Public News Service

National Teacher Appreciation Day was celebrated on March 7 until 1984, when it was moved to May. (Perry Correll/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

It's Teacher Appreciation Week 2024

The first week of May is designated as Teacher Appreciation Week in the United States. The push to honor teachers started in 1953 when First Lady …

Among his recommendations for the coming legislative session, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is asking lawmakers to make recommendations about school safety and

TX educators react to Lt. Gov. priorities for next legislative session

Texas Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick has released 57 "interim charges," the topics he wants Senate committees to study in preparation for the 89th …

By 2031, good jobs accessible to people with only a high school education will represent just 6% of all jobs. (bodnarphoto/Adobe Stock)

TX leaders work to improve job opportunities for rural students

Work is being done in rural areas across Texas to make sure students are prepared for the workforce even if they intend to stay put after graduation…

The Texas Diversity Council works with various groups to foster environments where people from marginalized groups feel seen and heard. (Ana Baraulia/Adobe Stock)

Texas Diversity Council remains steadfast in face of adversity

Since 2004, April has been designated "Celebrate Diversity Month," a time to recognize, understand and honor the differences between people. One …

It's estimated that Direct File would save the average user $160 in filing fees, and hours of their time, each year. (Parradee/Adobe Stock)

Free IRS tool can help Texans file taxes

CLARIFICATION: In last paragraph, it is estimated that 4 million Texans are eligible to use the Direct File program, not that 4 million will actually …

As of Oct. 2023, the average teacher salary was $68,000 a year, which is 8% less than the average for U.S. workers overall. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

University of Texas El Paso targets teacher shortage

It's estimated that nearly half of all schools in the country don't have enough teachers. To help change that, the University of Texas in El Paso …

En octubre de 2023, el salario medio de los docentes era de 68.000 d�lares al a�o, un 8% menos que el promedio de los trabajadores estadounidenses en general. (Draz�n/Adobe Stock)

La Universidad de Texas-El Paso se enfrenta a la escasez de docentes

Para ayudar a combatir la escasez de maestros en Texas y en todo el país, la Universidad de Texas-El Paso ofrece una residencia especial para …

The National Center for Education Statistics reports that 43% of public school students attend schools where a majority of them are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. (Adobe Stock)

Texas food bank, schools team up to help needy families

To reach more hungry families, one Texas nonprofit is setting up mini food markets in schools. The Tarrant Area Food Bank in North Texas provides 60…

Out-of-state money is pouring into Texas as the contentious issue of

Voucher, 'school choice' advocates work to influence Texas elections

By Jimmy Cloutier for OpenSecrets.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for the OpenSecrets-Public News Service Collaboratio…

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will carve a narrow path of totality across 13 U.S. states, including Texas. (Rob Goebel/AdobeStock)

'Umbraphiles' plan Texas trip to view total solar eclipse

In less than a month from today, thousands of eclipse-chasers will travel to Texas for a dimming of the sun. And one city is making the most of the …

The Texas teacher turnover rate in the 2022-2023 school year was 21.4%, an 81% increase from 12-years earlier, according to the Texas Education Agency. (Adobe Stock)

TX teachers say they are burned out, majority want to exit public education

Two-thirds of those who make the public schools function in Texas say they want to leave, according to a new survey and the teachers union said …

Texas' Travis and Collin counties had the highest percentage of people with an associate degree or higher in 2022. (Gorodenkoff/AdobeStock)

The TX college conundrum: Long-term vs. short-term rewards

Texas is making progress in the percentage of individuals who complete higher levels of education, but still lags behind the national average…

Los condados de Travis y Collin, en Texas, ten�an el mayor porcentaje de personas con un t�tulo de asociado o superior en 2022. (Gorodenkoff/AdobeStock)

Dilema de universidad en TX: Recompensas a largo o corto plazo

Texas está progresando en el porcentaje de personas que completan niveles superiores de educación, pero sigue por detrás de la media …

School choice proponents in Texas argue their children's academic needs can't be met without options such as tuition vouchers. Straxer/AdobeStock)

Stagnant state funding leaves Texas public schools reeling

Texas public schools rank 41st in per-student funding, and that may not improve anytime soon. A large education funding package failed in the …

