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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.
Federal officials gave final approval to a Texas plan for school improvement, which includes portions of the new system for grading schools on a scale from A to F. Texas education officials say it's not too late for the public to weigh in on the A-F system. Full Story
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The Texas Education Agency has posted its plan for overhauling the way it educates students with disabilities — while highlighting the agency's limitations on available funds. Full Story
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As Texas' school finance commission is set to hold its next hearing, some members and policy experts are arguing the hearings seem set toward a predetermined outcome — making schools do more with the funding they have. Full Story
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Political candidates wanting a major boost from a public education voting bloc last week saw their hopes fall when teachers did not show up to the polls in the numbers they had expected. But educator voting advocates argue their political strength is only growing. Full Story
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A federal report said Texas policy on how to serve students with dyslexia violates federal law. State officials say the policy was originally created to address a gap in federal law. Full Story
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Seven seats for the State Board of Education are up this year but the outcome of one primary in North Texas could have a big impact on how it handles some hot-button issues. The next board's to-do-list includes setting sex education standards for the state. Full Story
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The Texas Education Agency created a policy in 2004 that led school districts to deny special education services to thousands of students. Some educators and officials say that cap started with the federal government. Full Story
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The State Board of Education is considering creating standards for an official Mexican-American studies course after two failed attempts to approve a textbook for the subject. Full Story
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An internal review of the Texas Education Agency's contracting regulations found this week that the agency needs a more concrete process for determining whether to bypass competitive bidding when it enters into a new contract. Full Story
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The Texas Commission on Public School Finance will meet for the first time this week as it develops legislative recommendations for overhauling the state's beleaguered system for funding public education. Full Story
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