https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/brian-lopez/The latest news by Brian Lopez.enWed, 21 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/21/mike-miles-houston-isd-dallas-tea-takeover/Mike Miles has wasted no time in restructuring schools and proposing administrative layoffs. The changes are designed to pay teachers at struggling schools more if their students show improvement.Brian LopezWed, 21 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/21/mike-miles-houston-isd-dallas-tea-takeover/Phillis Wheatley High School in the Houston Independent School District on Nov. 14, 2019.Wheatley High School on Nov. 14, 2019.Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/14/texas-house-school-choice-vouchers/Phelan announced the formation of a House committee that could set the tone in favor of vouchers ahead of an expected special session on education. The move comes weeks after Abbott sided with Phelan on a plan to lower property taxes.Brian LopezWed, 14 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/14/texas-house-school-choice-vouchers/House Speaker Dade Phelan, right, greets Gov. Greg Abbott before speaking to the Texas House at the start of the 2021 Texas Legislature.Newly-elected House Speaker Dade Phelan greets Gov. Greg Abbott before speaking to the Texas House during opening ceremonies as the 2021 Texas Legislature gets down to work in Austin on Jan. 12, 2021.Bob Daemmrich/CapitolPressPhoto/Poolhttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/02/texas-legislature-public-education/Lawmakers sacrificed school funding to block school vouchers, but the issue could be debated again in a special session. Districts will get new funds for school safety, though Uvalde families were ultimately left disappointed with inaction on gun restrictions.Brian LopezFri, 02 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/02/texas-legislature-public-education/Students sit in their classroom on the first day of in-person classes at Highland Village Elementary on Sept. 8, 2020.Students in Mrs. Cazares' third-grade class on the first day of in-person classes at Highland Village Elementary on Sept. 8, 2020.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/01/tea-houston-isd-takeover-superintendent/The former Dallas ISD superintendent and a state-appointed board of managers will replace Houston’s elected school board in response to years of poor academic outcomes at a single campus in the district.Alejandro Serrano and Brian LopezThu, 01 Jun 2023 09:18:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/01/tea-houston-isd-takeover-superintendent/Mike Miles speaks on the “Superintendent Confidential” panel at The Texas Tribune Festival in 2014. Miles was announced as the state-appointed superintendent of Houston ISD.Texas Monthly editor and chief Brian Sweany moderates the “Superintendent Confidential" panel featuring Paul Cruz, Wanda Bamberg, Juan Cabrera, Mike Miles, and Brian Woods at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 20, 2014.Stephen Spillman for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/28/texas-school-safety/The bill comes in response to the Uvalde school shooting last year that left 19 children and two adults dead.Brian LopezSun, 28 May 2023 22:49:54 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/28/texas-school-safety/Every school in Texas will need to have an armed guard under a bill sent to Gov. Greg Abbot on Sunday.On The Mark Enhanced Tactical Training CEO Ray Dunn inside the Harrold ISD K-12 school where he teaches a gun training class for educators. The North Texas ISD was the first in the nation to arm teachers for safety in 2007.Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/27/texas-school-funding-vouchers/The end of House Bill 100 is a bittersweet victory for public education advocates who vehemently oppose school voucher programs but lament that schools won’t get additional funds to pay for teacher raises or balance their budgets.Brian LopezSat, 27 May 2023 19:53:07 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/27/texas-school-funding-vouchers/Students sit in the hall before heading to their first class at Yes Prep West Campus in Houston. A major school funding bill died Saturday — along with teacher raises and a voucher-like program — when lawmakers couldn't reach agreement before a key legislative deadline.Students sit in the hall for a regular morning briefing before heading to their first class at Yes Prep West Campus in Houston on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012.Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/22/texas-senate-school-voucher/Texas senators have latched education savings accounts to a school funding bill in a last-ditch effort to avoid a special session. But some House members are furious at the revamped version and have vowed not to let it become law.Brian LopezMon, 22 May 2023 14:43:48 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/22/texas-senate-school-voucher/Third graders jump rope on the playground of Bonham Elementary School in San Antonio on May 9, 2018.Bonham Elementary School in San Antonio is an in-district charter with a lottery system. Third graders jump rope on the playground on May 9, 2018.Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/21/senate-voucher-plan/The Senate education committee has drastically changed House Bill 100 after Gov. Greg Abbott signaled he would call a special session if a voucher-like program didn’t pass.Brian LopezSun, 21 May 2023 23:23:16 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/21/senate-voucher-plan/Chana Jones' classroom in Snyder Primary School in Snyder on Monday, April. 17, 2023.Justin Rex for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/21/texas-school-safety-bill/Both chambers have said school safety is a priority this session after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at a Uvalde elementary school last year.Brian LopezSun, 21 May 2023 21:26:12 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/21/texas-school-safety-bill/A police car is parked outside Maplewood Elementary School in Austin a week following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012.A police officer monitors Maplewood Elementary School in Austin a week following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune.https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/20/texas-house-private-school-tuition-greg-abbott/Gov. Greg Abbott has already signaled he would call a special session if lawmakers failed to pass a voucher-like program open to all students.Brian LopezSat, 20 May 2023 13:38:24 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/20/texas-house-private-school-tuition-greg-abbott/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/19/legislature-chaplain-bill-rocky-malloy/Rocky Malloy, a self-described