https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jaden-edison/The latest news by Jaden Edison.enTue, 11 Mar 2025 22:20:47 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/11/texas-house-school-voucher-bill/The hearing on House Bill 3 started Tuesday and ended Wednesday morning. Hundreds of Texans waited overnight to testify.By Jaden EdisonTue, 11 Mar 2025 22:20:47 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/11/texas-house-school-voucher-bill/During a hearing Tuesday, lawmakers sparred over whether wealthier Texans should be allowed to participate in the Texas House's proposed school voucher program.Third graders jump rope on the playground in San Antonio on May 9, 2018.Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/04/texas-superintendents-democrats-school-funding/Lawmakers this week listened to testimony on House Bill 2, which would raise schools’ base funding per student by $220 — a figure that falls short of what many Texans say is needed.By Jaden EdisonTue, 04 Mar 2025 19:15:37 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/04/texas-superintendents-democrats-school-funding/Texas Democrats criticized school district leaders for not being more assertive about their state funding needs during a House Public Education Committee hearing Tuesday.Odessa High School students walk between classes Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/04/texas-school-vouchers-low-income-students/Neither of the Legislature’s voucher bills require private schools to accept certain students, which some warn could block the neediest children from access.By Jaden Edison, Graphics by Rob ReidTue, 04 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/04/texas-school-vouchers-low-income-students/Education policy experts and public education advocates worry that creating a school voucher program with broad eligibility, as proposed by the Texas House and Senate's priority bills, will fall short of their promises to prioritize low-income students.Children draw self-portraits at the Rowlett Public Library in Rowlett, TX on October 26, 2023. The self portrait is part of a “hero’s journey” activity run by the mothers where the daughters think about who they are, what makes them special, and what they want to become.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/24/texas-dei-public-schools-k12/Sen. Brandon Creighton has filed bills that would ban diversity, equity and inclusion policies related to hiring and programming, while creating ways for parents to complain about violations.By Jaden Edison and Pavan AcharyaMon, 24 Feb 2025 10:58:38 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/24/texas-dei-public-schools-k12/Passing period at United South High School in Laredo on Oct. 23, 2018.Passing period at United South High School in Laredo on Oct. 23, 2018.Rachel Zein for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/20/texas-house-school-vouchers/The proposal sets a few possible points of contention between the House and Senate, including how much money should families get through the program.By Jaden Edison, James Barragán and Jasper SchererThu, 20 Feb 2025 09:08:56 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/20/texas-house-school-vouchers/The Texas House filed its priority bill on private school vouchers on Thursday.Corina Pannabecker teaches first grade at Ogden Elementary in San Antonio on April 30, 2018.Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/19/texas-teacher-retirement-school-vouchers/A recent budget analysis noted the Texas Senate’s voucher bill could affect the fund if it leads students and teachers to leave public schools.By Jaden EdisonWed, 19 Feb 2025 19:29:35 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/19/texas-teacher-retirement-school-vouchers/The Teacher Retirement System of Texas complex in downtown Austin on Sept. 21, 2018.The Teacher Retirement System of Texas complex in downtown Austin on Sept. 21, 2018.John Jordan/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/18/texas-senate-teacher-pay/Teachers with three and five years of experience would qualify for raises under Senate Bill 26. Instructors in smaller school districts would get bigger pay bumps.By Jaden Edison and Alejandro SerranoTue, 18 Feb 2025 16:42:05 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/18/texas-senate-teacher-pay/Senate Bill 26, filed Tuesday, would give raises to teachers based on their experience and performance.Third grade teacher Eran McGowan watches students demonstrate their answers to the class at the Eddie Bernice Johnson STEM Academy in Dallas, Texas on Feb. 5, 2024.Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/11/texas-public-schools-education-legislation-2025/From teacher pay and preparation to special education and DEI, here are issues Texas lawmakers are prioritizing this legislative session.By Jaden EdisonTue, 11 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/11/texas-public-schools-education-legislation-2025/Matilda Shaefer gets a goodbye kiss from her mom Allyson as she heads to class at Timber Lakes Elementary School in Splendora on Aug. 29, 2024.Matilda Shaefer gets a goodbye kiss from her mom Allyson as she heads to class at Timber Lakes Elementary School in Splendora on Aug. 29, 2024.