Uvalde school board postpones meeting to discuss firing police Chief Pete Arredondo
The school district canceled the meeting at the request of Arredondo’s lawyer. A new date has not been set. Full Story
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Brian Lopez
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Brian Lopez was The Texas Tribune's public education reporter from 2021 until 2024. He covered how policy and politics affect Texas’ K-12 public education system and the nearly 5.5 million kids enrolled in public schools. Previously, he was the Tarrant County reporter at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Brian is a New York native but moved to Texas after high school. He graduated from The University of Texas at Arlington.
Past Contributions
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![Cal Lambert sits on the Board of Trustees to hear from members of the Uvalde community during a board meeting at Uvalde High School on July 18, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Rural Texas districts struggling to attract teachers are switching to four-day school weeks
The switch to four-day school weeks is popular among smaller school districts that don’t always have the finances to attract or retain teachers with pay increases. Full Story
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![Tables are spaced out in a classroom at Ott Elementary School on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020 in San Antonio. The tables, which typically seat six to eight students, were arranged to seat four students and 16 total students in the classroom.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
Texas STAAR results improve in math and reading after pandemic dips
There had been fear that after another school year of COVID-19 disruptions, scores would not improve. Full Story
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![An empty classroom at Chapa Middle School in Kyle on Aug. 24, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
State education board members push back on proposal to use “involuntary relocation” to describe slavery
The Texas State Board of Education is fielding proposals to update the state’s public school social studies curriculum this summer. Full Story
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![Students and teachers walk through the halls at Cactus Elementary School on Jan. 28, 2020.]()
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More Texas schools are investing in online student surveillance. But does it work?
Uvalde’s school district is one of several statewide using online monitoring of student writing and messaging. But it’s not a perfect solution. Full Story
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![North Side Independent School District in San Antonio has implemented a pilot program to track students while on campus, having them wear radio frequency identification (RFID) chips on cards around their neck which are scanned by hidden cameras in the ceilings as well as used for lunch and library. Many students personalize their tags as in a music class at Jones Middle School in San Antonio, on September 14, 2012.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribune -
Butt family, H-E-B donate $10 million to replace Robb Elementary School in Uvalde after mass shooting
The timeline is still unclear for demolishing the school building. The district has plans to replace it with a memorial park. Full Story
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![People walk through the memorial set up for the 21 victims of a mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde on June 13, 2022.]()
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Supreme Court sides with school coach who prayed at a game, offering more protection to public displays of religion
The court ruled a Washington state coach was praying as a private citizen when he knelt after a game on the field, not as an employee of the district. Full Story
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![Joe Kennedy, a Christian former public high school football coach in Washington state who sued after being suspended from his job for refusing to stop leading prayers with players on the field after games, poses at Bremerton Memorial Stadium in Bremerton, Washington, U.S. March 15, 2022.]()
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“We’re rejoicing”: Texas abortion foes celebrate Supreme Court ruling and say their work isn’t done
Friday was joyful for activists who have spent decades fighting to end abortion, and now they want to see abortion restrictions spread nationwide. Full Story
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![Xavier White bows his head during a prayer at a rally in support of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in front of Planned Parenthood’s offices Friday, June 24, 2022, in Houston. (Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune)]()
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Locks on 340,000 exterior school doors across Texas will be checked as part of Uvalde shooting response
Texas has more than 1,200 school districts, but the education commissioner promised plans for the review will be completed this summer. Full Story
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![Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath speaks to the State Board of Education members during a meeting in Austin on Jan. 29, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune -
Texas rejects more rigorous teacher certification exam
The Educative Teacher Performance Assessment was designed to better prepare new teachers, but faced pushback from people who thought it would create barriers for people of color to enter the profession. Full Story
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![Students work at their desks during a geometry class at Chapa Middle School in Kyle on Aug. 24, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune