WEATHER ALERT
Under scrutiny from legislators, Texas university leaders attest to how they’re complying with the state’s DEI ban
Read full article: Under scrutiny from legislators, Texas university leaders attest to how they’re complying with the state’s DEI banTuesday’s Texas Senate hearing comes as lawmakers are expected to propose new laws next year to enforce the DEI ban and prevent antisemitism.
Layoffs and upheaval at Texas universities spur fear as lawmakers continue DEI crackdown
Read full article: Layoffs and upheaval at Texas universities spur fear as lawmakers continue DEI crackdownAs administrators scramble to comply with new limits on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, students and faculty worry more tumult is coming.
UT-Austin announces round of firings in latest step to comply with Texas’ DEI ban
Read full article: UT-Austin announces round of firings in latest step to comply with Texas’ DEI banThe firings come after state leaders criticized universities for not doing enough to enforce the ban. Students say UT-Austin has already overcorrected.
New anti-DEI law for public Texas colleges goes into effect in 2024: What to know
Read full article: New anti-DEI law for public Texas colleges goes into effect in 2024: What to knowA new law dismantling the state’s diversity, equity and inclusion offices at publicly-funded universities and colleges will go into effect in 2024.
Senate fast-tracks passage of vouchers and border security legislation
Read full article: Senate fast-tracks passage of vouchers and border security legislationThe Senate revved to life Thursday, holding committee hearings with little advance notice and advancing four bills that satisfy Abbott’s agenda.
House, Senate bills at odds over power to boost future funding for Texas school voucher program
Read full article: House, Senate bills at odds over power to boost future funding for Texas school voucher programThe Senate’s Republican bill would let state leaders grow the program by taking money from other agencies without the Legislature’s approval. The House bill would bar the practice.
Texas’ main voucher bill seeks to avoid other states’ mistakes but keeps ideas that attracted criticism
Read full article: Texas’ main voucher bill seeks to avoid other states’ mistakes but keeps ideas that attracted criticismLike in Texas, voucher programs in other states sparked vigorous debates, came with the same promises and faced similar concerns. Not all predictions came true.
School voucher bill gets initial approval in the Texas Senate, heads over to a more skeptical House
Read full article: School voucher bill gets initial approval in the Texas Senate, heads over to a more skeptical HouseThe Senate also approved Senate Bill 2, which would infuse $5.2 billion to school districts to help them with teacher raises and rising costs. Gov. Greg Abbott said he would add those items to the special session’s agenda once lawmakers approve a voucher program.
‘Stop holding our children, teachers hostage to school voucher’: Superintendent calls for public school funding
Read full article: ‘Stop holding our children, teachers hostage to school voucher’: Superintendent calls for public school fundingThe Texas Senate Committee on Education had a marathon meeting Tuesday discussing SB1.
Vouchers return this special session — and school funding might be left out. Here’s what you need to know.
Read full article: Vouchers return this special session — and school funding might be left out. Here’s what you need to know.Gov. Greg Abbott called lawmakers back to Austin to try again to pass education savings accounts, which would let families use state funds to pay for their children’s private schooling. Teacher pay was not part of his agenda.
University of Houston students brace for LGBTQ Resource Center closure in response to Texas’ DEI ban
Read full article: University of Houston students brace for LGBTQ Resource Center closure in response to Texas’ DEI banThe announcement confronted students with the impact of a new law that will require all state-funded colleges and universities to close their diversity, equity and inclusion offices.
Texas Republicans ended a patchwork of local rules they say hurt business. They also eroded powers of city councils.
Read full article: Texas Republicans ended a patchwork of local rules they say hurt business. They also eroded powers of city councils.Lawmakers delivered Gov. Greg Abbott a long-sought bill to stop local governments from enacting local laws that exceed state law on a number of fronts.
Texas Senate again advances proposed restrictions on lessons about gender identity and sexual orientation
Read full article: Texas Senate again advances proposed restrictions on lessons about gender identity and sexual orientationFor the third time, the Senate is pushing a proposal critics say will ignore the existence of LGBTQ people in every grade level. Two other bills that contained similar language missed key legislative deadlines.
Texas Senate committee revamps school funding bill to revive voucher-like proposal
Read full article: Texas Senate committee revamps school funding bill to revive voucher-like proposalThe Senate education committee has drastically changed House Bill 100 after Gov. Greg Abbott signaled he would call a special session if a voucher-like program didn’t pass.
School voucher bill hangs by a thread as key deadline approaches
Read full article: School voucher bill hangs by a thread as key deadline approachesThe House public education committee chair said Wednesday he currently has no plans to bring the bill for a vote. Gov. Greg Abbott has vowed to call a special session if the House doesn’t “expand the scope of school choice.”
Texas GOP’s broadest attempt yet to erode blue cities’ power gets one step closer to becoming law
Read full article: Texas GOP’s broadest attempt yet to erode blue cities’ power gets one step closer to becoming lawGov. Greg Abbott and other supporters of the bill have long sought legislation to push back against local regulations that they say hamper business owners and harm the state’s economy.
Texas House’s version of the Senate’s voucher bill would change eligibility to the program and replace the STAAR test
Read full article: Texas House’s version of the Senate’s voucher bill would change eligibility to the program and replace the STAAR testThe Texas House’s education committee is soon expected to discuss the new version of Senate Bill 8, which was heavily modified to sway votes in the lower chamber.
