At Thursday’s TribLive conversation, state Reps. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, and Larry Gonzales, R-Round Rock, talked to Julián Aguilar about the intersection of public education and demographic change.
83rd Legislative Session
Posted in
Demographics
TribLive: Anchia and Gonzales on Immigration Reform
At Thursday’s TribLive conversation, state Reps. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, and Larry Gonzales, R-Round Rock, talked to Julián Aguilar about a path to citizenship, a guest worker program and other controversial immigration reform proposals.
Posted in
Public Education
Texas Senators Slam State’s Testing Regime
State senators took turns publicly condemning Texas’ student assessment system — the implementation of which one lawmaker called a “colossal failure” — at a Tuesday Education Committee meeting.
Posted in
Public Education
Education Chairman Aims to Expand Charter Schools
Legislation creating a new state board to oversee charter school applications and removing limits on the number of state charter contracts was filed Monday by Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston.
Posted in
Demographics
Early Into His Tenure, Villalba Makes His Stands
Freshman state Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, has been held up by some Republicans as a symbol of the party’s growing popularity with Hispanics. He says he is only motivated by the issues facing his constituents.
Posted in
Public Education
Existing School Transfer Program is Underused
A scholarship to help students trapped in failing public schools attend another of their choice is near the top of the legislative agenda for top Republican leaders. But Texas has a similar existing program, and it is dramatically underused.
Posted in
Public Education
Senators to Vote on Education Board Leader’s Nomination
On Monday, a panel of senators questioned Barbara Cargill on her appointment to lead the State Board of Education. If she wins their approval, she will be the first SBOE leader to earn confirmation from the Legislature since 2005.
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Bidness As Usual
Some Lawmakers and Lobbyists Tied by Blood
In a state capital where moving from the Legislature to the lobby — and, sometimes, the other way — is unremarkable, it’s also common to find the relatives of lawmakers lobbying the state government.
Posted in
Bidness As Usual
Bills Renew Push for Ethics Commission to Post Financial Disclosures Online
Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, and Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, both filed legislation on Thursday that would require personal financial statements submitted to the Texas Ethics Commission to be made available online.
Posted in
State Government
TribLive: A Conversation with Joe Straus
Full video of my 2/6 TribLive conversation with Speaker of the House Joe Straus, R-San Antonio.
