public education

Video: Dewhurst's Speech at the State GOP Convention

By Justin Dehn June 8, 2012

Courtesy of WFAA-TV in Dallas, here's the full video of Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's speech Friday at the state Republican Party convention in Fort Worth. Full Story
Early STAAR Results Are as Expected, TEA Says

By Minjae Park June 8, 2012

In initial results from the new State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, just more than half of students working on a ninth-grade level met the passing standards for writing, while 87 percent passed biology. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Uyen Le
Inside Intelligence: Health Care, Anyone? Schools?

By Ross Ramsey June 5, 2012

For this week's nonscientific survey of government and political insiders, we asked questions from the most recent University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll on federal health care laws, Texas public schools and anti-tax pledges. Full Story
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Evan Smith June 2, 2012

Our primary night scoreboard and liveblog, Aguilar on runoff strategy, Root and Batheja on Round two of Dewhurst vs. Cruz, M. Smith on how public education candidates fared, Ramshaw on what surprised pundits and pollsters, Galbraith on concerns over our electric grid, Aaronson on which government entities have access to your personal info, Grissom with the latest on the Hank Skinner case, Ramsey on Hispanic Republicans and part three of Tan's family planning series: The best of our best content from May 28 to June 1, 2012. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Primary a Mixed Bag for Public Ed Candidates

By Morgan Smith June 1, 2012

Tuesday night was a wash for candidates hoping to capitalize on a backlash against the 2011 Legislature's deep budget cuts to public schools. Some won and some lost, and there wasn't a definite guiding narrative as to why. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Despite Upsets, No Major Power Shift for SBOE

By Morgan Smith May 30, 2012

Despite losses for moderate Republican candidates in several open seats — and the ousting of three incumbents — the ideological control of the State Board of Education won't be much different after this election cycle. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
UT/TT Poll: Little Love for Legislative Branch

By Ross Ramsey May 24, 2012

Texans dislike Congress and rank the courts as their favorite branch of government. They're also hoping the U.S. Supreme Court will overturn all or part of the federal health care law. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Two SBOE Rivals Each Facing Tough Primaries

By Morgan Smith May 23, 2012

Two influential incumbents on the State Board of Education — who are often at odds with each other — are both facing primary challenges that could result in a power shift on the fractious board. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Progress Texas Report: Virtual Schools Failing, Unaccountable

By Anna Whitney May 22, 2012

A report out Tuesday from Progress Texas blasts virtual schools for having high dropout rates, high student-teacher ratios and low academic performance — and using state money to fund schools run by for-profit businesses. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Interactive: Political Action Committees' Candidate Endorsements

By Ryan Murphy and Anna Whitney May 22, 2012

Endorsements stack up, so we've prepared a big spreadsheet to show you who is getting the political support of some prominent interest groups, trade groups and political action committees. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Ryan Murphy
Life After Scott

By Morgan Smith May 18, 2012

Texas Education Agency chief Robert Scott’s resignation Tuesday didn't come as a huge surprise to the education community. But that doesn't mean speculation about his replacement — and the future of the agency — won't run rampant. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
The Hot Seat: A Conversation with Darby and Duncan

By Evan Smith May 16, 2012

At our Hot Seat conversation at Angelo State University, state Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, and state Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, discussed cuts to public and higher education and other by-products of the 82nd Session. Full Story
In Austin, High School Diplomas Worth Millions

By Emery Reifsnyder May 16, 2012

High school degrees may now be considered a bare-minimum qualification for job-seekers, but as Emery Reifsnyder of KUT News reports, a new study of the Austin regional area says high school diplomas are worth millions of dollars to the local economy. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Death Sentence Reviews Leave Unsettled Issues

By Brandi Grissom May 13, 2012

Defense lawyers argue that judges in Harris County — ordered to review a psychologist's work in two death penalty cases — are simply rubber-stamping the conclusions of the psychologist, who was reprimanded last year. Full Story
TribLive: Patrick on Public Education

By Evan Smith May 10, 2012

At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, talked about "turning things upside down" in the public education system. Full Story
Aycock Unveils Website to Talk School Accountability

By Morgan Smith May 10, 2012

State Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, is launching a website to try to kickstart discussion on what will surely be a hot topic in the next legislative session: school accountability. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Who's Next to Take On Role of TEA Leader?

By Morgan Smith May 10, 2012

Education Commissioner Robert Scott's successor will have his or her hands full. The job requires a delicate balancing act in regard to state officials and school administrators. So who could get Gov. Rick Perry's nod for the post? Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Evan Smith May 5, 2012

Aguilar on the House District 77 primary, Batheja on the HD-101 and SD-9 primaries, Galbraith on the GOP candidates for two Railroad Commission slots, Grissom on the latest in the Kerry Max Cook case, Hamilton on Texas A&M's new accountability website, Murphy and M. Smith on how much superintendents make, Ramsey interviews a would-be Democratic Party chair, Root on that nice Ted Nugent, M. Smith on the resignation of the state's education commissioner and Tan on the continuing court fight over Planned Parenthood: The best of our best content from April 30 to May 4, 2012. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Pay to Pave

By Aman Batheja May 4, 2012

More energy producers are making "donations" to the Texas Department of Transportation to fix roads torn up by gas well operations. Full Story

Credit: Michael Stravato
State Business Group Joining School Finance Lawsuit

By Gerald Rich May 2, 2012

The Texas Association of Business announced today that it has joined a school finance lawsuit against the state, demanding a study of school system efficiency. Full Story

Credit: Gerald Rich