En Texas, defensores de las decisiones de las escuelas argumentan que las necesidades acad�micas de sus hijos no pueden satisfacerse sin opciones como los cheques escolares. Straxer/AdobeStock)

Estancamiento en financiación estatal deja a escuelas públicas en ‘la cuerda floja’

Las escuelas públicas de Texas ocupan el puesto 41 en financiación por estudiante, y es posible que eso no mejore en el corto plazo…

The National PTA says setting boundaries and monitoring children's screen time is a responsibility, not an intrusion. (DimaBerlin/AdobeStock)

PTA urges parents, caregivers to participate in 'Safer Internet Day'

Most adults know it is dangerous to provide personal information online but children may not, and today's "Safer Internet Day" is meant to raise …

Rural America represents 12% of the nation's workforce, but only 5% of the computer and math jobs. (BullRun/Adobe Stock)

Innovative tech jobs needed to help rural America rebound

By Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News Service Col…

A new report shows most states have increased their performance expectations for public schools in the past 15 years, but also reduced funding. (Victor/Adobe Stock)

Persistent state budget cuts create inadequate funding for TX schools

A new report shows persistent state budget cuts in 80% of U.S. states -- including Texas -- deprive public schools of the funding they experienced …

Un nuevo informe muestra que la mayor�a de los estados han aumentado sus expectativas de rendimiento para las escuelas p�blicas en los �ltimos 15 a�os, pero tambi�n han reducido la financiaci�n. (Victor/AdobeStock)

Recortes presupuestarios persistentes crean financiación inadecuada en escuelas de TX

Un nuevo informe muestra que los persistentes recortes presupuestarios en el 80% de los estados de EE.UU., incluido Texas, privan a las escuelas p…

More than half of students surveyed by YouthTruth said school math problems fail to inspire them. (Svitlana/Adobe Stock)

Making math matter to America's high school students

Of all the classes taught in school, many students say math is the hardest and their least favorite subject, but many jobs require math and experts …

Government data show 44 million Americans owe $1.77 trillion in federal student loan debt. (VitaliiVodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Americans are getting billions in student loan debt canceled

Public service is its own reward for many -- but as tuition costs soar, it is also an effective tool to reduce college loans. The Public Service …

An American labor union hopes that by helping high school students learn the construction trade, they will help fill the nation's workforce shortage. (NathanHutchcraft/AdobeStock)

TX students learn basics in construction trade to fill future jobs

America's construction industry needs more workers, and a labor union has a program to encourage high school students to make it their future career…

Across the United States, enrollment at traditional public schools has not returned to pre-pandemic levels. (Nina/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Opponents of Texas' HISD takeover get funds for grassroots mobilization

Parents and educators in the Houston Independent School District (HISE) have new funds to keep up pressure over the controversial takeover of the stat…

En todo Estados Unidos, la matr�cula en las escuelas p�blicas tradicionales no ha vuelto a los niveles previos a la pandemia. (Nina/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Opositores a la adquisición de HISD en Texas obtienen fondos para movilización popular

Los padres y educadores del Distrito Escolar Independiente de Houston o HISE, por sus siglas en inglés, tienen nuevos fondos para mantener la …

Lawmakers in several states, including Texas, continue attempts to subsidize private school tuition with taxpayer dollars through voucher programs. (Austockphoto/Adobe Stock)

Battle over school vouchers lingers in Lone Star State

A top legislative priority for Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott did not get across the finish line last Friday, despite a fourth special session called this …

Studies show math and reading scores are higher in schools staffed with full-time certified librarians. (CulturaAllies/Adobe Stock)

Librarians often 'unsung heroes' at Texas schools

Starting in the early years and continuing through 12th grade, it's often the school librarian students know best - seeking them out for help with …

Among all tobacco products, youths perceived e-cigarettes to be the least harmful, according to the Texas Youth Tobacco Survey. yta/AdobeStock)

CDC: mixed success on tobacco reduction among school kids

Cigarettes may not appeal to America's youth like they did in the 1960s, but a significant number still experiment with e-cigarettes. The Centers …

