Texas schools

After more than a year of campaigning by Gov. Greg Abbott and three special sessions, the newest bill for Education Savings Accounts adds teacher pay raises, greater per-student allotment, a preference to families with lower incomes, and accountability measures. It still may not be enough to for legislators to approve sending public dollars to private schools.

A bill to increase the state’s support for school safety appears stalled in this month’s special legislative session. But even if it passes, superintendents warn it isn’t enough.

Abbott's announcement Tuesday suggests a renewed effort to divert public funds to private schools. Phelan’s office stopped short of calling it an agreement, saying the Republican speaker “looks forward to having robust discussions on school funding, teacher pay, and other critical issues with his House colleagues."

The measure could be considered by the full Senate as early as this week.

Late Thursday night, Arlington ISD became the latest school district to join a lawsuit against Education Commissioner Mike Morath because of concerns their ratings will drop drastically under the state's updated system.

A Black high school student in Texas was suspended for more than two weeks for wearing a natural hairstyle that school officials say violated the district's dress code.

The Barbers Hill school district prompted a new law meant to prohibit schools from punishing students with hairstyles associated with race. A recent student suspension sparks questions about the extent of the CROWN Act’s protections.

Texas had over 90 challenges of over 2,300 books, nearly double the number of attempts as the next state on the list.

The new laws affect schools, the electric grid and the power of local governments.

The school districts argue the new criteria will make them seem like they're doing worse than they are.