/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/Brian_Lopez_TT.jpg)
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.
A bill passed by the Texas House on Wednesday would also help schools rehire retired teachers and offer other incentives in an effort to fight the state’s teacher shortage. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5c231c2aa84fc11c77963f40ac306ce9/Classroom%20LBS%20TT.jpg)
Other legislation this session has targeted school library books, which are optional reading materials, but House Bill 1804 might be the first to go after textbooks that teachers use for their lessons. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a9371983e099b00ee03d7abee4b189f8/Book%20File%20LW%20TT%2007.jpg)
Lawmakers have said school safety is a priority this session, but it is still unclear whether they’ll listen to Uvalde families who want to raise the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic guns from 18 to 21. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/526aa1aceaee283839c469f45a85865b/Akins%20High%20School%20RR%20TT%2001.jpg)
The Senate also passed a bill that would set prayer and Bible reading times during the school day. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/abb7d6fb51d1ed820d2438c5c0d39d0d/10%20Commandments%20TT.jpg)
Senate Bill 11, which aims to get hundreds of districts without adequate safety protocols to adopt one, would also beef up truancy laws. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/139c04e6e28693d3812353c17cda76ec/Marshal_Program_Training_2_RZ_TT.jpg)
A Texas House vote earlier in the day suggests Senate Bill 8 might be short of the votes needed to pass in the lower chamber. Senators also passed a bill on Thursday that would give teachers a one-time bonus. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e3b9f095d9fef387ef2d76fb948c161e/1014%20Hmschool%20League%20City%20AM%2007.jpg)
The TEA recommended the move, citing the district’s failures serving special education students. The announcement comes two weeks after the agency appointed a board of managers to oversee Houston ISD. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e6e0db73bbc2ea1ecf58af7dc57446d1/Linder%20Elementary%20ML%2018.jpg)
The ACLU of Texas, the Houston NAACP and other groups say the takeover is a violation of the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/49d3ac6d05e4ca6dde7d4f4d99e0331e/0331%20HISD%20Protest%20DSJ%2001%20TT.jpg)
More than 380 supporters and opponents signed up Wednesday to testify on the proposal, which would allow parents to use state funds to send their children to private schools. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c6527469b21d3d14e00afbed1217e36b/0321%20Parent%20Empowerment%20JV%20TT%2019.jpg)
The proposals target the taxes homeowners pay and require school districts to lower their tax rates. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d2df9383a621b267eab4e4fb89ba82d1/18%20Texas%20Homes%20Tax%20Reform%20TT%20MG.jpg)