Back to the Future on School Finance
Lawmakers love to say that they have solved the state's school finance problems. With that system being challenged once again in court, it's clear that all they can do is readjust it every few years. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Texas School Finance Trial Enters Phase Two
Lawyers representing nearly two-thirds of Texas school districts in a lawsuit against the state argued Tuesday that not only was a 2013 legislative funding boost short term, but that other changes had increased costs for schools. Full Story
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![After a trial that lasted more than three months, Travis County District Court Judge John Dietz ruled in February 2014 that the state's school finance system is unconstitutional.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas School Finance Trial Restarts, With a Political Backdrop
As the Texas school finance trial reopens Tuesday, it has become a political football in the state’s gubernatorial contest. State Sen. Wendy Davis' campaign has lobbed attacks at Attorney General Greg Abbott based on his role in the litigation. Full Story
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San Antonio School Districts Launch "Go Public" Campaign
A year into a $30 million push led by some of San Antonio's wealthiest philantrophic foundations to bring in new charter school operators, the city's school districts have started a campaign to highlight the value of traditional public schools. Full Story
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Top Academics but Little Diversity at New Charters
Two new charter school operators have come to Texas promising a collegiate atmosphere. But along with their academic goals come extra fees for parents and a record of serving disproportionately affluent and white students. Full Story
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![Parents look over books and ask questions about curriculum during a parent information session for the new Great Hearts Monte Vista Charter School to open in San Antonio at Temple Beth-El, October 29, 2013.]()
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Explanations Vary as Tutoring Program Falls Short of Expectations
After hundreds of millions in federal dollars were spent on No Child Left Behind tutoring in Texas, it is difficult to find anyone willing to call the program an unqualified success. And there is disagreement on why the program didn't meet expectations. This is the second story in a series on the program. Full Story
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Largely Unchecked, Tutoring Companies Got Millions Through Program
A Texas Tribune investigation of a No Child Left Behind tutoring program has uncovered years of inaction by state officials while money flowed to tutoring companies, delivering few academic results. This is the first story in a series on the program. Full Story
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Credit: Douglas Young -
Polling Center: Education Could Test Both Parties in 2014
Education could be a tricky issue for gubernatorial candidates in 2014, with both the Democratic and Republican nominee having to navigate through unexpected cross-currents among their own constituencies. Full Story
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![Bayless Elementary teacher Holly Guillmen identifies and explains the use of the contents of the Waterwise home water conservation kit provided to students by the High Plains Underground Water District in Lubbock, Texas, Oct. 17, 2012.]()
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TribLive: Pauken on School Finance
At Monday's TribLive conversation, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Pauken talked about his plan to reduce property taxes and increase sales taxes to pay for public education. Full Story
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Charter Schools' Presence in Churches Draws Both Praise and Concerns
Charter schools with ties to faith-based organizations have cropped up across Texas. Proponents say that's a result of smart budgeting, but critics have concerns about oversight and worry that faith-based instruction could enter some classrooms. Full Story
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![Latisha Andrews is shown on the playground of Beta Academy, which is housed at the Christian Temple Assembly of God Church in Houston on Aug. 6, 2013. She is applying to convert the private school into a charter school.]()
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Newsreel: Polls, Schools and the End in Sight
This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: The end of the special session is in sight, the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune polls are out and a judge says new school finance litigation case will begin in January. Full Story
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UT/TT Poll: Texans Split on Permissibility of Abortions in State
Texas voters favor banning abortions after 20 weeks of a pregnancy, but they remain split on the permissibility of abortions in the state, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Texas School Finance Trial Goes for Round Two
After hearing brief arguments on whether to reopen evidence in the school finance case because of laws passed during the legislative session, state district court Judge John Dietz announced Wednesday that a new, six-week trial will begin in January. Full Story
![After a trial that lasted more than three months, Travis County District Court Judge John Dietz ruled in February 2014 that the state's school finance system is unconstitutional.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Kent Grusendorf: The TT Interview
The former House public education chairman on the politics of education policy in Texas, what's next in the school finance trial and why he doesn't like the word "voucher." Full Story
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Lawyers Ask to Reopen Evidence in School Finance Trial
State District Court Judge John Dietz will hear new evidence in the sweeping school finance trial as he considers the effects of changes made during the recent legislative session. Full Story
![After a trial that lasted more than three months, Travis County District Court Judge John Dietz ruled in February 2014 that the state's school finance system is unconstitutional.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Whatever Became of That School Finance Ruling?
It’s now June, and there is still no final decision in the sweeping lawsuit involving more than two-thirds of Texas school districts that arose after the Legislature eliminated roughly $5.4 billion from state public education funding in 2011. Full Story
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![District Court Judge John Dietz of Austin is shown in his courtroom on Feb. 4, 2013, before he ruled that the state's school finance system was unconstitutional.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
TribLive: A Conversation About School Finance
On April 19, I talked with former House Public Education Committee chairmen Rob Eissler and Kent Grusendorf, former vice chairman Scott Hochberg and attorney David Thompson about the perennially unresolved question of how the state should fund public education. Full Story
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TribLive: A Conversation with Jimmie Don Aycock
Full video of my 3/7 conversation with state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, the chairman of the House Public Education Committee. Full Story
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TribuneFest: Ex-Commissioners Confidential
At the Trib's February 25 symposium on public education at Rice University, I talked choice, testing, school finance and the intersection of policy and politics with four former state commissioners of education: Mike Moses, Jim Nelson, Shirley Richardson and Robert Scott. Full Story
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For Elected Judges, Facing Voters Without Heeding Political Urges
For the elected judges on the state's highest civil court, the trick is to survive politically without thinking about politics — even on big political issues like school finance. Full Story
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Credit: Frank Swift
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