Before March 2020, virtual education was a niche offering in Texas public education, serving fewer than 1% of Texas students. Then school closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic plunged the nation and state into an extended experiment in emergency remote education. While Texas virtual education needed renovation even before the pandemic, the state’s experiences exposed the existing framework as untenable for the 21st century. Now, Texas has a unique opportunity to update state policy on virtual and hybrid education, using the lessons we have learned.
Overspending is what hinders Texas public education
Steve Allison, an outgoing Republican state lawmaker, ramped up the school funding debate earlier this month with a commentary in the Express-News, “Abbott duty bound to call special session on school funding” (June 9). Are Texas schools actually underfunded? Let’s look at the reality. Texas taxpayers give enormous amounts of money to public schools. According to...