Texas education commissioner calls for student cellphone ban in schools
Mike Morath made the recommendation as concerns rise that phones are harmful to students’ mental health and distract them from learning. 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 -
Dozens of Texas school districts press state to suspend new student data reporting system
The superintendents said they haven’t received enough support from the state or time to fix errors the system generated. Full Story
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![TEA Commissioner Mike Morath addresses the State Board of Education on June 26, 2024, at the William B. Travis Building in Austin.]()
Credit: Olivia Anderson/The Texas Tribune -
Democrats hope campaign against school vouchers will help retake South Texas House seat
The first-term Republican defending her seat said a private school voucher program will help her community, especially students from low-income families. Full Story
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![From left: Democrat Jonathan Gracia is challenging Republican incumbent Janie Lopez in state House District 37, which covers part of the Rio Grande Valley, which includes Harlingen and part of Brownsville.]()
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Texas school districts say upgrades to the state’s student data reporting system could hurt their funding
The Texas Education Agency says there’s time to fix problems before officially reported data is used to determine how much money districts get. Full Story
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![A school bus drives past the Texas Capitol Complex as State Board of Education members hold a meeting in the William B. Travis building on Nov. 17, 2023, in Austin.]()
Credit: Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribune -
Former schools police chief says he was not at fault in Uvalde shooting, asks judge to toss charges
Pete Arredondo’s lawyers tell the court that the shooter, not the police, was to blame for the school violence. Full Story
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![Pete Arredondo, chief of the Uvalde school district police, on a dirt road on the outskirts of Uvalde on June 8, 2022.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribune -
Texas schools are hiring more teachers without traditional training. They hope the state will pay to prepare them.
Schools are hiring instructors with different types of backgrounds to deal with critical staff shortages. Full Story
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![First year educator Amanda McIntyre interacts with her students at Freeport Intermediate School in Freeport, Texas, on August 16,2024. She recently completed her teacher apprenticeship program.]()
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Professors and students need to understand AI to better shape how it’s used in higher education, panelists say
Watch a discussion on how artificial intelligence is already transforming colleges and universities in Texas. Full Story
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A South Texas school district received a request to remove 676 books from its libraries
The request came from a local pastor who is part of a group that trains people to “defend their freedom and liberty.” Other faith leaders have pushed back. Full Story
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![Books at Vandegrift High School's library on March 2, 2022.]()
Credit: Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune -
Federal judge in Texas expands ruling that blocks Biden administration protections of LGBTQ students
The decision in the case brought by the Texas Attorney General preempts any future Title IX regulations that extend federal protections to LGBTQ students. Full Story
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![Scenes from Austin Pride 2024 on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, at on Congress Ave in Austin. The day-long celebration featured drag performances, booths and floats of Austin’s businesses and many Texans clad in rainbow.]()
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After six years of low scores for students learning English, Texas educators say it’s the test’s fault
Students’ scores in a test that gauges their English skills have been low since a redesign introduced computer scoring. Full Story
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![The library at West Avenue Elementary in Waco on April 5, 2024.]()
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Church, state and the Texas Legislature: Debate heats up over what students should learn
House hearing focuses on a curriculum plan and on school vouchers. Full Story
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![Odessa High School students walk between classes Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.]()
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Judge blocks Texas from releasing this year’s school accountability ratings
The ruling marks the fifth consecutive year Texas families have not received a full picture of their schools’ ratings, which are used to determine how they are performing. Full Story
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![Lorenzo G Alarcon Elementary School received Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to create a calming and quiet room with the school counselor in San Elizario, Texas on July 23, 2024.]()
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After Uvalde city officials end battle over shooting records, victims’ families say other agencies need to follow suit
The city’s release ends a legal battle with news outlets, but other government agencies are withholding materials. Full Story
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![Authorities gather outside of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde after a gunman entered and killed 19 students and two teachers on May 24, 2022.]()
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Texas’ youngest students are struggling with their learning, educators say
A national study found young children are faring worse academically than their peers before the pandemic. The problem’s scope in Texas is unclear. Full Story
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![A Texas flag hangs in Heather Harris' classroom Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Plains.]()
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Rising costs and stagnant state funds pushed this West Texas school district to the financial brink
The Ector County school district boosted student learning but now faces financial uncertainty. It closed schools and cut costs to stay afloat, but it won’t slash teacher jobs. Full Story
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![Bonham Middle School students enter the school’s cafeteria for lunch Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.]()
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Judge dismisses most claims in federal lawsuit filed by Black Texas student punished over hairstyle
Though the ruling was a victory for the Barbers Hill school district, the judge questioned whether its dress-code rule causes more harm than good. Full Story
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![Darryl George has been punished by the Barbers Hill school district for his hair.]()
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Texas schools got billions in federal pandemic relief. It is coming to an end as the school year starts.
Educators say they’ll struggle to keep the programs they created with those funds, highlighting their precarious situation without more state help. Full Story
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![Students at Lorenzo G Alarcon Elementary School open boxes of school supplies paid for with Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds in San Elizario, Texas on July 23, 2024.]()
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Most Texas adults support school vouchers, new survey finds
Most respondents agreed with arguments against paying for private schools with public funds — but ultimately favored creating the programs. Full Story
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![Students enter a classroom at one of the 11 Houston-area campuses of Yes Prep, a public charter school system serving 7,000 low-income students.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Texas teachers stand behind Kamala Harris after years of feeling targeted, neglected by Republicans
At a gathering for teachers in Houston, educators saw Harris as a potential ally at a time when conservatives push for changes in Texas classrooms. Full Story
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![On July 25, 2024 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas, Vice President Kamala Harris gives the keynote speech at the American Federation of Teachers’ 88th national convention.]()
Credit: Danielle Villasana for The Texas Tribune -
Former Uvalde officer pleads not guilty to criminal charges over delayed mass shooting response
Adrian Gonzalez appeared in court Thursday after being indicted over law enforcement’s delay in confronting a gunman. Pete Arredondo previously pleaded not guilty. Full Story
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![The Uvalde County Courthouse on June 2, 2022.]()
Credit: Kaylee Greenlee Beal for The Texas Tribune