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/05/texas-senate-school-voucher-vote/Senate Bill 2 now heads to the House, where top officials say they have the support to create education savings accounts.By Jaden EdisonWed, 05 Feb 2025 10:15:41 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/05/texas-senate-school-voucher-vote/The Texas Senate takes up Senate Bill 2 in Austin on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025.Members of the Texas Senate take up Senate Bill 2, regarding school vouchers, during the 89th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature in Austin on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025.Eli Hartman for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/30/texas-aclu-bible-bluebonnet-curriculum/The coalition of legal organizations told Texas school district leaders that it would “take any action” necessary to protect the rights of students and their families.By Jaden EdisonThu, 30 Jan 2025 15:26:47 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/30/texas-aclu-bible-bluebonnet-curriculum/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/29/texas-naep-scores-math-reading/Texas students' overall math scores dropped from 2022. But English learners and fourth-grade Black students did better than their peers elsewhere.By Jaden Edison, Graphics by Rob ReidWed, 29 Jan 2025 18:31:58 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/29/texas-naep-scores-math-reading/Texas fourth- and eight-graders' overall math and reading scores in the National Assessment of Educational Progress test dropped last year, though some groups of students, like English learners and Black fourth-graders, outperformed their peers in other parts of the country.FILE: A student in Austin raises a hand in class in April 2013.Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/28/texas-senate-education-hearing-school-vouchers/The Senate could vote on the proposal as soon as next week. Democrats on Tuesday criticized the bill saying it fails to prioritize the state’s neediest children.By Jaden EdisonTue, 28 Jan 2025 19:34:42 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/28/texas-senate-education-hearing-school-vouchers/State Sen. Brandon Creighton, center, chair of the Texas Senate's Committee on Education K-16, lays out the chamber's plan to create an education savings account program at a hearing at the Texas Capitol on Jan. 28, 2025.State Sen. Brandon Creighton, chair of the Senate Committee on Education K-16, lays out the SB2 plan for an education savings account program at a hearing at the Capitol in Austin on Jan. 28, 2025.Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/24/texas-senate-school-choice-vouchers-education-savings-accounts/Senate Bill 2 starts a new debate on a school voucher program in Texas. A funding proposal would allow up to 100,000 K-12 students who want to enroll to a private school to participate.By Jaden Edison and Pavan AcharyaFri, 24 Jan 2025 11:06:55 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/24/texas-senate-school-choice-vouchers-education-savings-accounts/The Texas Senate filed on Friday its priority bill to create a voucher-like program known as education savings accounts.Students in Mrs. Hogan's kindergarten class on the first day of in-person classes at Highland Village Elementary. Sept. 8, 2020 in Highland Village.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/23/texas-schools-tea-immigration-guidance/More than two dozen Texas Democrats expressed concern about the elimination of a federal policy preventing immigration arrests at schools.By Jaden EdisonThu, 23 Jan 2025 16:46:15 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/23/texas-schools-tea-immigration-guidance/Nimitz Middle School students gather in the hallway outside of a classroom in Odessa on Sept. 13, 2023.Nimitz Middle School students gather in the hallway outside of a classroom as they wait for a teacher between periods Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/23/texas-vouchers/Vouchers would let parents use public funds to pay for their kids’ private education. Learn about how they could work and the political battle around them.By Jaden Edison, AI tools by Suraj Thapa, Graphics by Yuriko SchumacherThu, 23 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/23/texas-vouchers/Lorenzo G Alarcon Elementary School received Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to create a calming and quiet room with the school counselor in San Elizario, Texas on July 23, 2024.Justin Hamel for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/18/texas-border-schools-donald-trump-mass-deportations/Schools near the border say it’s hard to prepare for the unknown. Immigration advocates say they should help communities understand students’ rights.By Jaden EdisonSat, 18 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/18/texas-border-schools-donald-trump-mass-deportations/Many Texas school districts say they are waiting to learn the specifics of President-elect mass deportation plans before deciding how to react.A student draws in an art classroom in Texas.Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/17/texas-dei-k12-schools-greg-abbott/In 2023, Texas passed a DEI ban at the state’s public universities. Now Abbott wants the state to stop funding diversity programs in K-12 schools.By Jaden EdisonFri, 17 Jan 2025 13:29:03 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/17/texas-dei-k12-schools-greg-abbott/Gov. Greg Abbott said Friday he wants the state's ban on DEI programs at the state's public universities to extend to K-12 schools.High school students between classes in the hallway at the high school in Buffalo on March 28, 2019.Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribunehttps://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 Tribune