Education
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Greg Abbott boosts Texas public school funding after years of holding it hostage
Gov. Greg Abbott signed an $8.5 billion boost to Texas public school funding into law on Wednesday after blocking increased school spending for years.
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Texas lawmakers targeted school and public libraries this legislative session. Here’s what happened
Right-wing Texas lawmakers targeted books in public schools and access to public libraries during the legislative session.
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14 Houston-area school districts offering free summer meals for children
For parents looking to get meals for their children this summer, many Houston-area school districts offer free breakfast and lunch at various campuses.
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Texas graded its public schools. Critics call the results a ‘politically motivated attack’
When the TEA released the scores on April 24, some school districts and a coalition of state lawmakers called the methodology “deceptive, harmful, and a blatant attempt to discredit neighborhood public schools to justify school privatization schemes.”
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At UT, a Day of Drag and Defiance
Students gathered for a joyful protest of the university system’s drag show ban.
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Trade pre-apprentice program is ‘no-brainer’ for Texans looking for a new career
This state-funded program gives cohorts from Austin, Houston, and DFW a pathway into green construction jobs, while paying them to learn.
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VIDEO: Texas graded its public schools. How did yours fare?
Texas public school ratings — which grade how well districts and campuses educate their students and prepare them for the future — were made public for the first time in two years. Results across the state have dropped after the Texas Education Agency implemented stricter scoring standards, and one North Texas school district is at…
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Student loans in default will be sent for collection. Here’s what to know for borrowers
By ADRIANA MORGA and WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Starting next month, the Education Department says student loans that are in default will be referred for collections. Roughly 5.3 million borrowers are in default on their federal student loans and soon could be subject to having their wages garnished. Referrals for collection…
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The number of 18-year-olds is about to drop sharply, packing a wallop for colleges—and the economy
This so-called demographic cliff has been predicted ever since Americans started having fewer babies at the advent of the Great Recession around the end of 2007—a falling birth rate that has not recovered since, except for a slight blip after the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
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She’s not faking it: How this Texas bill would excuse period pain absences in school
A Texas bill would excuse school absences for menstrual disorders—advocates say it’s a crucial step toward reproductive health and dignity in schools.
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Texas House passes $1 billion school vouchers bill in historic vote
The Texas House passed a $1 billion school voucher bill early Thursday, a measure that provides $10,300 to students to attend private schools.
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Fort Worth prioritizes literacy effort as 2 in 3 students cannot read proficiently
Mayor Mattie Parker issued a resolution April 15 declaring literacy as one of the city’s priorities. The document emphasized Fort Worth’s promise to help the 12 school districts serving the city achieve universal grade-level reading among students.
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Trump wants to dismantle the Education Department. That could hurt students with disabilities in Texas.
In a state with a checkered history with federal special education law, advocates say Texas students will see an erosion of their disability rights protections. As the Trump administration pushes to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, advocates for students with disabilities worry that, without federal oversight, Texas will fail to provide adequate special education…
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Second chance charter: This Texas educator is fighting for high school dropouts
Once a teenager drops out of high school, stigmas often follow. The world has become a more and more unforgiving place for young people, and on top of the unique challenges today’s teens face, financial crises at home and in the public school system leave struggling youth without much support. Fortunately, there’s a North Texas…
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Texas Senate approves ban on DEI, LGBTQ+ clubs in public schools
The Senate approved SB 12 in a 20-11 party-line vote on March 19. It’s now headed to the Texas House for consideration. The bill bans the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation, creates an avenue for parents to file complaints about violations, and requires districts to create policies for disciplining employees who engage in…
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What Trump’s dismantling of the US Education Department means for Texas
The Trump administration’s plans to close the US Education Department — which provides $3.6 billion to Texas schools — has left public school advocates decrying it as “embarrassing, maddening, and saddening.”
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Texas A&M can’t ban “Draggieland” drag show, federal judge rules
A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked Texas A&M University System from enforcing a ban on drag shows being held at its special event venues. Judge Lee H. Rosenthal said the student group that organizes Draggieland, the Queer Empowerment Council, was likely to succeed in showing the ban violates the First Amendment.
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These librarians won’t let America’s fever hit Fahrenheit 451
A new documentary shows us our local guardians of intellectual freedom in battle.
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Texas schools have leaned on uncertified teachers to fill vacancies. Lawmakers want to put a stop to it.
Underprepared teachers have been tied to student learning losses. But amid a teacher shortage crisis, school leaders fear the restrictions will lead to fewer instructors in their classrooms.
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Public school funding in Texas doesn’t match community support, advocate says
Amid declining enrollments and budget shortfalls, public school supporters are concerned that a $1 billion school voucher program will funnel more money away from neighborhood schools.
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Texas may change how schools select library books. Critics say it could lead to more bans.
Senate Bill 13 would create school library advisory councils largely made up of parents. It would give school boards, rather than librarians, the final say over new books.
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Texas Legislature proposes $400 million cut to higher ed as Dan Patrick threatens university budgets over DEI
At a public event last week, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said higher ed would get less funding if they don’t “kick DEI out of their schools,” a few weeks after lawmakers proposed a massive cut to public universities.
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Texas Senate passes $1B school vouchers bill to spend public funds on private schools
The Texas Senate easily passed a controversial school voucher bill that Democrats criticized for not prioritizing low-income students.
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Texas lawmakers may ban certain lessons at state colleges under expanded DEI crackdown
This year, the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature is expected to pick up where it left off two years ago to address a perceived liberal bias at the state’s public, four-year universities.
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$1 billion school voucher bill clears first hurdle in Texas Senate
A bill creating a $1 billion school voucher program for 100,000 Texas students is on a fast-track for approval in the state Senate.
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I’m helping my college-age kid fill out the 2025-2026 FAFSA. Here’s what to know.
If the financial aid fiasco last year had you, like me, coming up with creative alternatives for the FAFSA acronym, you can take a big, deep breath. This year, the process is so much easier. Or maybe you’re a FAFSA newbie, and you have no knowledge of 2023’s drama—you just want the quick ‘n’ easy…
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A North Texas lawmaker wants to make book banning easier in schools
Rep. Jared Patterson’s House Bill 183 would allow parents to request that the Texas State Board of Education review materials in public school libraries, challenging a book to be removed if they believe it to be inappropriate for the grade level or if it has “sexually explicit material.”
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Texas approves Bluebonnet, its new Bible-infused curriculum for schools
The Texas Board of Education narrowly approved controversial new learning materials for schools after Gov. Greg Abbott rigged the vote.
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Meet Bluebonnet Learning, Texas’ Bible-infused curriculum for schools
The Texas Board of Education is poised to approve Bluebonnet Learning, a Bible-infused curriculum for elementary schools despite criticism that it’s factually inaccurate.
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Trump nominates former WWE head, private school voucher advocate for Education secretary
McMahon is relatively unknown in education circles, although she has expressed support for charter schools and private school vouchers.
