https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jaden-edison/The latest news by Jaden Edison.enTue, 17 Dec 2024 13:48:58 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/17/texas-legislature-school-choice-vouchers-education-savings-accounts/Some voucher opponents are ready to compromise; others are hoping supporters will fumble over the program's size, eligibility and accountability.By Jasper Scherer and Jaden EdisonTue, 17 Dec 2024 13:48:58 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/17/texas-legislature-school-choice-vouchers-education-savings-accounts/Gov. Greg Abbott addresses the Texas House during the Opening Day of the 88th Texas Legislature at the Texas Capitol. School vouchers will have strong support in the Texas Legislature next year but some opponents hope proponents will fail to agree on the details of the proposed program.Opening Day action of the 88th Texas Legislature at the Texas Capitol showing Texas Governor Greg Abbott addressing the House chamber.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/09/texas-daca-recipients-affordable-care-act/The temporary injunction issued Monday would affect roughly 90,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients in Texas.By Jaden EdisonMon, 09 Dec 2024 22:29:20 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/09/texas-daca-recipients-affordable-care-act/Supporters of the the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy rally after a hearing on the program outside the federal courthouse in Houston on June 1, 2023.Supporters of the the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy rally after a hearing on the DACA program outside the federal courthouse in Houston on June 1, 2023.Adrees Latif/REUTERShttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/21/texas-board-education-public-school-library-books-legislature/A majority of the panel voted to call on the Texas Legislature to pass a state law giving members the authority to determine age-appropriate books for students.By Jaden EdisonThu, 21 Nov 2024 18:13:29 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/21/texas-board-education-public-school-library-books-legislature/Local school districts in Texas currently determine what books are appropriate for school-age children.Books line shelves at the Walsh Middle School library in Round Rock on July 11, 2022.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/20/texas-curriculum-greg-abbott-tiffany-clark-leslie-recine/Tiffany Clark, who was elected to fill a vacant State Board of Education seat in January, said she would have voted against the curriculum.By Jaden EdisonWed, 20 Nov 2024 16:46:40 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/20/texas-curriculum-greg-abbott-tiffany-clark-leslie-recine/Tiffany Clark, who was elected to represent the State Board of Education's District 13, said she was disappointed that Gov. Greg Abbott appointed someone else to fill the seat through the end of the year, which was vacated when former SBOE member Aicha Davis ran for the Texas House earlier this year. Clark said she would have voted against a state-proposed curriculum currently under consideration. Abbott's appointee, Leslie Recine, has signaled she would vote for the curriculum, which critics say overemphasizes Christianity.SBOE District 13 elect Tiffany ClarkSocial Mediahttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/19/texas-sboe-bible-christianity-curriculum/Critics say the curriculum overemphasizes Christianity. Texas school districts don’t have to use it but will receive $60 per student if they do.By Jaden EdisonTue, 19 Nov 2024 13:24:27 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/19/texas-sboe-bible-christianity-curriculum/Leslie Recine, who was appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to temporarily fill a vacant State Board of Education seat, sits at a Friday meeting in Austin during which the board approved a new state curriculum that critics say overemphasizes Christianity. Recine was the deciding vote in approving the curriculum. Abbott appointed Recine to fill the seat through the end of the year, bypassing Democrat Tiffany Clark, who was elected earlier this month to serve in that role starting next year.Leslie Recine at a State Board of Education meeting in Austin on Nov. 22, 2024.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/18/texas-curriculum-history-social-studies-slavery-racism/Education officials say the materials were designed to be age appropriate but critics argue they repeatedly omit key context and oversimplify history.By Jaden EdisonMon, 18 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/18/texas-curriculum-history-social-studies-slavery-racism/Texas parents and historians say a new state curriculum's lessons on the country's history of slavery, racism and civil rights omit key context. The teaching materials are currently under review.A U.S. History classroom at Akins High School in Austin, on October 2018.Rachel Zein for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/06/texas-house-greg-abbott-school-vouchers-funding/Last year, Abbott refused to give public schools a major raise without passing a voucher program. His tone was more conciliatory after Election Day.By Jaden Edison, Graphics by Carla AstudilloWed, 06 Nov 2024 18:31:48 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/06/texas-house-greg-abbott-school-vouchers-funding/Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at the Kingdom Life Academy private school on Nov. 6, 2024, in Tyler.Governor Greg Abbott speaks about school choice during a visit to the Kingdom Life Academy private school on Wednesday November 6, 2024, in Tyler. Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-board-of-education-2024-race-results/Republicans Tom Maynard, Pam Little, Aaron Kinsey and Brandon Hall prevailed in contested races. Democrat Gustavo Reveles won in the District 1 race.By Jaden EdisonWed, 06 Nov 2024 07:52:58 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-board-of-education-2024-race-results/Texas State Board of Education chambers.State Board of Education chambers during the SBOE hearing on the controversial Mexican-American studies textbooks in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 13. Scholars who have reviewed Mexican American Heritage have pointed out that the textbook is riddled with factual errors, promotes offensive ethnic stereotypes and disparages Mexican Americans and their contributions to this country. Martin do Nascimento for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/texas-shars-medicaid-special-education/School officials say the state decision to cut federal money likely will hurt their ability to recruit and retain critical staff for students with disabilities.By Jaden EdisonMon, 28 Oct 2024 13:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/texas-shars-medicaid-special-education/Dana Altamirano reads “The Wild Robot” to fourth graders at West Avenue Elementary School in Waco on April 5.Dana Altamirano reads “The Wild Robot” to fourth graders at West Avenue Elementary School in Waco, on April 5, 2024.Greta Díaz González Vázquez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/18/texas-state-board-of-education-races-2024/Revising the social studies curriculum could be among the divisive issues the Texas State Board of Education tackles next year.By Jaden EdisonFri, 18 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/18/texas-state-board-of-education-races-2024/This year's Texas State Board of Education elections will see five competitive races.State Board of Education chambers during the SBOE hearing on the controversial Mexican-American studies textbooks in Austin, Texas, on Sept. 13. Scholars who have reviewed Mexican American Heritage have pointed out that the textbook is riddled with factual errors, promotes offensive ethnic stereotypes and disparages Mexican Americans and their contributions to this country. Martin do Nascimento for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/15/houston-isd-mike-miles-cleared-wrongdoing-tea/The Texas Education Agency found that checks mailed to Miles’ charter school network in Colorado were eventually deposited into the network’s Texas account.By Jaden EdisonTue, 15 Oct 2024 21:11:03 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/15/houston-isd-mike-miles-cleared-wrongdoing-tea/Mike Miles, the state-appointed superintendent of the Houston school district, discusses public education at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Sept. 23, 2023.Mike Miles, the state-appointed superintendent of Houston ISD, discusses public education in Texas' largest city with Jacob Carpenter, team leader of the Houston Landing, at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Sept. 23, 2023.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/02/texas-house-district-18-school-vouchers-march-primary-election/Gov. Greg Abbott said the primary showed Texans want vouchers. In House District 18, an ad blitz and immigration fears may have played a larger role.By Jaden EdisonWed, 02 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/02/texas-house-district-18-school-vouchers-march-primary-election/A mascot poses with students during the "Meet the Wildcats" community event at Splendora High School on Aug. 16, 2024, in Splendora.A mascot poses with students during the "Meet the Wildcats" community event at Splendora High School on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024, in Splendora.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/18/texas-school-cell-phone-ban/Mike Morath made the recommendation as concerns rise that phones are harmful to students’ mental health and distract them from learning.By Jaden EdisonWed, 18 Sep 2024 17:07:56 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/18/texas-school-cell-phone-ban/High school students walk to their next class after the bell rings at Elsik Ninth Grade Center in Houston on March 28, 2018.High school students walk to their next class after the bell rings at Elsik Ninth Grade Center in Houston on March 28, 2018.Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/17/school-district-letter-ed-fi-system/The superintendents said they haven’t received enough support from the state or time to fix errors the system generated.By Jaden EdisonTue, 17 Sep 2024 15:27:38 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/17/school-district-letter-ed-fi-system/Texas education commissioner Mike Morath addresses the State Board of Education in Austin on June 26.TEA Commissioner Mike Morath addresses the State Board of Education on June 26, 2024, at the William B. Travis Building in Austin.Olivia Anderson/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/10/texas-education-data-reporting-school-districts-tea/The Texas Education Agency says there’s time to fix problems before officially reported data is used to determine how much money districts get.By Jaden EdisonTue, 10 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/10/texas-education-data-reporting-school-districts-tea/Some Texas school districts say a new system to submit student data to the state needed more testing before it was launched this month. The system was piloted last school year and led to thousands of errors, school officials say. The state's education agency said it's confident errors will be resolved before districts' reporting deadline.A school bus drives past the Texas Capitol Complex as State Board of Education members hold a meeting in the William B. Travis building on Nov. 17, 2023, in Austin.Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/04/texas-uncertified-teachers-staff-shortages/Schools are hiring instructors with different types of backgrounds to deal with critical staff shortages.By Jaden Edison, Data reporting by Elijah Nicholson-MessmerWed, 04 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/04/texas-uncertified-teachers-staff-shortages/First-year educator Amanda Garza McIntyre interacts with her students at Freeport Intermediate School in Freeport on Aug. 16, 2024. McIntyre transitioned from being an administrative assistant at a construction company to becoming an eighth grade science teacher through the help of a Freeport Intermediate School preparation program.First year educator Amanda McIntyre interacts with her students at Freeport Intermediate School in Freeport, Texas, on August 16,2024. She recently completed her teacher apprenticeship program.Douglas Sweet Jr. for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/12/texas-education-hearing-religion-curriculum/House hearing focuses on a curriculum plan and on school vouchers.By Jaden EdisonMon, 12 Aug 2024 20:14:56 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/12/texas-education-hearing-religion-curriculum/Odessa High School students walk between classes. On the first day of school for many Texas students, state lawmakers debated the role of religion in the curriculum.Odessa High School students walk between classes Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/07/texas-schools-covid-19-pandemic-esser/Educators say they’ll struggle to keep the programs they created with those funds, highlighting their precarious situation without more state help.By Jaden EdisonWed, 07 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/07/texas-schools-covid-19-pandemic-esser/Students at Lorenzo G. Alarcon Elementary School this summer open boxes of school supplies paid for with Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds in San Elizario.Students at Lorenzo G Alarcon Elementary School open boxes of school supplies paid for with Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds in San Elizario, Texas on July 23, 2024.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/01/small-town-big-possibilities-San-Antonio-symposium/The Tribune’s rural symposium highlighted the challenges the state’s far-flung regions face — and the opportunities they offer.By Alejandra Martinez, Jaden Edison, Kayla Guo, Pooja Salhotra, Terri Langford, Texas Tribune Staff and Xiomara MooreThu, 01 Aug 2024 13:11:13 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/01/small-town-big-possibilities-San-Antonio-symposium/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/25/texas-teachers-kamala-harris-houston/At a gathering for teachers in Houston, educators saw Harris as a potential ally at a time when conservatives push for changes in Texas classrooms.By Jaden EdisonThu, 25 Jul 2024 18:21:47 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/25/texas-teachers-kamala-harris-houston/Vice President Kamala Harris gave the keynote speech at the American Federation of Teachers’ 88th national convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston on Thursday.On July 25, 2024 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas, Vice President Kamala Harris gives the keynote speech at the American Federation of Teachers’ 88th national convention.Danielle Villasana for The Texas Tribune