Education

School choice is a focus of this year’s legislative session. Advocates, including Gov. Greg Abbott, want state funds to help parents pay for private school or homeschooling. Opponents say this is the latest attempt to undermine Texas public schools.

School vouchers aren’t a new idea. But over the past couple decades, voucher programs have expanded from small experiments to statewide policies.

Advocates say discontent with public schools’ pandemic rules and teachings on race and gender identity have helped raise support for school choice to an all-time high.

Education has been a top concern in recent elections, as Critical Race Theory and book bans dominated discussions.

For some students who attended Robb Elementary in Texas, it will be the first time back in classrooms since a gunman killed 21 people at their school in May.

Multiple families allege their middle school students experienced a pattern of racism at Laura Bush Middle School.

Kristopher Zepeda is the new representative of District 5.

We've learned a lot about what happened when 21 victims were killed at a Uvalde school. Still, not much has changed for Texas schools as classes start back this month.

The COVID-19 pandemic made a national mental health crisis among children worse. Stressors like isolation and grief led to more diagnoses of anxiety and depression. Those are just some mental health challenges kids are dealing with as they return to school this month.

Students who are exposed to COVID-19 no longer need to quarantine or get repeatedly tested to stay in class. But masks are still recommended for nearly half the country.