Most school districts in Dallas County took advantage of a new state grant program to bolster early education programs, but limited funds produced limited results.
Aliyya Swaby
Aliyya Swaby was the public education reporter for The Texas Tribune, where she worked from 2016 to 2021. Previously she worked at the hyperlocal nonprofit New Haven Independent, where she covered education, zoning and transit for two years. After graduating from Yale University in 2013, she spent a year freelance reporting in Panama on social issues affecting black Panamanian communities. She was an Education Writers Association finalist in 2017 for beat reporting and a Livingston Awards finalist in 2019 for a series on school desegregation.
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Politics
Trump administration could boost voucher push
A Trump administration may put wind in the sails of Texas lawmakers pushing for “school choice,” allowing parents to use taxpayer money to send their children to charter, private and religious schools.
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Public Education
State education board focuses again on teaching of evolution
Language challenging evolution was removed from high school biology standards because it seemed too difficult for students to analyze and evaluate, the state education board was told Wednesday.
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Public Education
Texas education board rejects Mexican-American studies textbook
In a 14-0 vote, the Texas State Board of Education rejected the adoption of a controversial Mexican-American studies textbook.
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Public Education
State Board of Education set to vote on Mexican-American studies book
The State Board of Education will vote this week on whether to accept a Mexican-American studies textbook opponents have called racist and inaccurate.
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Public Education
New Republican on State Board of Education keeps mum on creationism
The new Republican State Board of Education representative isn’t saying whether he’ll vote to remove creationism from state science curriculum standards.
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Health care
Houston schools measure lags, Austin transit bond leads
Harris County elected a Democratic district attorney, Houston ISD voters thumbed their noses at the Texas school finance system and Austin voters backed a $720 million transportation bond.
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Public Education
State Board of Ed member fields private email server controversy
State Board of Education member David Bradley is getting flak for refusing to release private emails related to board activity during an open records request.
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Politics
GOP operative John Colyandro to lead “school choice” lobbying group
Longtime GOP political operative John Colyandro has been tapped to head a new organization that will aggressively push Texas lawmakers to approve education savings accounts.
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Politics
Teaching to the sext: How Texas educators tackle a NSFW election
Texas teachers are finding plenty of lessons for students in the 2016 presidential election, but discussing some of the racier news requires a careful approach.