https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/sneha-dey/The latest news by Sneha Dey.enTue, 17 Jun 2025 10:01:05 -0500https://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 Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/12/texas-staar-test-school-accountability-bill/House Bill 4 would make the test shorter and base scores on how students’ performance compares to national averages.By Sneha DeyMon, 12 May 2025 17:07:27 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/12/texas-staar-test-school-accountability-bill/The Texas House gave preliminary approval Monday to a bill that would eliminate the STAAR test.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/2025/05/07/texas-pre-k-third-grade-students-reading-math/Students who are behind in third grade rarely catch up. Texas lawmakers want to intervene earlier.By Sneha DeyWed, 07 May 2025 13:06:34 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/07/texas-pre-k-third-grade-students-reading-math/At the Waco Central Library, Ellis Pittman, 5, looks for a book to take home on April 5, 2024. The Texas House and Senate have approved similar bills meant to help Texas' youngest learners with reading and math.At the Waco Central Library, Ellis Pittman, five, looks for a book to take home on April 5, 2024. Pittman had just started reading.Greta Díaz González Vázquez/The Texas Tribunehttps://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/House Bill 6 is a response to reports of more violent classroom disruptions after the pandemic. It lowers the bar for when schools can discipline for the state’s homeless and youngest students.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 Tribune