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Aliyya Swaby was the public education reporter for The Texas Tribune, where she worked from 2016 to 2021. Previously she worked at the hyperlocal nonprofit New Haven Independent, where she covered education, zoning and transit for two years. After graduating from Yale University in 2013, she spent a year freelance reporting in Panama on social issues affecting black Panamanian communities. She was an Education Writers Association finalist in 2017 for beat reporting and a Livingston Awards finalist in 2019 for a series on school desegregation.
In separate calls with superintendents and lawmakers Sunday, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said decisions on extended school closures would be left up to locals. Full Story
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The East Texas district's elected school board voted to drop any outstanding lawsuits blocking the state's takeover of the district. Board members also ended a contract with lawyers involved in the dispute. Full Story
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Some of the districts extending their spring breaks are working on contingency plans to transition hundreds of thousands of students and teachers to remote learning in the event of even longer closures. Full Story
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The closures of Montgomery and Alvarado schools are short term, but hundreds of public school districts may face similar decisions. A big challenge for officials is figuring out how to feed low-income students in the event of prolonged shutdowns. Full Story
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State officials were stopped from swearing in an appointed board of managers to run the East Texas school district where two schools received failing grades for years. Full Story
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The Texas Education Agency announced a new appointed board and a new superintendent Friday for Shepherd Independent School District, where two schools failed to meet state academic standards for five years. Full Story
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Despite his history of sexist, racist tweets and conspiracy-laden rants, more than 54,000 Republican voters propelled Robert Morrow into a runoff for a seat on the State Board of Education. GOP leaders are terrified he might actually win. Full Story
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At a divisive and dramatic moment in U.S. politics, we'd like students and teachers to tell us what they're learning, talking about and missing as they follow the presidential race. Full Story
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Eight seats are in play for the 15-member State Board of Education, which decides what Texas children are taught. Democrats hope to pick up seats in November, but for now, both parties just want to see Robert Morrow lose his GOP primary. Full Story
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Teachers groups and some education advocates are criticizing the proposed changes, saying more charter schools will siphon money and students away from traditional public schools. Full Story
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