Bill Zeeble

The Select Committees on Civil Discourse and Freedom of Speech in Higher Education were formed days after Kirk's assassination on a Utah college campus. Members assembled Thursday in Austin for their first meeting to assess state free speech laws.

The U.S. Justice Department filed a complaint to stop Texas from giving in-state tuition to immigrant students without legal status, saying the state's education code conflicts with federal immigration law.

If the U.S. Department of Education closes, it's unclear how much money Texas could lose — or how the state might handle a shut-down

Senate Bill 1262 would allow the Texas Education Agency to commission peace officers to help districts with security planning and aid in an emergency, when needed. It also requires districts still seeking a required armed officer to ask for a waiver annually.

An Equality Texas study shows many LGBTQ+ students have considered leaving their schools — and the state entirely —since Senate Bill 17 went into effect last year.

A series of Senate bills would solidify and sometimes broaden parental rights in their children’s education.

Bills before a Senate education committee would eliminate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs in public K-12 schools and establish a procedure to file grievances against districts that violate the ban. These programs were established to address or end historical inequities based on race, gender, and sexual orientation.

Average teacher pay in Texas is about $9,300 below the national average. A couple of bills before lawmakers would raise salaries for the first time in years.

House Bill 3 mandated armed security in each of the state’s more than 8,000 schools, but many districts say it didn’t come with enough funding.

After the Trump administration took away protections on sensitive areas like schools and churches, one educator and advocate says districts need to have plans in place — and communicate them with families.