Public Schools

KUT Morning Newscast for November 4, 2024

Central Texas top stories for November 4, 2024. Crews continue working to contain a wildfire in Bastrop County. Election Day is tomorrow, millions of Texans cast their ballots during early voting. In Travis County, about half of registered voters cast their ballots during early voting. Conflicts over LGBTQ student rights, lessons about race and book bans are costing public schools a lot of money. Georgetown is finding ways to increase the city’s water supply. Trains in San Marcos are sounding their horns again.  

KUT Morning Newscast for October 10, 2024

Central Texas top stories for October 10, 2024. Austinites will vote for a mayor this fall, here’s the latest campaign finance data for that race. Groups in Texas are urging state lawmakers to prioritize affordable childcare in the next legislative session. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath says attendance rates for public schools dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic and still haven’t bounced back. Hays County voters will decide this fall whether to pass a major bond for road improvements. 

Mental Health in Texas Public Schools

Texas schools can present a tough environment, yet the voices that most need to be heard rarely make it to the ear of policymakers. Ike and Andrew Hairston of Texas Appleseed talk the 88th Texas Legislative Session, lived experience with mental health, and how we can potentially make learning atmospheres more conducive for healthy development.

Texas Standard: May 20, 2022

After a two year reprieve due to the pandemic, Texas school officials announce the return of STARR tests for ranking schools; we’ll look at the implications. Also, the latest on the baby formula shortage in Texas. And, dueling claims about the potential for power blackouts this summer. These stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: March 03, 2022

A state judge tells Texas it must stop its investigation of a family suspected of providing gender affirming medical care for their transgender teenager. President Biden’s weighing in on the matter too. Plus, legally mandated efforts to get Texas public school students back up to speed after pandemic disruptions; schools say they simply don’t have the tutors to do it. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: July 8, 2019

Texas continues to lead a fight against the Affordable Care Act. We’ll take a look at where things stand now and where a win could leave the state. Plus, battleground 2020… or maybe not. Is Texas really up for grabs as Democrats try to make their mark in Austin and Washington? We’ll explore. And going to the moon: A Texas researcher’s invention tapped to make a trip. Why he says the experience is bringing him full circle. Plus a book about the me too movement that will make you laugh, and reviewers say that’s a good thing. That and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: December 29, 2016

Corruption on the border. We all know it’s there, but are you aware just how much it’s happening on this side of the Rio Grande? Also Texas lawmakers will spend a lot of time talking about education funding in the next few months. School districts and tax payers will want to pay attention. And some environmentalists worry renewables won’t get the same attention under Trump. The conservative case for solar. Also: Dilley, Texas is known these days for its family detention center. How it’s shaped the south Texas city. If Texas were made up of just 100 people, can you guess how many would live east of I-35? Plus, a look back at the top tech stories of 2016 and more on todays Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: December 17, 2015

Congress could be poised to lift a ban on oil exports that’s existed for four decades.
We’ll explore why on today’s Texas Standard.
Coming up: the fruit that’s actually a berry, that’s native to Texas.
And, how about some Texas craft beer to help those bitter berries go down? We’ll sample what some say might be a beer bubble.
Also, we’ll take a look at new rules to prevent concussions — not in football, but soccer.
Plus, the man in charge of Texas schools gives himself a final grade before stepping down.

First Day of School

Schools across Texas will be teeming with students and teachers soon. That was the inspiration for this week’s Typewriter Rodeo poem by Jodi Edgerton.