Commissioner Robert Scott Announces Resignation

AUSTIN -Texas Commissioner of Education Robert Scott announced today that he will resign his office, effective July 2 on the fifth anniversary of his appointment to the state’s highest public education post.

Scott, 43, began his career at the Texas Education Agency in 1994 as an assistant director of governmental relations.

“I’ve been here since Jon was one and Katie was three months old,” he said, referring to his children. “It’s time.” Both children have now graduated from Texas public schools.

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State Rep. Donna Howard says Texas spending $500 less per student on average

Speaking to the crowd gathered to advocate for more public school support, Howard, without naming names, called out those officials who have said the state has increased its aid to school districts. "But the Legislative Budget Board, the nonpartisan budget board of the Capitol, will tell you we are spending on average $500 less per student, so the fact that we are appropriating more, the truth is we are spending $500 less per student," Howard said.

Is that so?

Kilgore ISD joins school funding suit against legislature

Kilgore school board members decided Monday night to join a long list of school districts in what’s being called the Equity Law Suit.

The suit calls for an “equitable, less bloated” system to determine how much money a district receives per student. The lawsuit was filed against the Texas Legislature.

Lawmakers should add education funds to budget

Recently, public school students began taking the new, more rigorous STAAR exam. In honor of the exam, here is a pop quiz: How much did the state leadership cut from the public education budget during the 82nd Legislative Session?

A) No money was cut; B) Schools actually received a funding increase; or C) $5.4 billion.

Trial date and other key items in school funding lawsuit

Some key developments in the school funding lawsuit against the state took place on Monday.

First, state district judge John Dietz officially set the trial date for Oct. 22. In addition, the Texas Taxpayer & Student Fairness Coalition, the largest of four groups suing the state reported that it represents more than 40 percent of all the school districts in the state.