We’ve obtained a copy of the lawsuit that the Texas State Teacher’s Association has filed against the Texas Education Agency over its dropout prevention grants going to private entities. You can review the suit here (.pdf). There is some great stuff in the appendix, too.
A couple of paragraphs jumped out at us as a pretty [...]

Popularity: 17% [?]

I, for one, am very glad to see the Texas State Teacher’s Association using legal means to stop the distribution of state grants to private schools–especially since such a distribution is a dangerous precedent-setting step that gets us one step closer to school vouchers. TSTA has filed a lawsuit against the Texas Education agency over [...]

Popularity: 16% [?]

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has sent state legislators and Governor Rick Perry a plan to retool the TEXAS Grant program making it harder for poor students to access the state’s largest pool of higher education financial aid.
Instead of focusing on financial need, it would become a more competitive scholarship program, and focus on [...]

Popularity: 11% [?]

Last December, we told you about the saga of Chris Comer, the former science curriculum chief at the Texas Education Agency who was fired for being critical of the concept of “intelligent design.”
This week, Comer filed suit (lawsuit, .pdf) against the Texas Education Agency and Education Commissioner Robert Scott alleging she was fired over the [...]

Popularity: 13% [?]

Via Bond Buyer, a financial industry publication, comes the news that Texas’ Permanent School Fund is nearly out of capacity to back new school bonds.
For those unfamiliar with the Permanent School fund,it is one of the state’s oldest established designated funds. It was established by the state legislature in 1854, and funded by the Third [...]

Popularity: 14% [?]

On Sunday, Capitol Annex brought you a look at the Texas Legislative Study Group’s recommendations for higher education in Texas. Today, we bring you an interview with State Rep. Garnet Coleman, chair of the Texas Legislative Study Group about the first part of the LSG’s recommendations.
CAPITOL ANNEX: Part of the recommendations from the LSG mention [...]

Popularity: 16% [?]

Last week, the Texas Legislative Study Group released the first part of its recommendations for improving higher education in Texas. The LSG calls for repealing tuition deregulation, cutting and freezing tuition rates (and lowering costs by at least $500 per year), creating a new statewide scholarship system based on merit to help students and their [...]

Popularity: 24% [?]

It’s clear to all of us that the educational accountability system in Texas needs to be reformed. And, it is indeed refreshing to see the clarion call come from all over Texas.
However, I doubt I’m the only person who found myself jumping out of my chair and screaming “hypocrites!” when I saw this:
Popularity: 42% [?]

Popularity: 42% [?]

Everyone in Texas knows that teacher pay in Texas has been historically low. Thus, it should come as no surprise that more than 25 percent of all Texas teachers must have a second job to pay their bills and survive–not to mention that 44 percent of teachers are seriously considering another profession, according to a [...]

Popularity: 28% [?]

Although the start of the 81st Legislature is about eight months (and a general election) away, legislators are already busy trying to figure out how they’ll tackle some key issues (remember those interim charges?). Of course, education tops the list, and the Austin American Statesman has a tidbit on that:
Popularity: 17% [?]

Popularity: 17% [?]