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

Texas' Next Tort Reform Battle: "Loser Pays"

By Morgan Smith March 11, 2011

Advocates say requiring the losing parties in litigation to pay their opponents’ legal fees is the cure for courts choked with the costs of “junk” lawsuits. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Cotera
Enviros to Shapiro: Don't Be a Pest

By Morgan Smith March 10, 2011

A bill filed by state Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, has an unusual group turning out to education committee meetings: environmentalists. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Ben Hasson
Senators Debate Productivity Center, Class Size

By Morgan Smith March 8, 2011

During Tuesday's Senate Education Committee meeting, senators considered legislation that could dramatically change the way school districts operate — including two bills that target the dreaded "unfunded mandates." Full Story

Credit: Spencer Selvidge
Bullying Is a Problem, But Not All Agree It's the State's Problem

By Morgan Smith March 4, 2011

Thirteen-year-old Asher Brown’s death has given momentum to the more than 15 anti-bullying bills filed in the Legislature this session. The legislation is supported by teacher organizations and advocacy groups but has drawn opposition. Full Story

Credit: Muliadi Soenaryo
Democrats Attack Abortion Sonogram Bill with Amendments

By Reeve Hamilton and Morgan Smith March 3, 2011

During day two of the Legislature's debate on House Bill 15, state Rep. Sid Miller's abortion sonogram bill, House Democrats made their displeasure known with a parade of amendments. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Do Grants Offer Local Control, or Strings?

By Morgan Smith March 1, 2011

The Obama administration’s education budget includes $900 million for the Race to the Top program. And this time around, there’s a twist: Individual districts — as opposed to states — can apply for the funds. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
To Block Gay-Straight Alliance, School Keeps Clubs Off Campus

By Morgan Smith Feb. 28, 2011

Corpus Christi's Flour Bluff ISD has blocked extracurricular clubs from meeting on campus to make sure it's complying with federal law after denying approval of a gay-straight alliance. Full Story

Credit: Tiffany Szerpicki
Do Texas Schools Spend Too Much on Administration?

By Morgan Smith Feb. 25, 2011

For lawmakers scrutinizing every possible saving, “administrative costs” presents an easy mark. But there may be less to cut than they imagine. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Senators Try to Buy Time for Teachers

By Morgan Smith Feb. 24, 2011

With major state funding cuts looming, for many school districts, it's not a question of if — but how and when — teacher layoffs will occur. A new bipartisan bill from education leaders in the state Senate could temporarily change how schools go about that. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
National Democrats Target Blake Farenthold [Updated]

By Morgan Smith Feb. 23, 2011

Not even two months into his first term, U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, is the subject of an ad campaign from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich