public education

TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey March 9, 2013

The results of the new University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll on everything from the top race of 2014 to the gun debate, Aaronson on Medicaid expansion, Aguilar on a financial thaw in the Mexican oil patch, Batheja on cents and sensibility, M. Smith on school choice, Rocha and Dehn on TWIA reform, Galbraith on water and fracking, Murphy’s interactive map of poverty in the state, E. Smith's TribLive interview with House Public Education Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock and Root on a lobby couple living large and reporting small: The best of our best content from March 4-8, 2013. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Patrick Presents Details of Tax Credit Scholarship Plan

By Morgan Smith March 8, 2013

State Sen. Dan Patrick has filed legislation to create an Equal Opportunity Scholarship Program, which would allow economically disadvantaged and at-risk students who attend public schools to transfer to private schools. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
TribLive: A Conversation with Jimmie Don Aycock

By Evan Smith March 8, 2013

Full video of my 3/7 conversation with state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee. Full Story
New School Choice Bill Would Allow Local Accountability Plans

By Morgan Smith March 7, 2013

House Bill 300 from state Rep. Jason Isaac, R-Dripping Springs, would allow local school boards to opt out of most state regulations to set their own accountability goals. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
TribLive: Aycock on Testing and Accountability

By Evan Smith March 7, 2013

At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee, talked about correct number of tests a student should take and how he'd revise the state's accountability system. Full Story
TribLive: Aycock on School Choice

By Evan Smith March 7, 2013

At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee, talked about the prospects for school choice legislation this session — and why a business tax credit might not pass muster. Full Story
UT/TT Poll: Texans Favor Surcharge to Help State Pay for Water Projects

By Ross Ramsey March 7, 2013

Water is a top issue with lawmakers, if not quite there with voters, according to the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. And voters prefer adding a surcharge, based on water usage, to help pay for water projects. Full Story
Senator Files Tax Credit Scholarship Bill

By Morgan Smith March 6, 2013

State Sen. Ken Paxton has filed a bill that would enact a business tax credit scholarship program touted by state Sen. Dan Patrick and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst at a December media conference. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Updated: Chief Justice Pushes for "Innocence Commission"

By Maurice Chammah, The Marshall Project March 6, 2013

Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson pushed lawmakers to establish a commission to investigate wrongful convictions at his biannual State of the Judiciary speech on Wednesday. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Guest Column: A Voucher is a Voucher is a Voucher

By Ken Zornes March 5, 2013

Just as death and taxes are certainties, we can be sure that several cloaked voucher bills will be introduced by the Legislature. No matter how it is sliced and diced, no matter its moniker, if passed it will result in public dollars going to private schools. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Guest Column: Choice is the Way to Save Our Schools

By Kent Grusendorf March 5, 2013

Choice would empower parents to select the best schools for their children and would empower teachers to earn more. Our failing schools would improve. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
TribuneFest: Building a Better Teacher

By Evan Smith March 5, 2013

At the Trib's February 25 symposium on public education at Rice University, Morgan Smith talked about what it takes to find and retain great teachers with Linda McSpadden McNeil of Rice University, Elisa Villanueva Beard of Teach for America, Gayle Fallon of the Houston Federation of Teachers and former U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige. Full Story
Texas Tribune Public Schools Explorer 2.0

By Noah Seger March 5, 2013

In the latest iteration of our one-of-a-kind Public Schools Explorer, compare individual schools and districts to one another, cross-filter by metrics like performance and spending, and check out the latest data on everything from TAKS to enrollment. Full Story
TribuneFest: Ex-Commissioners Confidential

By Evan Smith March 4, 2013

At the Trib's February 25 symposium on public education at Rice University, I talked choice, testing, school finance and the intersection of policy and politics with four former state commissioners of education: Mike Moses, Jim Nelson, Shirley Richardson and Robert Scott. Full Story
TribuneFest: Choice and Charters

By Evan Smith March 1, 2013

At the Trib's February 25 symposium on public education at Rice University, Morgan Smith talked about the prospect of greater choice and more charters with Caprice Young of the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, Rosemary Perlmeter of Teaching Trust, Duncan Klussmann of Spring Branch Independent School District and David Anthony of Raise Your Hand Texas. Full Story
For Elected Judges, Facing Voters Without Heeding Political Urges

By Ross Ramsey March 1, 2013

For the elected judges on the state's highest civil court, the trick is to survive politically without thinking about politics — even on big political issues like school finance. Full Story

Credit: Frank Swift
Senator Would Fund Mental Health Training for Teachers

By Maurice Chammah, The Marshall Project Feb. 28, 2013

State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, on Thursday filed the latest in a slew of proposals aimed at improving school safety. His bill would provide state funds to train Texas teachers to recognize and respond to mental illnesses. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Senate Panel Backs More Money for Public Schools

By Morgan Smith Feb. 28, 2013

A panel of senators voted Thursday to put $1.5 billion in additional public school funding in the state's two-year budget. That includes more money for pre-kindergarten programs, the state's Virtual School Network and Teach for America. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
TribuneFest: Accountability and Student Testing

By Evan Smith Feb. 28, 2013

At the Trib's February 25 symposium on public education at Rice University, I talked accountability and student testing with Robert Duron, the state's deputy commissioner of education; Susan Kellner of Texans Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessment; Tom Pauken of the Texas Workforce Commission; and former U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings. Full Story
Jeb Bush Talks Education Reform With Texas Lawmakers

By Morgan Smith Feb. 27, 2013

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush told Texas senators on Wednesday "to go big or go home" when it comes to pushing changes to public education policy. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich