
Two prominent and often controversial fixtures affiliated with Texas public education announced back-to-back that they would not seek re-election when their terms end next year — Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock (R-Killeen), the state House Public Education Committee chair over the past two legislative sessions, and Thomas Ratliff (R-Mt. Pleasant), Vice Chair of the State Board of Education (SBOE).
by Merrill Hope4 Jun 2015, 6:40 AM PST0

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law House Bill 4, the signature legislation of his emergency early childhood education initiative. The bill establishes a grant program that sets aside $130 million over two years for public school districts to improve the quality and accountability of the state’s pre-Kindergarten or “pre-K” programs.
by Merrill Hope29 May 2015, 8:08 AM PST0

Public charter school advocates from all across Texas convened on the south steps of the Capitol in Austin for a lunchtime rally on April 29, featuring an address by Governor Greg Abbott, plus a surprise visit from Lt. Governor Dan Patrick
by Merrill Hope30 Apr 2015, 6:28 AM PST0

First-year students at taxpayer-funded Rutgers University have been studying Democrat candidate for president Hillary Rodham Clinton during a one-credit course titled “A Woman for President?” The course features guest lectures from former Clinton campaign staffers and a field trip to the Clinton Global Initiative.
by Dr. Susan Berry23 Apr 2015, 9:33 PM PST0

Potential GOP 2016 presidential hopeful Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) unveiled an education policy plan Monday that confronted the dismal state of public education in the United States and put forth a pathway that emphasizes the role of parents–and not government–as the greatest influence in students’ lives.
by Dr. Susan Berry10 Feb 2015, 5:57 AM PST0

The increased prominence of a Texas State Representative’s daughter as a lobbyist on education issues is raising questions about the propriety of him serving as chair of the House Public Education Committee.
by Sarah Rumpf28 Jan 2015, 10:09 AM PST0