Senate panel advances Texas Senate and State Board of Education maps
The initial drafts of both maps have so far attempted to strengthen Republican majorities by protecting incumbents and creating more GOP-friendly districts. Full Story
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![The Senate floor on Jan. 13, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: When mapmaking Texas politicians are smiling and quiet, pay attention
Remaking the state’s political maps — redistricting — is important. One way to tell is that the lawmakers making the maps do their dead-level best to avoid saying anything that might signal their intent. Full Story
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![The House floor during the 86th legislative session. Jan. 9, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
After an indoor reception for Texas education officials, many attendees weren't told of COVID-19 diagnoses
Within two weeks of an informal reception honoring retiring State Board of Education members, at least three members tested positive for COVID-19. No one told many of the other attendees or the hotel. Full Story
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![The DoubleTree Suites in Austin. Dec. 10, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
At least three Texas Board of Education members test positive for the coronavirus after in-person meeting
One of the board members said the state needs to be more cautious about getting back to normal — especially with a new legislative session set to begin next month. Full Story
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![The State Board of Education meeting on January 29, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune -
Texas education board approves new sex ed policy that does not cover LGBTQ students or consent
Most Republicans voted against proposals to teach middle and high school students about consent, sexual orientation or gender identity. The board will take a final vote Friday. Full Story
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![A student drinks water from a fountain at Cactus Elementary School in Cactus on Jan. 28, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Republicans maintain majority on Texas education board
Democrats targeted three seats on the Republican-dominated board and won one of them this week. Republicans won the other two seats. Full Story
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![Desks are spaced out in a classroom at Ott Elementary School on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020 in San Antonio. The arrows on the floor indicate the direction for students to walk to control the flow of traffic through the classroom.]()
Credit: Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribune -
Texas gives preliminary approval for revised school sex ed policy that excludes LGBTQ issues
After marathon meetings over three days, the Republican-dominated board also rejected efforts to teach students about consent. It is expected to take a final vote in November. Full Story
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![Atticus Sandlin owns a variety of pamphlets, stickers, contraception, and various informational resources to provide to anyone who needs them.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Texas is revising its sex education standards, but they'll likely remain silent on LGBTQ issues
The Republican-dominated State Board of Education is taking up the first revision of sex ed curriculum in more than 20 years. LGBTQ students say they're being excluded again. Full Story
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![Atticus Sandlin, 16, works to provide support and empowerment to LGBTQ youth. He takes part in youth-led sex education at his school and throughout Texas with the Dallas organization Youth First.]()
Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune -
Lani Popp defeats Robert Morrow in Texas State Board of Education runoff
Republican leaders had rallied against Morrow, who is known for his jester's hat and his history of racist and sexist comments. Full Story
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![Lani Popp, Republican, running against Robert Murrow for State Board of Education, District 5.]()
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Texans urge state education board to expand sexual education standards and include LGBTQ information
More than 200 signed up to speak as the Texas State Board of Education began taking public testimony Monday on its first rewrite of sexual education policies since 1997. Full Story
![The State Board of Education meeting on January 29, 2019.]()
Credit: Emree Weaver/The Texas Tribune -
Texas education officials consider changing state’s sex education policy for first time in 23 years
A high-tension hearing is expected Monday as the Texas State Board of Education begins considering changes to its statewide policy for health education, including teaching middle schoolers about contraception. Full Story
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![High school students walk to their next class after the bell rings at Elsik Ninth Grade Center in Houston on March 28, 2018.]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
All Republicans on State Board of Education endorse against Robert Morrow in runoff
Morrow faces Lani Popp, a Northside ISD speech language pathologist, in the May 26 runoff for an open seat on the board. Full Story
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![Robert Morrow protests outside of a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at the Travis County Exposition Center on Aug. 23, 2016.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
How do you solve a problem like Robert Morrow?
Despite his history of sexist, racist tweets and conspiracy-laden rants, more than 54,000 Republican voters propelled Robert Morrow into a runoff for a seat on the State Board of Education. GOP leaders are terrified he might actually win. Full Story
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![Robert Morrow holds a sign in protest of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump outside of Franklin Barbecue during the Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 22, 2016.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Incendiary State Board of Education candidate Rob Morrow advances to runoff
Neither party wants to see Morrow, who has a history of sexist and racist rhetoric, elected to the board, but he is headed to a runoff for the District 5 seat. Full Story
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![Robert Murrow at a Texas Tribune Event on May 10, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Lewd tweets, the N-word and just plain weirdness: A wild-card candidate rattles education board races.
Eight seats are in play for the 15-member State Board of Education, which decides what Texas children are taught. Democrats hope to pick up seats in November, but for now, both parties just want to see Robert Morrow lose his GOP primary. Full Story
![Robert Murrow at a Texas Tribune Event on May 10, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
After black student suspended over dreadlocks, some Texas lawmakers want to ban hair discrimination
The Texas Legislative Black Caucus hopes to pass the CROWN Act in the next legislative session. The bill would prohibit hair discrimination affecting people of color in schools and workplaces. Full Story
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![The administration at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu told senior DeAndre Arnold to cut his dreadlocks.]()
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Texas education board likely to approve African American studies course in 2020
"We will be passing this," said Pat Hardy, a Republican on the Texas State Board of Education. Full Story
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![Masters of Education Policy student Chloe White testifies in support of a proposed addition to a high school African American studies course to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) state standards before the State Board of Education during a meeting in Austin on Nov. 13, 2019]()
Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune -
Austin ISD sex ed battle could be preview of state-level debate
Austin ISD's contentious board meeting comes months before the State Board of Education revises its curriculum standards on sex education. Full Story
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![Students in class at Bowie High School in Austin.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: In Texas education, finding and fixing problems is hard. And slow.
Arguments over standardized tests in Texas public schools obscure another problem with accountability: Why does it take so long to respond when educators think a school isn't educating its students? Full Story
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Texas grades school districts on an A-F scale. Explore your district's grades here.
The changes to the new rating system — which gives districts a letter grade in three categories: student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps — were finalized during the 2017 legislative session. Full Story
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![Bonham Elementary School in San Antonio on May 9, 2018.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune