https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/sneha-dey/The latest news by Sneha Dey.enFri, 01 Aug 2025 17:07:10 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/01/texas-legislature-special-session-staar-test/An effort to replace the state's standardized test fell apart in the final stretch of this year's regular session. Texas lawmakers have two weeks left to find middle ground.By Sneha DeyFri, 01 Aug 2025 17:07:10 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/01/texas-legislature-special-session-staar-test/Students attend a math and reading workshop at a STAAR summer camp held at Dobie Middle School on July 23, 2025. Texas lawmakers will try again to revamp the state's standardized test during this year's special session.Students attend a math and reading workshop at a summer camp held at Dobie Middle School at July 23, 2025. The camp, hosted by Austin Voices for Education and Youth, hosts workshops to help students prepare for standarized testing.Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/texas-dobie-middle-school-staar-rating/Legislators have a chance this summer to replace the STAAR test. What they come up with will decide the fate of schools like Dobie Middle School, where low test scores have pushed the Austin district to intervene.By Sneha DeyWed, 30 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/texas-dobie-middle-school-staar-rating/Summer camp volunteer Carmen Mendoza hands out gift bags to students as they head home. Austin Voices for Education and Youth hosts a summer camp at Dobie Middle School to help students improve their scores on STAAR, the state's standardized test.AUSTIN, TEXAS - July 24, 2025: Carmen Mendoza hands out gift bags to campers as they head home. Austin Voices for Education and Youth hosts a summer camp at the Dobie Middle School for students that attend the three Austin ISD schools at risk of closure. Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Texas TribuneIlana Panich-Linsman for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/texas-floods-guadalupe-kerr-county-survivors-victims-rebuild/Religion and the river are constant Kerr County touchstones. As residents lean on their faith, they grapple with their relationship to the water.By Sneha Dey, Carlos Nogueras Ramos and Hayden BettsFri, 11 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/texas-floods-guadalupe-kerr-county-survivors-victims-rebuild/A family photo of James Wright and his grandchildren sits outside of his home Wednesday in Hunt. The photo was among the items salvaged from the residence, which suffered flood damage.A family photo of James Wright and his grandchildren sits outside of his home Wednesday, July 9, 2025 in Hunt, Texas.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/10/texas-hill-country-floods-families-missing-search-efforts/The four friends are among the hundreds of victims. The bodies of three of them have been found. Their families have searched for their loved ones since Friday.By Jessica Shuran Yu, Atirikta Kumar and Sneha DeyThu, 10 Jul 2025 15:43:46 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/10/texas-hill-country-floods-families-missing-search-efforts/Thad Heartfield talks through search routes with volunteers at the parking lot of a Walmart on July 10, 2025, in Kerrville. Heartfield has led search efforts since July 4 looking for his son Aidan Heartfield who, along with his girlfriend and two friends, were swept away by the Hill Country floods.Thursday July 10, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/09/texas-hill-country-floods-kerrville-vigil/Amid staggering loss, hundreds gathered in mourning and prayer at a Wednesday night vigil for the victims of the July Fourth floods.By Carlos Nogueras Ramos and Sneha DeyThu, 10 Jul 2025 00:18:29 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/09/texas-hill-country-floods-kerrville-vigil/A cross is seen at Antler Stadium on July 9, 2025, in Kerrville. The cross was brought by Michigan resident Dan Beazley.A cross is seen at a Kerr County Blessing at Antler Stadium on Wendsday July 9, 2025 in Kerrville, Texas. The cross was brought by North Phil, Michigan resident Dan Beazley.Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/07/texas-hill-country-flooding-camp-mystic/Gov. Greg Abbott vowed Tuesday to continue rescue and recovery efforts in the flood-ravaged Hill Country “until every missing person is accounted for.”By Sneha Dey, Alejandro Serrano, Jayme Lozano Carver, Eleanor Klibanoff, Terri Langford and Colleen DeGuzmanMon, 07 Jul 2025 08:18:12 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/07/texas-hill-country-flooding-camp-mystic/Camp Mystic along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt on July 5, 2025.Camp Mystic along the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt on July 5, 2025.Brenda Bazán for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-supreme-court-paxton-abbott-uvalde-jan-6-emails/The decision, stemming from a 2022 lawsuit, narrows the public’s legal options to challenge Texas officials under the state’s open records law.By Sneha DeyFri, 27 Jun 2025 14:36:19 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-supreme-court-paxton-abbott-uvalde-jan-6-emails/Family members and friends participate in a march in support of those killed and injured in the school shooting at Robb Elementary, in Uvalde on July 10, 2022.Family members and friends participate in a march in support of those killed and injured in the school shooting at Robb Elementary, in Uvalde on July 10, 2022.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-pell-grant-cuts-financial-aid/Proposals in the federal budget bill would cut the maximum Pell Grant award amount by $1,500 and take away eligibility for students enrolled less than half-time.By Sneha Dey, Graphics by Edison WuFri, 27 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/27/texas-pell-grant-cuts-financial-aid/Students walk across the Texas A&M campus in College Station on Aug. 20, 2024.Students walk across the Texas A&M campus in College Station on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024.Ishika Samant for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/24/texas-workforce-training-legislative-session/Legislation approved this year is partly aimed at helping Texas meet its goal of helping 60% of working-age Texans get a postsecondary degree or credential by 2030.By Sneha DeyTue, 24 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/24/texas-workforce-training-legislative-session/Texas lawmakers this year approved a slew of bills aimed at helping students better prepare for life after high school. They include legislation to expand career advising, grow apprenticeship programs and develop the state's nuclear industry.Texas State Technical College Wind Energy Technology students Shayne Howard, left, and Steven Vasquez work together to troubleshoot a logic gate while assembling a circuit Tuesday, March 5, 2024 in Sweetwater.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/23/texas-undocumented-students-in-state-tuition/The directive comes after a court rescinded undocumented students’ eligibility for in-state tuition. It’s unclear what information schools might ask from students and how their immigration data will be protected.By Sneha DeyMon, 23 Jun 2025 17:46:29 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/23/texas-undocumented-students-in-state-tuition/A student studies in the Perry-Castañeda Library on the UT Austin campus during finals week on April 28, 2025.A student studies in the Perry-Castañeda Library on the UT Austin campus during finals week on April 28, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/19/texas-legislature-higher-ed-lege-recap/Lawmakers also approved direct pay for student athletes and sought better pathways from college to the workforce.By Jessica Priest and Sneha DeyThu, 19 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/19/texas-legislature-higher-ed-lege-recap/Students walk the University of North Texas campus in Denton on Feb. 24, 2022.Students walk the University of North Texas campus in Denton, TX on Feb. 24, 2022.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/17/texas-staar-school-scores-reading-math/The mixed-bag results showed early literacy improvements, a key indicator of future academic success, but underline the challenges of preparing children for STEM-related jobs.By Sneha Dey, Graphics by Edison WuTue, 17 Jun 2025 10:01:05 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/17/texas-staar-school-scores-reading-math/STAAR results grades 3-8 released Tuesday show Texas students made some gains in reading but are still struggling with math.Nimitz Middle School 7th grade teacher Pricilla Martinez leads her class in an activity Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa. STAAR testing begins across Texas on Tuesday.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/04/texas-justice-department-lawsuit-undocumented-in-state-tuition/Within hours of a federal lawsuit targeting Texas’ policy of letting undocumented students qualify for lower public tuition rates, the 24-year-old law was no more.By Eleanor Klibanoff, Jessica Priest, Sneha Dey and Ayden RunnelsWed, 04 Jun 2025 14:45:08 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/04/texas-justice-department-lawsuit-undocumented-in-state-tuition/Students walk through campus at the University of Texas at Austin on Aug. 25, 2021.Students walk through campus at the University of Texas at Austin on Aug. 25, 2021.