https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/sneha-dey/The latest news by Sneha Dey.enMon, 28 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/28/texas-police-deadly-conduct-exempt/Local prosecutors have used the charge to punish police accused of misconduct. Legislation that would prevent that is advancing through the Legislature.By Sneha DeyMon, 28 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/28/texas-police-deadly-conduct-exempt/Police tactical officers prepare for confrontation during a march against police brutality in Dallas on March 29, 2020.Police tactical officers prepare for confrontation during a march against police brutality in Dallas on March 29, 2020.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/24/texas-schools-a-f-accountability-ratings/The Texas Education Agency released the 2022-23 school year ratings on Thursday after a 19-month legal battle over how those ratings are calculated.By Sneha Dey, Yuriko Schumacher and Rob ReidThu, 24 Apr 2025 14:51:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/24/texas-schools-a-f-accountability-ratings/Texas on Thursday released school ratings for the 2022-2023 school year, offering families the first full view of how their schools and school districts are performing in years.The Texas flags hangs at a classroom, on Aug. 7, 2024.Trace Thomas for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/24/texas-schools-accountability-ratings/Failing grades for districts were made public for the first time since 2019. They showed schools with the poorest students were more likely to get a low score.By Sneha Dey and Rob ReidThu, 24 Apr 2025 10:28:33 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/24/texas-schools-accountability-ratings/The Texas Education Agency on Thursday released the 2023 performance ratings for the state's schools and school districts. The ratings were held up on court for 19 months.A Nimitz Middle School student raises their hand during class Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Odessa.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/23/texas-school-districts-accountability-ratings-lawsuits/School leaders have privately criticized a bill that would make it harder to contest their performance ratings in court. But they did not testify against it to avoid lawmakers’ ire.By Sneha DeyWed, 23 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/23/texas-school-districts-accountability-ratings-lawsuits/Texas school leaders are critical of a Senate bill that would limit their ability to legally challenge changes to the state's school accountability ratings system. But they declined to testify against the legislation out of fear of provoking lawmakers' ire and risking the funding gains they hope to secure this year.Tables are spaced out in a classroom at Ott Elementary School on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020 in San Antonio. The tables, which typically seat six to eight students, were arranged to seat four students and 16 total students in the classroom.Allie Goulding/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/15/texas-house-school-discipline/A last-minute amendment would require students to go to alternative education settings if they attack a teacher or make terroristic threats.By Sneha DeyTue, 15 Apr 2025 18:44:02 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/15/texas-house-school-discipline/The Texas House gave initial approval Tuesday to a bill that would make it easier for schools to discipline students.Students fill the hallway between classes at United South High School in Laredo on Oct. 23, 2018.Rachel Zein for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/07/education-department-dismantling-texas-disability-students/In a state with a checkered history with federal special education law, advocates say Texas students will see an erosion of their disability rights protections.By Sneha DeyMon, 07 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/07/education-department-dismantling-texas-disability-students/As the Trump administration pushes to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, advocates for students with disabilities worry that, without federal oversight, Texas will fail to provide adequate special education services to the children who need them.Odessa High School students walk between classes on Sept. 13, 2023, in Odessa.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/26/texas-community-colleges-house-bill-8/More than a year after Texas’ House Bill 8 took effect, some schools have offered free tuition, grown dual credit programs or helped students’ credits transfer when they move on to four-year schools.By Sneha DeyWed, 26 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/26/texas-community-colleges-house-bill-8/Jennifer Waldron, a continuing education instructor at Austin Community College, shows students where to put electrodes when doing an EKG at ACC’s Leander campus on Oct. 4. The students were participating in a health care apprenticeship program for Baylor Scott & White employees.Jennifer Waldron, a Continuing Education instructor at Austin Community College, shows students where to put the electrodes when doing an EKG at ACC’s Leander campus on Oct. 4. The students were participating in a healthcare apprenticeship program for Baylor Scott & White employees.Jack Myer for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/18/texas-schools-student-discipline-teacher-rights/The proposal aims to make working conditions safer for teachers but critics worry it could push the state’s most vulnerable students out of the classroom.By Sneha DeyTue, 18 Mar 2025 19:40:20 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/18/texas-schools-student-discipline-teacher-rights/The Texas House's Public Education Committee held a hearing Tuesday on House Bill 6, which would make it easier for schools to suspend students.Texas Rep. Jeff Leach delivers opening remarks and answers questions before the Public Education Committee regarding House Bill 6 relating to discipline in public schools in Austin on March 18, 2025.Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/15/texas-school-funding-uncertified-teachers-shortage/Underprepared teachers have been tied to student learning losses. But amid a teacher shortage crisis, school leaders fear the restrictions will lead to fewer instructors in their classrooms.By Sneha DeySat, 15 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/15/texas-school-funding-uncertified-teachers-shortage/The Texas House's sweeping school funding bill would include limits on which classes uncertified instructors can teach and create pathways for them to get credentialed.A classroom in Texas.