Charter schools sue Texas over funding
A group representing most of the charter schools in Texas sued the state Tuesday, arguing that the nontraditional campuses face unfair restrictions and are shortchanged on funding. The Texas Charter...
View ArticleGraduation plan changes move forward
A bill that would make high school graduation requirements for Texas students more flexible passed the Senate Education Committee Tuesday morning. Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, amended the bill before...
View ArticleEx-TEA chiefs concede too much testing
It was the first time these four men and woman had shared a single stage, at least in recent years. The Texas Tribune billed the event as “Ex-Commissioner Confidential.” Four of the five most recent...
View ArticleRequired reading: magnets, charters, SAT do-over
A round-up of education stories from the week: *Two new magnet schools focused on Houston’s key industries, health care and energy, will open this fall . The Baylor College of Medicine Academy, which...
View ArticleSchools may face new state rating system
Texas public schools are set to face a tweaked accountability system for 2013 that will continue to grade schools largely on test scores but also will highlight improvement on the state exams. State...
View ArticleScores stay mostly flat on new state exam
Student performance remained generally flat during the second year of the state’s tougher high school testing program, leaving tens of thousands at risk of not graduating, according to results released...
View ArticleLearn about new high school graduation mandates
Middle school parents, it’s not too early to plan for high school, especially since Texas has changed its graduation requirements. The Houston Independent School District has scheduled a series of...
View ArticleNew law saves Texas charter schools millions
A new law — House Bill 885 — that enables the Permanent School Fund to back charter school bonds has already saved KIPP Houston an astounding $10 million in financing charges. The concept, which took...
View ArticleWhat HISD wants from state lawmakers and HCC
With state lawmakers reconvening in two months, Houston ISD leaders met Thursday to discuss where they want to focus their lobbying efforts. HISD’s director of government relations, Ashlea Graves,...
View ArticleVouchers — aka grants — expected to generate debate
No one, it seems, likes to say the v-word. But by all accounts, state lawmakers this session plan to debate ”vouchers,” or whatever you call it when the state directs funds to private schools. Take...
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