Higher Education Policy

June 26, 2009

Elizabeth Young

A review of the 81st Texas Legislature’s work on higher education funding, transparency, and accountability reforms.

Don’t Shrink the Core. Fix It.

Just how bad is American higher education today? Consider this observation on today’s college students from Jessica Wilson, a professor of great books and humanities at Pepperdine: “It’s not even an inability to critically think. It’s an inability to read sentences.” She is not alone. Professors at elite colleges report that many incoming students arrive...

July 31, 2026

Local Government

Texas Gave Cities a Tool for More Housing Affordability. Some Are Throwing It Away.

Housing affordability is one of the Lone Star State’s – and greater Houston’s – most pressing challenges. Recent estimates suggest Texas’ statewide housing shortage exceeds 300,000 homes, applying upward pressure on rents and prices in ways that squeeze working households, young families, and seniors looking to downsize. The gap is especially severe for first-time homebuyers,...

August 7, 2026

Local Government

Growing Pains: The Cost and Contribution of Impact Fees in Texas

Texas’s rapidly growing population requires new infrastructure and improvements, which oftentimes come at great expense. To fund these projects, local officials often impose impact fees on new development—but their use comes at a cost. Key points: Texas is the fastest-growing state in the nation. As such, it has robust infrastructure requirements. To help finance capital...

August 12, 2026

Elizabeth Young

Related content

Don’t Shrink the Core. Fix It.

Texas Gave Cities a Tool for More Housing Affordability. Some Are Throwing It Away.

Growing Pains: The Cost and Contribution of Impact Fees in Texas