The latest public education news from The Texas Tribune.
A House Public Education Committee hearing became heated Tuesday when Chairman Dan Huberty had a harsh exchange with a witness speaking against a bill that would let high school students who fail required state tests graduate, with the approval of a special committee. Full Story
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State Rep. Helen Giddings, D-DeSoto, isn't giving up hope on passing a bill that she said would help starving school kids, despite some lawmakers killing its consideration earlier in the week. Full Story
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A Senate committee passed the House’s major school finance reform bill, after adding a controversial provision subsidizing private school tuition for special needs students — a move unlikely to go over well in the House. Full Story
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In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: A company tackles the challenge of interoperability with student data, a new trend emerges with the fidget spinner and an interview with Bradley Carpenter of the University of Houston. Full Story
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With a major bill for students with disabilities flying to the governor's desk, special education advocates are looking ahead to smaller bills that might not survive the upcoming deadlines for legislation to pass. Full Story
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Last week, House lawmakers advanced a bill requiring high school students to pass the civics test that immigrants take when applying for citizenship. We created a similar quiz, and more than 25,000 of you took it. Here's how you did. Full Story
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The House passed Senate Bill 7, which would penalize principals and superintendents who purposely hide incidents of teachers having sexual or romantic relationships with students. Full Story
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In less than two minutes, learn the ins and outs of the only bill that Texas lawmakers have to pass — the one that will determine how the state government is funded for the next two years. Full Story
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The Texas House passed a bill that would overhaul the controversial A-F system for grading schools, now set for implementation next school year. Full Story
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The Senate passed a bill extending the opportunity for students to graduate even if they haven't passed their required exams by going before a graduation committee. Full Story
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House Bill 1335 by Rep. Ron Simmons would give students with disabilities online accounts of state money to use for private school tuition and certain homeschooling expenses, such as textbooks and curricula. Full Story
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The Texas Senate voted to give charter schools state money to build facilities, with a caveat: traditional public schools get a little extra, too. Full Story
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In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: Trump's first 100 days yield relatively few changes in education policy, schools scramble for subs and an interview with Stephanie Al Otaiba of Southern Methodist University. Full Story
Senate Bill 693 cleared the chamber in a 25-6 vote following strong pushback from one Republican who argued seat belts make buses less safe. Full Story
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Some Texas lawmakers want to kill the franchise tax that so many businesses hate. So far, so good. But it might leave a hole in the state's pocket when it inevitably comes time to rebalance the state's financing for public schools. Full Story
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The House Public Education Committee heard a bill that would pare back the number of required standardized tests, in line with the wave of legislation limiting high-stakes testing in public schools. Full Story
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In a preliminary vote, the House approved Rep. Dan Huberty's bill to inject $1.6 billion into public schools and simplify complicated funding formulas. Legislators must still take a final vote on the bill. Full Story
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The State Board of Education has given preliminary approval to revised curriculum standards that would no longer require students to challenge scientific theories about evolution. Full Story
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We're livestreaming as the Texas House debates legislation aimed at boosting per-student funding for almost every school district and charter in the state. Full Story
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The Senate Education Committee discussed a bill that would radically simplify the state's school finance formula, stripping it of some antiquated provisions. Parents and educators who testified wanted a few new provisions added in. Full Story
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