After six years of low scores for students learning English, Texas educators say it’s the test’s fault
Students’ scores in a test that gauges their English skills have been low since a redesign introduced computer scoring. Full Story
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Keaton Peters
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Keaton Peters was a reporting fellow at The Tribune in 2023. He grew up in the rural community of Woodfords, California, near the Nevada border. While studying for a master’s degree in journalism at the University of Texas at Austin, Keaton reported on the environment, politics and education for the online student publication Reporting Texas. He also has written for the Austin American-Statesman and Inside Climate News.
Past Contributions
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![The library at West Avenue Elementary in Waco on April 5, 2024.]()
Credit: Greta Díaz González Vázquez for The Texas Tribune -
Texas will use computers to grade written answers on this year’s STAAR tests
The state will save more than $15 million by using technology similar to ChatGPT to give initial scores, reducing the number of human graders needed. The decision caught some educators by surprise. Full Story
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![Nimitz Middle School 7th grade teacher Pricilla Martinez leads her class in an activity Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa. Martinez said that due to the increased amount of families moving to the Permian Basin, they sometimes teach 38 to 40 kids per class. “It’s been six weeks and I still don’t know all of their names… Its embarrassing to me,” Martinez said.]()
Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune -
More than a third of state agencies are using AI. Texas is beginning to examine its potential impact.
Amid fears that AI could heighten bias or affect privacy, the state is forming an advisory committee to recommend how the technology is deployed. “We’re gonna have to set up some rules,” the committee’s founder says. Full Story
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![The state Capitol in Austin on Feb. 9, 2023.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Senate confirms Texas Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez to 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
Ramirez is currently a U.S. magistrate judge for the Northern District of Texas, serving in that role for over two decades. Full Story
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![Irma Carrillo Ramirez, nominee to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, May 17, 2023.]()
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“How long can we keep this up?” Food banks are under pressure from Texas’ high level of food insecurity
Inflation, stagnant federal funding for food programs and high housing costs mean that demand at food banks still hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels. Full Story
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![Volunteers from left to right, Evelyn McMillen, Leigh Cox and Victor Surita help to package orders of groceries at El Buen Samaritano food pantry in Austin, Texas on Nov. 14, 2023.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribune -
Texans may approve billions for energy, water, parks and broadband on Nov. 7
At stake in next week’s constitutional amendment election is $13 billion in infrastructure spending. Supporters say it’s an opportunity for a once-in-a-lifetime investment. Full Story
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![Pipes lie in a trench inside the Regency Apartment complex in Austin on Feb. 24, 2021.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Gov. Abbott directs Texas schools to resources for teaching about Israel-Hamas war
As tensions have flared in the escalating conflict and protests have spread across Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Education Agency would provide resources to schools to counter misinformation and antisemitism. Full Story
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![Governor Greg Abbott condemns the recent attacks on Israel during a community gathering in support of Israel at the Congregation Agudas Achim Oct. 9, 2023, in Austin. Abbott also announced efforts for Texas to support Israel, which included funding for increased security at Jewish and Israel-related locations such as synagogues and schools and an Executive Order directing all Texas state agencies to refrain from purchasing goods produced in or exported from the Gaza Strip.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
Voucher proposal spurs mix of excitement, wariness in Texas home schooling community
Parents of Texas’ growing population of home-schooled students are split over whether education savings accounts would give them much-needed financial help or represent an unwanted government involvement in their kids’ educations. Full Story
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![The Harris family works on homeschool curriculum in a study space Oct. 12, 2023 at the Austin Central Library.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribune -
In trying to close its coal power plant, Austin encounters obstacles to going green
The city approved a plan in 2020 to shut the Fayette Power Project plant with the aim of eliminating carbon emissions. But political, economic and technological forces have gotten in the way. Full Story
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![The Fayette Power Project plant is a coal-fired power plant located near La Grange, in Fayette County. Jan. 16, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy draws hundreds of young conservatives at UT-Austin event
The presidential contender visited the University of Texas at Austin Thursday where he answered student questions and said the U.S. shouldn’t aid Ukraine in its war against Russia. Full Story
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![Vivek Ramaswamy, GOP presidential candidate, speaks at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, on Oct. 9, 2023.]()
Credit: Alex Hicks Jr./Spartanburg Herald-Journal via REUTERS