Morgan Smith

Morgan Smith was a reporter at the Tribune from 2009 to 2018, covering politics, public education and inequality. In 2013, she received a National Education Writers Association award for “Death of a District,” a series on school closures. After earning a bachelor’s degree in English from Wellesley College, she moved to Austin in 2008 to enter law school at the University of Texas. A San Antonio native, her work has also appeared in Slate, where she spent a year as an editorial intern in Washington D.C.

Past Contributions

The Last Seven Days: Special Session Update

By Brandi Grissom, Emily Ramshaw, Morgan Smith, Julián Aguilar, Becca Aaronson and Thanh Tan June 22, 2011

The Tribune counts down to the end of the special session with updates on where the major issues added to the agenda by Gov. Rick Perry stand. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Texas High Schools Top Newsweek's Best List

By Morgan Smith June 21, 2011

When the national spotlight turns to Texas public education, it's often not flattering. But schools in the state ruled Newsweek's annual Best High School List — including two Dallas ISD magnets that claimed the top spots. Full Story
One School District Says No to Higher Property Taxes

By Morgan Smith June 20, 2011

After public resistance from Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Empower Texans, an Austin-based conservative activist group, voters in a suburban Fort Worth school district turned down a 13-cent local tax hike over the weekend. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Keeping Full Day Public Pre-K Alive, With Fees

By Morgan Smith June 17, 2011

The 82nd Legislature delivered a fatal whack to state grants for full-day pre-kindergarten. But some public schools are refusing to let the budgetary machete finish off their early childhood programs, choosing instead to charge tuition to students. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
House Approves Key Education Bills

By Morgan Smith June 16, 2011

When the Senate passed her two signature education bills, Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, made an effort to keep her colleagues from weighing them down with extra amendments. The lower chamber took a different approach. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
With Less State Money, Will Schools Raise Local Taxes?

By Morgan Smith June 13, 2011

Across the state, school districts are considering raises local taxes to pay for the state shortfall in funding. But will the same public that sent lawmakers to Austin in November with an overwhelming no-new-taxes imperative accept paying more locally to preserve programs and jobs? Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman, Brent Hoard/Elizabeth Albert
Anti-Washington, in More Ways Than One

By Ross Ramsey, Julián Aguilar, Reeve Hamilton, Ceryta Lockett, David Muto, Jay Root and Morgan Smith June 13, 2011

Serving in the U.S. Congress is a pretty big deal. Full Story
Second Life: Where Do Education Bills Stand in the Special Session?

By Morgan Smith June 10, 2011

Updated: A revised version of Rep. Rob Eissler's class size bill, which expands the Texas Education Agency's authority to grant waivers, quickly clears the House. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Updated: Fiscal Conservatives Frustrated With House Votes

By Emily Ramshaw, Morgan Smith and Becca Aaronson June 10, 2011

Rep. Donna Howard's proposal to direct surplus Rainy Day Fund money to Texas schools for enrollment growth survived to fight another day during debate on the House floor this morning, but not before a Republican attempt to derail it. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
After 16 Hours of Debate, House Tentatively Passes Key Fiscal Matters Bill

By Morgan Smith June 10, 2011

Lengthy debate on a key budget bill featured many retreads of contentious topics from the regular session — but it was Rep. Wayne Christian's revival of his famous "pansexual" amendment around midnight that almost killed the whole thing. Full Story

Credit: Bob