One education model — with unproven results — serves almost a third of pre-kindergarteners in Texas. Its grade? Incomplete.
Abby Rapoport
Abby Rapoport was a reporter at the Tribune in 2009-10. She served as a writing fellow at the Economic Policy Institute, in Washington, D.C. before coming to Austin. She covered the 2009 legislative session for Texas Monthly under the tutelage of Paul Burka, the magazine’s senior executive. Previously, she blogged for Glamour Magazine and interned at Lapham’s Quarterly. A native of Williamsburg, Virginia, she has a degree in history from Grinnell College.
Posted in
Public Education
2010: Survival of the Fittest?
Even if Cynthia Dunbar doesn’t seek reelection to the State Board of Education, another conservative Republican stands ready to take up the cause.
Posted in
State Government
2010: McLeroy vs. the World
Lobbyists from across the Republican party come out to support one of their own for State Board of Education, forsaking former chair Don McLeroy.
Posted in
Economy
Cloudy with a Chance of Money
The Rainy Day Fund seems like weather word play waiting to happen. It can plug holes in the budget, defend against an economic perfect storm and keep the deficit clouds at bay. That’s certainly how some see it when looking at the next biennium’s projected shortfalls.
Posted in
Economy
Stymied by Stimulus?
The stimulus money increased funding for education last session. But can the state keep it up next session without more federal money?
Posted in
State Government
The Checks Aren’t in the Mail
Sorry, retired teachers and other public employees: You’ll have to do without that extra $500 you were expecting. And you shouldn’t count on any additional benefits next year — not if the state pension fund continues to be, in the words on one state senator, “actuarially unsound.”
Posted in
Public Education
TribBlog: Texas Sidelined in Race for the Top?
Texas will not adopt national school curriculum standards, risking its ability to get a $700 million federal grant.
Posted in
Public Education
TribBlog: State Board of Education and the ABCs
Two legislative ABCs — Anybody But Craddicks — back the Republican moderate challenging Christian conservative member Don McLeroy.
Posted in
Economy
TribBlog: Interim Charges
Speaker Joe Straus has given committees their assignments for the next year.
Posted in
Public Education
State (Board) of Agitation
The State Board of Education, which has showcased some intense philosophical fights, has drawn scrutiny for becoming a partisan battleground. For now, members are just trying to get along — but the rifts are as big as ever.