Hasan Piker’s UT Appearance Put Campus Protection Act to the Test
Although parts of the state law were ruled unconstitutional last year, key elements created barriers for Democrats and Republicans drawn to the controversial event.
Education
School Closures Are Escalating Across Texas. ‘It’s Not a Local Failure.’
State funding and policy have fallen short, advocates say, and the consequences are not confined to your backyard.
Will New School District Takeovers Follow the Model—and ‘Chaos’—of Houston ISD?
The state education agency took over four additional districts this spring, installing leaders linked to Houston’s state-imposed superintendent, Mike Miles, including two who worked for his former charter school network.
Mike Miles Cancels Moonlighting Contract with His Former Charter School Network
Houston ISD says its state-appointed superintendent has ended a paid agreement with Third Future Schools, after the Observer obtained the contract and requested comment. A 2025 state law restricts moonlighting by superintendents.
How Teach for America Helped Set Up James Talarico’s Political Rise
The prestigious education group is more than a shiny résumé item. For the Democratic Senate candidate, it was an incubator for his rapid political ascent.
Who Accounts for Freedom?
The nascent school voucher program is, predictably, burdened by Republicans’ insistence on religious discrimination—and likely set to benefit those already outside the public school system.
Mike Miles’ Former Charter School Network Expands Its Footprint in Texas
Some school district leaders say they believed they had only one option for a partnership to avoid state takeover.
How a High School Librarian in Abilene Fought Back Against Moms for Liberty
I entered this profession just as the storm clouds of the current book-banning push were starting to gather; now I’m in the middle of it.
The UT System’s New ‘Controversial Topics’ Policy Is About Policing Knowledge
When politically appointed regents and administrators determine which topics are “germane,” academic freedom quietly shifts into political compliance.
Texas Taxpayers Will Fund Dozens of Private Schools that Openly Discriminate
The state has signed off on voucher funds for schools that exclude non-Christian and LGBTQ+ kids.