. Instructors in smaller school districts would get bigger pay bumps.
Past efforts to allow more religion in public schools have been hamstrung by legal challenges. But those on the religious right feel empowered by recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions.
From teacher pay and preparation to special education and DEI, here are issues Texas lawmakers are prioritizing this legislative session.
A San Antonio panel discussed the results of a new survey on the well-being of Texas children Thursday and proposed solutions to the state’s ongoing challenges.
Senate Bill 2 now heads to the House, where top officials say they have the support to create education savings accounts.
Chronically absent students — those who missed at least 10% of their school days — are more likely to drop out, education advocates say.
After successful campaigns for House allies, the governor is in a position to set an ambitious course for the legislative session.
Texas students' overall math scores dropped from 2022. But English learners and fourth-grade Black students did better than their peers elsewhere.
Restrict THC, help with deportations, infuse religion in schools and provide property tax relief – these are among the Patrick priorities.
Senate Bill 2 starts a new debate on a school voucher program in Texas. A funding proposal would allow up to 100,000 K-12 students who want to enroll to a private school to participate.
More than two dozen Texas Democrats expressed concern about the elimination of a federal policy preventing immigration arrests at schools.
Schools near the border say it’s hard to prepare for the unknown. Immigration advocates say they should help communities understand students’ rights.
Republicans accused Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of supporting gender transitions for children throughout the 2024 election cycle, which he said took a political toll.
From debating school vouchers and improving the state’s water supply to reining in property taxes, the GOP-led body will look to pass its conservative priorities amid fighting within the party.
After the state missed the Jan. 1 deadline, lawmakers still have time to approve administrative costs before applying for $400 million in federal summer meal assistance.
Our journalists brought life to the experiences of everyday Texans, held powerful institutions accountable and surfaced stories that went beyond the daily news cycles.
The request comes after an audit found Texas improperly billed the federal government for reimbursements related to Medicaid-eligible students.
Some voucher opponents are ready to compromise; others are hoping supporters will fumble over the program's size, eligibility and accountability.
The Texas Legislature has prioritized getting high school dropouts the skills they need to enter the workforce.
A majority of the panel voted to call on the Texas Legislature to pass a state law giving members the authority to determine age-appropriate books for students.
Tiffany Clark, who was elected to fill a vacant State Board of Education seat in January, said she would have voted against the curriculum.
Education officials say the materials were designed to be age appropriate but critics argue they repeatedly omit key context and oversimplify history.
School voucher supporters say they have the votes to get a bill across both the Texas Senate, led by Patrick, and the House, which has repeatedly blocked such proposals.
Last year, Abbott refused to give public schools a major raise without passing a voucher program. His tone was more conciliatory after Election Day.
Republicans Tom Maynard, Pam Little, Aaron Kinsey and Brandon Hall prevailed in contested races. Democrat Gustavo Reveles won in the District 1 race.
Five people were charged in connection with the scheme. Investigators say aspiring teachers would pay for help cheating in the certification test.
School officials says the state decision to cut federal money likely will hurt their ability to recruit and retain critical staff for students with disabilities.
High school students that are getting a jump on college through dual credit now make up the majority of students at one East Texas community college.
Revising the social studies curriculum could be among the divisive issues the Texas State Board of Education tackles next year.
Despite the group’s strong participation, Hispanic students graduate college at a lower rate than peers in the program, according to a report.
The Texas Education Agency found that checks mailed to Miles’ charter school network in Colorado were eventually deposited into the network’s Texas account.
Texan voters will have significant influence in November, both within and outside the state. They will be electing a U.S. senator, 38 U.S. House members, 150 state House members, as well as various judges and local elected officials. Additionally, they will have influence over important questions.
Gov. Greg Abbott said the primary showed Texans want vouchers. In House District 18, an ad blitz and immigration fears may have played a larger role.
A 2019 state law requiring schools to offer full-day pre-K is capturing child care’s most profitable customer base: 3- and 4-year-olds.
Dozens of districts sued Texas saying the ratings painted an unfair picture of their schools. Others voluntarily have released their own.
The superintendents said they haven’t received enough support from the state or time to fix errors the system generated.
The first-term Republican defending her seat said a private school voucher program will help her community, especially students from low-income families.
The Texas Education Agency says there’s time to fix problems before officially reported data is used to determine how much money districts get.
Pete Arredondo’s lawyers tell the court that the shooter, not the police, was to blame for the school violence.
Schools are hiring instructors with different types of backgrounds to deal with critical staff shortages.
The request came from a local pastor who is part of a group that trains people to “defend their freedom and liberty.” Other faith leaders have pushed back.
The decision in the case brought by the Texas Attorney General preempts any future Title IX regulations that extend federal protections to LGBTQ students.
Students’ scores in a test that gauges their English skills have been low since a redesign introduced computer scoring.
Texas families have not received a full picture of their schools’ ratings since 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and lawsuits blocking their release.
The city’s release ends a legal battle with news outlets, but other government agencies are withholding materials.
A national study found young children are faring worse academically than their peers before the pandemic. The problem’s scope in Texas is unclear.
The Ector County school district boosted student learning but now faces financial uncertainty. It closed schools and cut costs to stay afloat, but it won’t slash teacher jobs.
Educators say they’ll struggle to keep the programs they created with those funds, highlighting their precarious situation without more state help.
