Reform Austin

08/09/2023

In the midst of an ever-evolving landscape in public education, Texas voters have spoken loud and clear about their priorities. According to a recent University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll conducted in August 2023, school safety emerged as the most critical concern among registered voters.

08/09/2023

Secondary public school vouchers have grabbed most of the headlines over the past year, but there is a concerted effort by Texas Republicans to fundamentally change higher education in the state as well. It’s leading to more than a quarter of professors wanting to leave.

06/09/2023

The expansion of vouchers in Florida was intended to provide greater educational opportunities, but it appears that some parents are exploiting the program for purposes beyond education.

31/08/2023

The Houston Federation of Teachers has taken legal action against Houston Independent School District (HISD) Superintendent Mike Miles and the appointed Board of Managers.

29/08/2023

In a tightly contested vote on Monday, the Katy Independent School District trustees enacted restrictions on how staff members can address matters related to gender identity. Katy ISD catered to the more conservative sentiments of its constituents.

29/08/2023

It’s hard to argue against more rights for people, and the people who are pushing for the end of the public school system under the banner “parental rights” know it well.

28/08/2023

The state of Texas took over the Houston Independent School District in June, citing management and budget problems. Ever since, twenty-seven campuses across the district have been designated “New Education System” schools and will undergo massive reform.

24/08/2023

The state of Texas took over the Houston Independent School District in June, citing management and budget problems. Ever since, new superintendent F. Mike Miles has gone through the district like an industrial harvester, slashing positions and programs that are having significant negative impact on the state’s largest school system. In August, parents and students […]

The state of Texas took over the Houston Independent School District in June, citing management and budget problems. Ever since, new superintendent F. Mike Miles has gone through the district like an industrial harvester, slashing positions and programs that are having significant negative impact on...

23/08/2023

If given the choice, wouldn't Texas teachers also consider staging strikes to advocate for the improvements they so direly need?

18/08/2023

Making quite a splash, Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles took center stage at the NRG Center. The event, featuring acting, dancing, and singing, aimed to inspire educators and counter-critics as the new school year commenced under his leadership.

17/08/2023

Houston ISD& #8217;s latest report card from the state is more likely to be found crumpled in the bottom of a backpack than proudly displayed on the refrigerator. State standardized test results released late Tuesday show that HISD saw a dip in reading achievement and no change in math scores among elementary and middle school students […]

Houston ISD’s latest report card from the state is more likely to be found crumpled in the bottom of a backpack than proudly displayed on the refrigerator. State standardized test results released late Tuesday show that HISD saw a dip in reading achievement and no change in math scores among eleme...

14/08/2023

In line with the changes sweeping through various Texan school districts, Houston Independent School District (HISD) anticipates a decline in its state accountability rating due to a comprehensive revamp by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in its assessment methodology.

11/08/2023

With the dust finally settled around the property tax debate and the impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton imminent, it is almost certain Governor Greg Abbott will call a special legislative session to push for school vouchers. He has a new ally in the endeavor, Senator Ted Cruz.

09/08/2023

As Sam Houston Collegiate Preparatory Elementary School in Midland repeatedly posted dismal test scores, Debi Beyer contemplated moving her grandson out of the West Texas campus. She stuck around, encouraged by the Midland Independent School District’s new partnership in 2020 with a charter network, Third Future Schools. But Beyer quickly soured on Third Future Schools, […]

As Sam Houston Collegiate Preparatory Elementary School in Midland repeatedly posted dismal test scores, Debi Beyer contemplated moving her grandson out of the West Texas campus. She stuck around, encouraged by the Midland Independent School District’s new partnership in 2020 with a charter networ...

09/08/2023

As the sun rises on a new school year, a mix of excitement and apprehension fills the classrooms across the nation. Amidst the bustling energy, the state of Texas stands out for its unresolved issue: the lack of increased teacher pay raise.

02/08/2023

In an effort to address the shortage of teachers ahead of the new school year, Houston ISD has taken a controversial approach that has raised eyebrows among educators and parents alike: hiring uncertified teachers.

01/08/2023

Last week, a who’s who of conservative Texas legislators proudly attended a workshop on school vouchers headed by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

01/08/2023

Despite a massive $30 billion-plus budget surplus, public school districts in Texas are facing uncertainty as a proposed funding boost remains stuck in the Legislature.

01/08/2023

On Sunday, the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents unanimously voted to make acting President Mark A. Welsh III the interim president of its flagship university.

28/07/2023

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday at an Austin federal court, two Texas bookstores and three national booksellers file a suit over House Bill 900, which seeks to ban “sexually explicit” material from school libraries.

26/07/2023

Passing a school voucher or an “education savings account” has been one of the top priorities for Governor Greg Abbott and other top Texas Republicans. The idea is fairly unpopular in Texas, especially with rural Republicans.

26/07/2023

Under Superintendent Mike Miles’ New Education System, librarians and media specialists will be eliminated from 28 Houston ISD campuses. This change will also impact an additional 57 aligned schools that have opted into a version of the reform plan.

25/07/2023

Joy Alonzo, a highly respected expert on opioid issues and a professor at Texas A&M University, found herself facing serious consequences after being accused by a student of disparaging Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick during one of her routine lectures on the opioid crisis.

25/07/2023

Texans need a special session on education to improve school safety and teacher retention, not to establish a voucher scheme that runs counter to what families want.

25/07/2023

Rural Texas state representatives along with their Democratic colleagues stand in the way of legislation pertaining to voucher programs in Texas.

21/07/2023

In a surprising turn of events, Texas A&M University President M. Katherine Banks announced her resignation from the esteemed position. The decision came just days after she vehemently denied any involvement in the botched hiring process of a new journalism director, Kathleen McElroy.

20/07/2023

In a recent study conducted by the personal finance website WalletHub, the educational landscape of America's 150 largest metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) was analyzed, shedding light on the disparities in educational attainment across the nation.

12/07/2023

In a recent interview with The Texas Tribune, esteemed journalism professor Kathleen O. McElroy revealed that she has declined an offer to become the director of Texas A&M University's new journalism school. McElroy cited concerns about "DEI hysteria" (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) as the reason behind the university's decision to water down her contract.

In a recent interview with The Texas Tribune, esteemed journalism professor Kathleen O. McElroy revealed that she has declined an offer to become the director of Texas A&M University's new journalism school. McElroy cited concerns about "DEI hysteria" (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) as the reason...

05/07/2023

The bitter infighting in the Texas Legislature has schools across the state sweating huge deficits as they wait for lawmakers to push forward.

30/06/2023

The Supreme Court on Friday struck down President Joe Biden’s student debt relief program, saying that the HEROs act does allow the education security to waive approximately $430 billion in loans owed by borrowers.