Rep. James Talarico on sine die at the 87th Texas Legislature (Photo by John Anderson)
After a contentious legislative session, public education ended up with a mixed bag of stable funding and conservative micromanagement. Bills awaiting Gov.
Greg Abbott s signature will severely curtail the ways teachers can discuss social issues, limit the reach of sexuality education, and enshrine the ability of affluent parent-teacher associations to pay for extra staff, reversing
Austin ISD s recent equity-driven ban on the practice. A bill that would have guaranteed that districts could offer virtual learning this fall didn t make it out of the Senate on the last day, collateral damage from the Democratic walkout.