Texas Senate passes private school choice bill
The Senate voted 18-13 Thursday to pass a major private school choice bill, creating two public programs that would subsidize private school tuition. Full Story
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Aliyya Swaby
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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.
Past Contributions
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![State Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, looks over the close vote totals on Floor Amendment 10 to SB 3 debated in the Senate on March 30, 2017. The amendment was later pulled down by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Private school choice bill likely to get makeover on Senate floor
Legislative staffers Tuesday received a one-page report detailing changes to Senate Bill 3, which would exclude rural counties from participating in the private school subsidy programs and limit overall participation. Full Story
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![State Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, chair of the Senate Education Committee, directs a witness during testimony on March 21, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
House committee approves $1.6 billion school finance measure
The House Public Education Committee voted 10-1 to approve Chairman Dan Huberty's school finance bill, which would mean gains for most, but major losses for some. Full Story
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![House Committee on Public Education Chairman Dan Huberty at a hearing on March 21, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Rural "school choice" letter campaign sparks confusion, accusations inside Texas Capitol
An advocacy group says thousands of letters sent to rural lawmakers suggests widespread support for legislation that would create education savings accounts. But lawmakers — and some constituents — say the letters are dubious. Full Story
Credit: John Jordan/The Texas Tribune -
Senate Education Committee passes school choice legislation
In a 7-3 vote, the Senate Education Committee passed a bill that would create two public programs subsidizing private school tuition and homeschooling expenses. Full Story
![State Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, chair of the Senate Education Committee, directs a witness during testimony on March 21, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
School choice bill proponents, foes debate what's best for families
Tuesday's Senate Education Committee debate on private school subsidies lasted more than seven hours and saw experts on both sides arguing they knew best how to educate black and Latino Texas students. Full Story
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![Opponents of Senate Bill 3 — and other proposed school choice legislation — rally on the Capitol's south steps on March 21, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Watch Senate Education Committee discuss school choice legislation
The Senate's public education committee will hear testimony on the leading "private school choice bill" for the first time this session, Tuesday at 9 a.m. Full Story
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![Sen. Larry Taylor discusses school choice legislation during a press conference on Jan. 25, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Trump budget cuts would hit Texas education service programs hard
President Trump's proposed budget would cut about $14 million from Texas programs designed to provide tutoring, mentorship and counseling for low-income students. Full Story
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Credit: Corporation for National and Community Service -
Education committee chairs push major edits to A-F ratings for schools
House Public Education Committee Chairman Dan Huberty and Senate Education Committee Chairman Larry Taylor filed bills to help make the A-F accountability system more palatable to educators, who say grading their schools won't help them serve students better. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dan Huberty (left), R-Houston, and state Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Senate panel tentatively votes to defund Abbott's pre-K program
The Senate Finance Committee gave initial approval to budget items that would cut $180 million from state-funded pre-K in favor of a $40 million public-private partnership. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott signs HB4, which adds funding for pre-K, into law at the Anita Uphaus Early Childhood Center in Austin Texas May 28, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
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