The latest public education news from The Texas Tribune.
The Texas House voted Tuesday to use $212 million from the Rainy Day Fund, a savings account largely fed by oil and gas production taxes, to decrease premiums and deductibles for retired teachers in the state-run health insurance program. Full Story
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The governor put a number of public education proposals on the Legislature's plate for the current special session. Getting more than one or two into law would defy the odds. Full Story
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The Texas Senate passed a bill that would provide funding for teacher bonuses and retirement benefits, slashing a controversial provision that would require school districts to increase teacher salaries without additional state money. Full Story
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The Texas Senate backed bills that would subsidize private school tuition and study the state's school finance system. Full Story
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The Texas Senate Finance Committee approved a bill Saturday that would put one-time influxes of money toward the Teacher Retirement System and teacher bonuses, and require districts to fund $1,000 in teacher pay raises. Full Story
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The Texas Senate Education Committee passed a bill that would create a "private school choice" program to subsidize private school tuition for kids with special needs, and a bill to study the school finance system. Full Story
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In what seems to be an overture to the House, Gov. Greg Abbott added two new education-related issues to his special session call Thursday: school finance reform and increased benefits for retired teachers. Full Story
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In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: Sacramento schools look for teachers in the Philippines, political dysfunction continues to hold up education dollars for Illinois schools and a push for music education in South Dakota. Full Story
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The day before the start of this summer's special legislative session, educator groups rallied at the Texas Capitol, demanding more state resources and fewer unfunded mandates. Full Story
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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has a plan to give more money to teachers, as does a prominent Texas businessman. And another Texan is tapped for a position in the Trump administration. Full Story
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Days before the special session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick rolled out a specific plan to give retired and long-term teachers up to $1,000 in additional bonuses, using money from the Texas Lottery over the long-term. Full Story
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One of Texas’ most prominent philanthropists made another splash Monday, pledging $50 million to a program that will train public school teachers. Full Story
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In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: Science teachers push back against Department of Education, school showdown in NYC ends and an interview with Katie Krummeck and Rob Rouse of Southern Methodist University. Full Story
Gov. Greg Abbott's special session agenda will include a call for a $1,000 pay raise for teachers. But he's not offering state money to pay for it — and he's not necessarily talking about giving every public school teacher a $1,000 check, either. Full Story
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Rep. Dan Huberty, chair of the House Public Education Committee, said he plans to file a bill during the special session to reform school finance — and to continue to reject "private school choice." Full Story
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In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: A community in Michigan works to help refugees receive an education, a new approach to summer school and an interview with Jill Allor, a professor with the Department of Teaching and Learning at Southern Methodist University. Full Story
A plurality of Texas voters think the state should be spending more on public and higher education, but those numbers hide differences between conservatives and liberals, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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One of the most surprisingly contentious measures of the legislative session — ending "lunch shaming" for Texas public school students — was signed into law Thursday. Full Story
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A bill overhauling a future system to grade Texas schools and districts on an A-F scale is now law. Full Story
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Speaking to hundreds of educators ahead of a special session packed with education bills, House Speaker Joe Straus chastised the Senate for underfunding school finance reform. Full Story
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