Amended bill would keep tenure at Texas public universities
Read full article: Amended bill would keep tenure at Texas public universitiesA new version of Senate Bill 18 scheduled for a hearing in the House Higher Education Committee on Monday would keep faculty tenure and direct university governing boards to establish policies to grant and revoke tenure.
University of Texas regents approve creation of new college to house Civitas Institute at UT-Austin
Read full article: University of Texas regents approve creation of new college to house Civitas Institute at UT-AustinThe Civitas Institute was conceived with the help of conservative donors and state lawmakers to lead research and education based on free-market principles.
For thousands of Texas professors seeking tenure, a bill banning the benefit could be a turning point in their careers
Read full article: For thousands of Texas professors seeking tenure, a bill banning the benefit could be a turning point in their careersWhile the proposed tenure ban will likely face steep opposition in the Texas House, faculty say lawmakers’ recent attacks on higher education have raised concerns about whether Texas is the best state to build their career.
Texas Senate approves bill that would ban diversity programs in public universities
Read full article: Texas Senate approves bill that would ban diversity programs in public universitiesThe legislation heads to the Texas House, where members have been more muted about the proposal to disband offices, programs and training that foster diversity.
Texas House approves sweeping limits on local regulations in GOP’s latest jab at blue cities
Read full article: Texas House approves sweeping limits on local regulations in GOP’s latest jab at blue citiesCity officials say the full scope of the legislation advanced Tuesday is still unclear, but it would limit their ability to issue worker protections, water restrictions and more.
Texas Senate approves education savings account bill — but House signals a tough road ahead
Read full article: Texas Senate approves education savings account bill — but House signals a tough road aheadA Texas House vote earlier in the day suggests Senate Bill 8 might be short of the votes needed to pass in the lower chamber. Senators also passed a bill on Thursday that would give teachers a one-time bonus.
LGBTQ groups criticize Texas bill’s broad restrictions on school lessons and activities about sexuality and gender identity
Read full article: LGBTQ groups criticize Texas bill’s broad restrictions on school lessons and activities about sexuality and gender identitySenate Bill 8 supporters say the legislation protects the rights of parents who don’t want their kids to learn about gender identity and sexual orientation. Critics say it could force schools to ignore the existence of LGBTQ people.
In Texas Senate hearing, education savings accounts raise questions about accountability and impact on public schools
Read full article: In Texas Senate hearing, education savings accounts raise questions about accountability and impact on public schoolsMore than 380 supporters and opponents signed up Wednesday to testify on the proposal, which would allow parents to use state funds to send their children to private schools.
Texas cities have adopted ordinances to benefit workers. Sweeping legislation could roll many back.
Read full article: Texas cities have adopted ordinances to benefit workers. Sweeping legislation could roll many back.Lawmakers say their bills are needed to provide small businesses with consistent regulations and that regulatory power should be returned to the state. Labor groups say the proposal could undo hard-fought measures to protect workers.
Bill would make UT-Austin center formerly known as Liberty Institute into its own college
Read full article: Bill would make UT-Austin center formerly known as Liberty Institute into its own collegeSen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, has filed legislation that would establish The Civitas School of Civic and International Leadership as a formal college at the University of Texas at Austin.
Texas families would get $8,000 in tax dollars to send students to private school in sweeping ‘parental rights’ bill backed by Lt. Gov.
Read full article: Texas families would get $8,000 in tax dollars to send students to private school in sweeping ‘parental rights’ bill backed by Lt. Gov.The bill, which has the blessing of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, will create new rules on how gender and sexual orientation is taught. It will face a tougher test in the House.
Texas Senate’s priority bills on higher ed would end tenure, diversity policies
Read full article: Texas Senate’s priority bills on higher ed would end tenure, diversity policiesThe bills are part of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s list of priorities and, if passed as filed, could have profound impacts on how Texas universities recruit top faculty and other employees.
What you need to know about education savings accounts, the voucher-like program championed by Gov. Greg Abbott
Read full article: What you need to know about education savings accounts, the voucher-like program championed by Gov. Greg AbbottTexas is the latest state to pitch a version of the program, which lets parents who opt out of their local school districts use tax dollars to pay for private schooling.
Lawmakers briefed on status of Texas’ power grid after conservation alert
Read full article: Lawmakers briefed on status of Texas’ power grid after conservation alertSeveral Texas lawmakers were briefed Wednesday on the status of our state’s power grid. Gov. Greg Abbott also spoke about the recent calls for energy conservation after several power generators went offline for unexpected maintenance.
Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill allowing college athletes to profit off their own name and likeness
Read full article: Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill allowing college athletes to profit off their own name and likenessMore than a dozen states have passed similar legislation allowing college athletes to be paid for the use of their name, image or likeness as state lawmakers have called on the federal government to set national guidelines.
Texas bill to ban the teaching of "critical race theory" spiked at the last minute on a technicality
Read full article: Texas bill to ban the teaching of "critical race theory" spiked at the last minute on a technicalityTexas educators worried the bill would have a chilling effect on tough conversations about race and racism. GOP lawmakers said they wanted to ensure teachers' personal biases stay out of their lessons
Texas’ divisive bill limiting how students learn about current events and historic racism passed by Senate
Read full article: Texas’ divisive bill limiting how students learn about current events and historic racism passed by SenateThe bill aims to ban critical race theory in public and open-enrollment charter schools. Supporters say it merely ensures students aren't taught that one race or gender is superior to another. Critics say it limits how race in America is taught.