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/03/texas-legislature-recap-public-education/An agenda driven by conservative priorities, schools’ financial duress and teacher needs led to an $8.5 billion boost, new discipline rules, more Christianity in classrooms and a DEI ban.By Jaden Edison, Sneha Dey and Sofia SorochinskaiaTue, 03 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/03/texas-legislature-recap-public-education/During this year's legislative session, Texas lawmakers approved proposals that will create a private school voucher program, inject $8.5 billion into public education, give schools more flexibility to discipline students, expand religion's presence in the classroom, ban DEI initiatives and prohibit students from using their cellphones during the school day.JoMeka Gray teaches a class of kindergarteners at Kennedy-Powell Elementary in Temple on April 17, 2025.Ilana Panich-Linsman for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/01/texas-legislature-staar-test-bill-dies/The state standardized test has long been criticized for taking instructional time away from teachers and putting unnecessary pressure on students.By Sneha DeySun, 01 Jun 2025 17:19:40 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/01/texas-legislature-staar-test-bill-dies/STAAR themed decorations adorn the hallways of Wharton Elementary School in Wharton on April 21, 2018. Lawmakers failed to approve a bill to eliminate the STAAR test during the legislative session.STAAR themed decorations adorn the hallways of Wharton Elementary School in Wharton on April 21, 2018.Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/28/texas-legislature-school-discipline/House Bill 6, which now heads to the governor, targets the increase in violence that has plagued schools since the pandemic.By Sneha DeyWed, 28 May 2025 20:13:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/28/texas-legislature-school-discipline/State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, said the student discipline legislation that now awaits Gov. Greg Abbott's signature was six years in the making.A student walks through the halls of Lufkin High School in Lufkin on Jan. 29, 2023.Callaghan O'Hare for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/24/texas-governing-boards-regents-senate-bill-37/The latest version of the proposal eliminates language that would have required university curricula not to advocate that “any race, sex, ethnicity or religious belief is inherently superior to another.”By Jessica Priest and Sneha DeySat, 24 May 2025 16:00:10 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/24/texas-governing-boards-regents-senate-bill-37/Texas State University campus in San Marcos.Texas State University campus in San Marcos, Texas.Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/23/staar-test-texas-schools/The chambers differ on how much power districts should have to push back in courts over their accountability ratings. They risk keeping STAAR by default if they don’t reach an agreement.By Sneha DeyFri, 23 May 2025 03:35:13 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/23/staar-test-texas-schools/Math teacher Becky McLaughlin presides over a STAAR prep session for 7th graders at Blocker Middle School in Texas City on March 24, 2017.Math teacher Becky McLaughlin during a STAAR prep session for 7th graders at Blocker Middle School in Texas City on March 24, 2017.Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/22/texas-school-discpline-rules-changes/The Texas Senate had previously proposed more severe consequences in the bill.By Sneha DeyThu, 22 May 2025 21:43:29 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/22/texas-school-discpline-rules-changes/Texas lawmakers are poised to rewrite the state's student discipline rules, giving schools more flexibility.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/2025/05/22/texas-school-student-discipline/Texas lawmakers are poised to make it easier to suspend disruptive students. But some teachers and school psychologists say discipline alone won’t meet the mental health needs at the root of their behavior.By Sneha DeyThu, 22 May 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/22/texas-school-student-discipline/Nadene Casteel, a teacher at Heritage Rose Elementary School in Fort Bend County, says classrooms have become increasingly difficult to manage since the pandemic. Texas lawmakers are pushing for sweeping legislation that would give schools more latitude to discipline disruptive students, but some educators say such measures won't address the root causes of children's behavioral issues.Public educator Nadene Casteel at Heritage Rose Elementary School on Monday, May 19, 2025, in Ft. Bend County.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune