Education

Lubbock citizens have turned in their petition to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana in the city. The Texas Newsroom’s Sergio Martínez-Beltrán reports educators have recruited plumbers to help in their efforts pushing back against the proposal which would give parents taxpayer dollars to pay for the private or parochial tuition of their children.

Controversy over school vouchers is once again leading the debate in the latest special session. As KERA’s Bill Zeeble reports, officials in some rural school districts say lawmakers should properly fund public schools first. Texas Public Radio's Marian Navarro has more on the Texas Health and Human Services Commission providing certain Medicaid recipients an extension to complete renewal packets.

Today is the last day to register to vote in the November 7th election and 14 proposed constitutional amendments are on the ballot. And a developer took lawmakers on a tour after allegations claiming the company is creating a safe haven for crime and undocumented immigrants.

The organization’s program and volunteer coordinator described the literacy rate in Texas as part of the “profound educational crisis plaguing our state and city.”

State lawmakers will be called back at the Capitol in Austin next week for the third special session. The Texas Newsroom’s Julian Aguilar reports that discussion is expected to continue on using taxpayer money to pay for private school tuition. And a Nationwide Emergency Alert Test is bringing a brief interruption to cellphones, TVs and radios tomorrow.

Our reporter Bishop Van Buren has more details on canceled appointments at Driver License Offices across Texas yesterday. And a new study finds Three out of four Texas school teachers are still seriously considering leaving the profession.

A few dozen supporters, opponents and librarians came to a Lubbock event hosted by a national LGBT hate group.

The bills aim to standardize how school districts respond to bullying.

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.

Public education advocates have called on legislators for more nuanced accountability from the state when it comes to evaluating students.