Past Contributions

• High-poverty schools struggle to earn Texas’ highest rating. Some in the Rio Grande Valley break that trend.

  By Brian Lopez and Eric Lau Sept. 5, 2022

  The Texas Education Agency has dismissed the notion that the accountability ratings are a poverty rating. As evidence, they point to districts like those in the Rio Grande Valley, which have achieved high marks while serving a high number of economically disadvantaged students. Full Story 

• Texas school ratings show improvement compared to 2019, but those in poorer neighborhoods still lag

  By Brian Lopez and Eric Lau Aug. 15, 2022

  This year’s TEA ratings were done differently than in previous years. Instead of the usual A-F ratings, which were last given in 2019, the agency gave only A-C ratings. Districts and schools that would have received a D or F instead received a “Not Rated” label this year. Full Story 

• Abortion should be permitted in cases of rape and incest, around 80% of Texas voters say in UT poll

  By Eric Lau Aug. 10, 2022

  Polling from the Texas Politics Project finds registered voters opinions’ on abortion are at odds with Texas laws. Full Story 

• Greg Abbott and Beto O’Rourke broke fundraising records in their race for Texas governor. Here’s how much.

  By Carla Astudillo, Caroline Covington and Eric Lau Updated: Feb. 10, 2023

  Final fundraising figures show that both gubernatorial candidates raised a combined $160 million in the November midterm election. Full Story 

• Explore education outcomes in Texas public schools

  By Eric Lau and Mandi Cai June 16, 2022

  Each year, approximately 300,000 students begin eighth grade in a Texas public school. Use our database to learn about the education outcomes of these eighth grade cohorts, including higher education enrollment and graduation rates. Full Story