former drug-smuggling pirate saved by divine intervention, has led a group that promotes chaplains as a tool to proselytize to schoolchildren.Robert Downen and Brian LopezFri, 19 May 2023 10:54:36 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/19/legislature-chaplain-bill-rocky-malloy/Passing period at United South High School in Laredo.Passing period at United South High School in Laredo.Rachel Zein for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/17/texas-legislature-school-choice-vouchers/The House public education committee chair said Wednesday he currently has no plans to bring the bill for a vote. Gov. Greg Abbott has vowed to call a special session if the House doesn’t “expand the scope of school choice.”Brian LopezWed, 17 May 2023 18:26:56 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/17/texas-legislature-school-choice-vouchers/State Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Killeen, speaks on the House floor in Austin on April 6.State Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Killeen, speaks on the House floor in Austin on April 06, 2023.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/14/texas-legislature-school-vouchers/Abbott says if a school voucher bill isn’t expanded to include more students, a special legislative session will be the result.Brian LopezSun, 14 May 2023 21:43:10 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/14/texas-legislature-school-vouchers/Gov. Greg Abbott poses for a photo with Covenant Christian Academy students at the Parent Empowerment Night event hosted by the Parent Empowerment Coalition in McAllen on April 12.Gov. Abbott poses for a photo with Covenant Christian Academy students at the Parent Empowerment Night event hosted by the Parent Empowerment Coalition at in McAllen on April 12, 2023.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/10/texas-legislature-teachers-pay/The most ambitious proposals are all but dead, leaving teachers wondering why they’re looking at small raises when the state has a historic budget surplus at its disposal.Brian LopezWed, 10 May 2023 17:24:42 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/10/texas-legislature-teachers-pay/Chana Jones adjusts a decoration in her class room in Snyder Primary School. Jones is a kindergarten teacher at Snyder ISD, a district with less than 3,000 students about an hour and a half away from Midland.Chana Jones adjusts a decoration in her class room in Snyder Primary School Monday, April. 17, 2023, in Snyder, Texas. (Justin Rex for The Texas Tribune)Justin Rex for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/09/texas-house-education-savings-account/The Texas House’s education committee is soon expected to discuss the new version of Senate Bill 8, which was heavily modified to sway votes in the lower chamber.Brian Lopez and Alex NguyenTue, 09 May 2023 23:17:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/09/texas-house-education-savings-account/House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, gavels the House into session at the state Capitol in Austin on April 11, 2023.House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, gavels the House into session on the House floor during session at the state Capitol in Austin on April 11, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/28/texas-retired-teachers-pay/The proposed raise would be the first time in nearly 20 years that some retirees would get a cost-of-living adjustment.Brian LopezFri, 28 Apr 2023 18:17:58 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/28/texas-retired-teachers-pay/Kindergarten teacher Angie Hogan instructs students to make a "bubble" of room between other students to keep social distance on the first day of in-person classes at Highland Village Elementary on Sept. 8, 2020.Kindergarten teacher Angie Hogan instructs students to make a "bubble" of room between other students on the first day of in-person classes at Highland Village Elementary on Sept. 8, 2020.Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/27/texas-house-illegal-voting-felony-penalty/The Texas Senate has passed similar legislation. But a key policy separates the two chambers.Brian Lopez and Pooja Salhotra, The Texas Tribune, and Natalia Contreras, Votebeat and The Texas TribuneThu, 27 Apr 2023 16:09:41 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/27/texas-house-illegal-voting-felony-penalty/A voter casts her ballot at the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center during Election Day in Houston on Nov. 3, 2020.A voter casts her ballot at the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center during Election Day in Houston on Nov. 3, 2020.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/26/texas-house-school-finance/Lawmakers have already proposed directing billions of dollars to schools so they can lower property taxes and pay for safety upgrades. But House Bill 100 would be the first to increase the amount of money districts receive to raise teacher pay and cover the actual costs of educating students.Brian LopezWed, 26 Apr 2023 19:01:48 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/26/texas-house-school-finance/Students learn about Martin Luther King Jr. in Rosa Ramirez's second grade class at Linder Elementary School in Austin on Jan. 14, 2022.Students learn about Martin Luther King Jr. in Rosa Ramirez's second grade class at Linder Elementary School in Austin on Jan. 14, 2022.Miranda Lipton for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/26/texas-house-teacher-shortage/A bill passed by the Texas House on Wednesday would also help schools rehire retired teachers and offer other incentives in an effort to fight the state’s teacher shortage.Brian LopezWed, 26 Apr 2023 14:30:20 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/26/texas-house-teacher-shortage/Jessica Lemmer went over a fraction problem with her third grade math class Jan. 14, 2018, at Edward Titche Elementary School in the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas.Jessica Lemmer went over a fraction problem with her third grade math class Jan. 14, 2018 at Edward Titche Elementary School in the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas.Leslie Boorhem-Stephenson for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/25/texas-gender-history-textbook-ban/Other legislation this session has targeted school library books, which are optional reading materials, but House Bill 1804 might be the first to go after textbooks that teachers use for their lessons.Brian LopezTue, 25 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/25/texas-gender-history-textbook-ban/A poster encouraging students to read hangs on a wall at Vandegrift High School’s library in Leander on March 2, 2022.Vandegrift High School's library on March 2, 2022.Lauren Witte/The Texas Tribune