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/17/texas-health-nursing-apprenticeship-rio-grande-valley/South Texas College in McAllen launched one of the first registered nursing apprenticeships in the country as area hospitals expect the need for nurses to increase.By Sneha DeyMon, 17 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/17/texas-health-nursing-apprenticeship-rio-grande-valley/From left: students Victoria Zamora, Michael Hunter Maldonado and Emily Luna practice their skills on a mannequin during class at South Texas College in McAllen on Dec. 6, 2024.Students from left, Victoria Zamora, Michael Hunter Maldonado, and Emily Luna, practice their knowledge and skills on a manikin during class at a simulating hospital at South Texas College in McAllen, Texas on Dec. 6, 2024. Gabriel V. Cárdenas for The Texas TribuneGabriel V. Cárdenas for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/06/texas-higher-education-legislation/Legislators are expected to take up a $360 million proposal that would change the landscape of financial aid in the state.By Jessica Priest and Sneha DeyThu, 06 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/06/texas-higher-education-legislation/Students walked across the Texas State University campus in this file photo from 2018. Texas lawmakers may expand a ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs at public universities during the 2025 legislative session.Students walk through Texas State University campus Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018, in San Marcos, Texas.Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/04/texas-parenting-students/One in four Texas students is raising a child while getting a college degree. For Isabella Mapes, it has meant little sleep and, at times, a lonely journey.By Sneha DeyTue, 04 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/04/texas-parenting-students/Isabella Mapes, right, plays with her daughter Lila Smith, 1, at their home in San Antonio on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. A quarter of Texas students are raising a child while working towards a degree.Isabella Marie Mapes, right, spends time with her daughter Lila Smith, 1, at home on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in San Antonio. Isabella Marie Mapes is a 22-year-old parent attending San Antonio College.Salgu Wissmath for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/29/hb8-texas-community-colleges-funding/Lawmakers will get a chance to revisit the funding system for community colleges — and maybe approve more money — this session.By Sneha DeyMon, 03 Feb 2025 12:13:56 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/29/hb8-texas-community-colleges-funding/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/17/alex-fairly-texas-republican-political-group/Alex Fairly is an Amarillo businessman and father of a state House member who has previously given millions to West Texas A&M University, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton.By Sneha DeyTue, 17 Dec 2024 18:05:21 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/17/alex-fairly-texas-republican-political-group/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/13/wynn-rosser-texas-higher-education/In his new role, Rosser will be responsible for helping Texas meet its goal to increase the number of Texans ages 25 to 34 with a postsecondary credential to 60% by 2030.By Sneha DeyFri, 13 Dec 2024 17:00:47 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/13/wynn-rosser-texas-higher-education/Wynn Rosser, photographed in 2015, introduced himself as the next public higher education chief Friday.Wynn Rosser, then CEO of the Greater Texas Foundation, during a symposium on higher education at Baylor University in 2015.Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/05/texas-adult-charter-high-schools/The Texas Legislature has prioritized getting high school dropouts the skills they need to enter the workforce.By Sneha DeyThu, 05 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/05/texas-adult-charter-high-schools/Tiphainne Wright reads Margaret Atwood's novel “The Handmaid's Tale” in English class at New Heights High School on Nov. 6, in Fort Worth.Tiphainne Wright makes an expression while reading “The Handmaid's Tale” in class on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024 in Fort Worth, Texas. Wright is one of 5 students in Schnique Dory’s period four English class at New Heights High School.Maria Crane for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/27/texas-community-college-deserts/Black and Hispanic high schoolers who have to drive more than 30 minutes to a community college are less likely to pursue a degree, the report found.By Sneha DeyWed, 27 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/27/texas-community-college-deserts/The Austin Community College Riverside campus on Feb. 27, 2019. High school students are more likely to leave their hometowns for college or not pursue a degree at all when they live in community college "deserts," or places where students would have to drive about 30 minutes to get to the nearest community college, a recent study found.ACC Riverside campus on Feb. 27, 2019.Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/26/texas-prison-reentry-classes-lee-college-huntsville/More than 250 Texas prisoners are on the waitlist to join the Lee College reentry class. Programs like these prepare students to find jobs and help lower recidivism.By Sneha DeyTue, 26 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/26/texas-prison-reentry-classes-lee-college-huntsville/Women who are incarcerated participate in a Lee College course that focuses on preparing them for life after prison at Lucile Plane State Jail in Dayton on Oct. 28, 2024.Women who are incarcerated participate in a Lee College course that focuses on reentry at Lucile Plane State Jail in Dayton, Texas, US, on Monday October 28, 2024.Callaghan O'Hare for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/07/2025-legislative-session-preview/Lawmakers discussed public education, gun laws and health care policy at a daylong Texas Tribune event.By Juan Salinas II, Pooja Salhotra and Sneha DeyFri, 08 Nov 2024 13:52:55 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/07/2025-legislative-session-preview/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/25/dual-credit-texas-kilgore-college/High school students that are getting a jump on college through dual credit now make up the majority of students at one East Texas community college.By Sneha DeyFri, 25 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/25/dual-credit-texas-kilgore-college/Sabine High School students meet during a federal government class, on Oct. 15. The dual enrollment students will get both high school and college credit for passing this class.Sabine High School students during a Kilgore College dual credit federal government class, on Thursday October 15, 2024, at Sabine High School in Liberty City.Michael Cavazos for The Texas Tribune