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Texas Education Agency

The latest Texas Education Agency news from The Texas Tribune.

  • No Experience Necessary

    By Abby Rapoport

    Few members of the State Board of Education have finance expertise. Should we be concerned that they manage the investments of the $23 billion Permanent School Fund? Full Story 

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    Credit: Jacob Villanueva

  • Charter Churn

    By Brian Thevenot

    Teachers quit Texas charter schools at nearly three times the rate of traditional public school districts, according to state data. Dozens of individual schools lost well over half their teachers in the latest year. Full Story 

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  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Ross Ramsey

    A big week, with the State Board of Education working on social studies textbooks — Thevenot was all over that this week, starting with a story that got national attention — and then the first debate between the GOP gubernatorial candidates, a story we tag-teamed with poll analysis, Hu's and Ramsey's live-blogging, Philpott's audio, and video. Our first TribLive event coaxed some news out of House Speaker Joe Straus, and E. Smith also interviewed Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson on beaches, politics, and, um, politics. We featured M. Smith on athletes in politics, Aguilar on the pack of Republicans chasing U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall, Rapoport on women in campaigns, and Hamilton on candidates outside the spotlight. The best of our best from January 11 to January 15, 2010. Full Story 

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  • TribBlog: SBOE = State Board of Editors

    By Brian Thevenot

    When the State Board of Education finally got to amending the social studies curriculum, members burrowed deeply into the weeds, holding extended debates over the parsing of seemingly innocuous phrases, like "citizens" vs. "good citizens." Full Story 

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    Credit: Ross Ramsey

  • The American History Wars

    By Brian Thevenot

    As the SBOE grinded through testimony on Wednesday over its controversial social studies standards, much of the debate teetered on two basic fulcrums: teaching vs. indoctrination and patriotism vs. realism. Full Story 

    About 130 people signed up to address the State Board of Education about its social studies standards in a marathon meeting in January.
    Credit: Bob Daemmerich

  • Out of the Race

    By Abby Rapoport

    Texas will not apply for Race for the Top, the one-time federal grant worth up to $700 million for the state. Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott cited strings attached to the potential money: “It was chock full of burdens. Their overall policy was to control curriculum across the country." Full Story 

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    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • Still Restrained

    By Emily Ramshaw

    Texas educators forcibly pinned down students with disabilities as many times in 2009 as they did in 2008, despite efforts to curb the practice. Full Story 

    Restraints of disabled students used in Leander, Northside, Austin, Garland and Pflugervile independent school districts.
    Credit: Jacob Villanueva

  • Hijacking History

    By Brian Thevenot

    Was America ordained by God to lead the world? Are our public school students taught enough about the African American and Hispanic experiences? Was Joseph McCarthy an American hero? The always controversial State Board of Education meets this week to take up such questions as it revises Texas' social studies standards. Full Story 

  • Guest Column: The 2010 Agenda: Business

    By Bill Hammond

    To restore jobs lost during the recession and to prepare for those ready to enter the job market, Texas must create more than two million jobs in the next decade. A key factor in achieving this target is having educated employees available to fill positions as they become available. Full Story 

    Bill Hammond is the CEO of the Texas Association of Business.

  • Dropping In

    By Brian Thevenot

    After much hand-wringing by public officials and business leaders over the dropout crisis, a patchwork of last-resort schools and programs has emerged statewide. Gauging their performance is tricky, but there's no question that the students they serve might otherwise be on the street or in jail. Full Story 

    Dr. Joe Gonzales, principal Austin Can
    Credit: Jacob Villanueva

  • Super Salaries

    By Matt Stiles and Brian Thevenot

    School superintendent salary data offers a unique window into the vast diversity of Texas districts, from massive to miniscule, and the way they pay their chief executives. One new trend: Performance pay. Full Story 

    Superintendent salaries often, but not always correlate with district enrollment. The top earner in Texas, Beaumont ISD's Carrol Thomas, is the exception. He earns $334,212 for managing a system one-tenth the size of the state's largest, Houston ISD.
    Credit: Jacob Villanueva

  • Race to the Bottom Line

    By Brian Thevenot

    The feds want Texas to sign onto a movement toward national education standards in order to get up to $700 million in "Race to the Top" money. Texas officials say our students —and our curriculum — aren't for sale. Full Story 

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    Credit: Jacob Villanueva