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The latest school finance news from The Texas Tribune.

  • Frustrated by Legislature, Schools Go to Court

    By Ross Ramsey

    The lawsuits are back for the sixth time in the last 40 years, carrying the issue that dominated Rick Perry's first years as governor: Is the state spending enough money, and distributing it fairly enough, to ensure that every kid in the state has a shot at an adequate public school education? Full Story 

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  • School Finance Suit Takes Shape

    By Morgan Smith

    Within the education community, there have been rumors about a possible school finance lawsuit since well before the legislative session got under way. Now, with $4 billion less in public funding and a daunting new student assessment program on the horizon, those rumors have become a reality. Full Story 

    Thomas Jefferson High School in San Antonio
    Credit: Reeve Hamilton

  • Some Teachers Left to Clean Up Budget Cut Mess

    By Morgan Smith

    Dripping Springs ISD avoided laying off teachers as a result of state budget cuts. But it has eliminated custodial positions, and that has left teachers there with new tasks once the school bell rings: sweeping classrooms and taking out the trash. Full Story 

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    Credit: Callie Richmond

  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Ross Ramsey

    Our all-hands-on-deck series on new laws — 31 Days, 31 Ways — continues, Root covers a challenge to the governor's school finance fix and the tax that makes it work, Philpott forecasts a presidential media tsunami will hit Texas, Murphy with a look at midyear campaign reports from candidates and PACs in Texas, yours truly on the quiet spot at the top of the 2014 ballot, Hamilton on government-required vaccinations against meningitis, Grissom reports on the heat wave in un-air-conditioned Texas jails, Aguilar on the private security business along the state's border with Mexico and M. Smith's interview with Nicole Hurd on how to get more high school students into college: The best of our best content from Aug. 8 to 12, 2011. Full Story 

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    Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman

  • The Brief: July 1, 2011

    By Reeve Hamilton

    Since most Texas counties have fireworks bans in effect this July 4 weekend, what better way to celebrate than recalling the legislative fireworks of recent weeks and imagining those still to come on the campaign trail? Full Story 

    A boy waves an American flag at an immigration rally held in Dallas on May Day.
    Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller

  • How Will It Play?

    By Morgan Smith

    Lawmakers have officially made their exit from the Pink Building, leaving two bills that will bring major changes to Texas school districts awaiting the governor's signature. Lawmakers, meanwhile, are wondering whether and how the two measures will play in next year's elections. Full Story 

    Tourists enter the empty Senate chamber Wednesday morning as the Texas Senate adjourned sine die the day before, leaving the House with unfinished business on June 29, 2011.
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • Video: Donna Howard on Rainy Day Funding for Schools

    By Justin Dehn

    An amendment from Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, that would have directed surplus money from the Rainy Day Fund to pay for enrollment growth in public schools perished in conference committee, but came up again in debate before the final vote on a fiscal matters bill to which it was attached. Full Story 

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  • With Less State Money, Will Schools Raise Local Taxes?

    By Morgan Smith

    Across the state, school districts are considering raises local taxes to pay for the state shortfall in funding. But will the same public that sent lawmakers to Austin in November with an overwhelming no-new-taxes imperative accept paying more locally to preserve programs and jobs? Full Story 

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    Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman, Brent Hoard/Elizabeth Albert

  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Evan Smith

    Aaronson and Grissom on a freshman lawmaker who didn't mind making waves, Aguilar on E-Verify's new lease on life, Galbraith on the state's plodding progress toward solar power, Hamilton on Warren Chisum's exit, Philpott on the remapping of Lloyd Doggett's district, Ramsey on a proposed change to ethics laws for Texas pols, Ramshaw on efforts by the state to take control of Medicaid and Medicare, Root on why a Rick presidential bid shouldn't be underestimated, M. Smith on the unraveling of school finance legislation and Tan and Dehn on the highs and lows of the 82nd legislative session: The best of our best content from May 30 to June 3, 2011. Full Story 

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    Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman