By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 2A If you’ve ever wondered how long it takes for hope to turn to disappointment, the answer appears to be 24 days. The quiet demise of the Legislature’s special session on school finance – once a source of optimism for educators – took just that long. When Lt. Gov. […]
Category: DMN | Education
Mastering the art of control
Gov. Rick Perry’s not giving up on this session. Speaking in an interview with TXCN on Thursday, Mr. Perry said “it’s important that we continue to be optimistic” that a school finance bill could be passed before the session ends next week. “We’ve got a few very good hours left. … We’re still talking. As […]
Leaders hold out hope for school bill in week; Dewhurst confers with Craddick; Perry meets N. Texas homeowners
By Terrence Stutz and Joshua Benton Staff Writers Page 4A Despite growing doubts that a compromise can be found, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said Wednesday he and other legislative leaders are still aiming for Senate approval of a school finance bill by week’s end. Toward that end, Mr. Dewhurst polled senators Wednesday on whether they […]
Column: Turnover becomes a principal concern
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1B Janet Smith loves being a teacher. She knows that a lot of her students – poor, from single-parent homes – don’t have many constants in their lives. She likes being one. “Over time, you build up a rapport,” says the 20-year veteran. “The parents get to know you. […]
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Bill may spell end of TAKS; High school exam would be replaced; some fault timing in special session
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1A It has taken five years for Texas high schools to get ready for the TAKS test. It might take just a single 30-day legislative session to throw it away. A little-noted section buried in the finance bill given final approval by the House on Wednesday would kill off […]
State funding for stadiums may halt; House school bill bans spending on buildings not mostly for teaching
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 8A Football may be king in Texas, but it might end up getting dinged by the Legislature. One section of the school finance bill given final approval by the House on Wednesday would prohibit the use of state money to construct or improve buildings not used primarily for instruction. […]
A study in rising costs; Irving ISD illustrates reasons for school finance overhaul
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1B Alma Jimenez’s prospects would dim in a crowded classroom. The teachers love this bright, hard-working 11-year-old. But Alma didn’t know a word of English when her family came to America two years ago. Twenty years ago, she might have been thrown into a 35-student class and expected to […]
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State benefits from quirk in funding formula; When property values rise, districts’ gains offset by loss of aid
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 6B If property values in North Texas have soared over the last 20 years, and if money for schools comes mostly from taxes on property value, then school districts are bursting with money, right? Not exactly. A quirk in the state’s funding formula has given the benefit of rising […]
TAKS forecast: gloomy; The pressure is on for millions of Texas schoolchildren scheduled to take state exams today, and indications are that many won’t make the grade
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1A The most stressful period in recent Texas education history is about to begin. No, not the legislative session in Austin. It’s TAKS season. Millions of Texas children will take state exams today, but the most pressure is on high school juniors. This is the first year that they […]
TAKS standard is raised; After third-graders put down pencils, score requirement increased
By Joshua Benton Staff Writer Page 1B One question. For 3,339 Texas third-graders, a single question – and a surprise rule change – appears to be the difference between a stress-free spring and possibly being held back. With little fanfare, the Texas Education Agency last month raised the number of questions students had to get […]