A new survey examined the cost of higher education, housing costs and even the average price of pizza, burgers, movies and bowling to rank the most affordable college towns. (JacobLund/AdobeStock)

Texas' Edinburg tops list for most affordable college towns

A new study found Texas is home to half of the U.S. colleges located in communities deemed affordable for students. The personal finance company …

Texas is among 17 states with the lowest public school spending per student, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. (wavebreak3/Adobe Stock)

Texas Senate makes school vouchers its priority in education funding

Public schoolteachers in Texas say the state desperately needs to boost its overall investment in students and education programs. Instead, lawmakers …

People with additional years of education beyond high school tend to be more civic-minded and interact more with neighbors and family members, according to a recent Gallup poll. (GetStock/Adobe Stock)

Polarizing social issues complicate college choice for high-schoolers

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News Service Co…

Google Certificate Programs are 100% online and self-paced, with deadlines to meet individual schedules. (visoot/Adobe Stock)

South Texas College finds partnering with Google boosts student success

Many employers are hiring college graduates if they also can show skills-based training, leading one Texas school to expand its Google Career …

Black, Hispanic and Asian students in the United States are far more likely than white students to say that applying for college is a stressful experience, according to a study by Higher Ed Dive. (wladimir1804/Adobe Stock)

Foundation Attempts to Reboot America's Clunky College Admissions Process

The complex and confusing process of applying to college is thought to be contributing to a decline in the number of high school graduates who go on t…

More than 100,000 clean-energy job openings have sprung up across the U.S. since President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, according to Climate Power, a coalition of environmental groups. (Lisa F. Young/Adobe Stock)

Study: Demand for Green Jobs in TX Twice the National Rate

By Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News Service Col…

Han surgido m�s de 100.000 puestos vacantes en energ�as limpias en todo Estados Unidos desde que el presidente Joe Biden firm� la Ley de Reducci�n de la Inflaci�n, seg�n Climate Power, una coalici�n de grupos ambientalistas. (Lisa F. Young/Adobe Stock)

Estudio: Demanda de empleos verdes en Texas es el doble de la tasa nacional

En un estado del tamaño de Texas, las oportunidades de trabajo para empleos verdes podrían ser infinitas, y se está reclutando a jó…

A significant reduction in enrollment in Texas higher education in Fall 2022 was driven by a 10.4% decline at public two-year colleges, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. (silverkblack/Adobe Stock)

TX Tackles Lower College Enrollment Amid Loss of Higher Ed Confidence

Americans' confidence in major U.S. institutions - including higher education - has fallen in recent years, and Texas is trying to win it back…

Una reducci�n significativa de la matr�cula en la educaci�n superior de Texas en el oto�o de 2022 fue impulsada por una disminuci�n del 10.4% en las universidades p�blicas de dos a�os, seg�n la Junta Coordinadora de Educaci�n Superior de Texas. (silverkblack/Adobe Stock)

TX aborda descenso de inscripción universitaria en medio de la pérdida de confianza en la educación superior

La confianza de los estadounidenses en sus principales instituciones, incluida el de la enseñanza superior, ha caído en los últimos a&#…

Prison guards in the Lone Star State make between $42,000 and $51,000 a year, depending on experience, and received a 5% pay raise on July 1, according to the Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice. (AnyaSlepyan/Daily Yonder)

TX Fills Prison, Jail Job Vacancies with High School Recruits

Texas high schools offering training in corrections and law enforcement are being tapped by the state's Department of Criminal Justice to address mass…

The lack of nearby and affordable child care in the U.S. affects job opportunities and costs the economy $122 billion annually, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (mmg1design/Adobe Stock)

Report: Texas Ranks 44th in Nation for Child Well-Being

Child well-being in Texas is on the ropes, with a new study showing significant declines in third grade reading, eighth grade math proficiency and …

Parents, educators and others protested Thursday ahead of the first public board meeting since the Texas Education Agency took over the Houston Independent School District. (ACLU of Texas)

Texas Assumes Leadership of Houston's Largest School District

Parents and educators in the Houston Independent School District said they are all for improving schools but do not believe a state takeover by an une…

Ninety-percent of counties with the worst food insecurity are rural, according to Save the Children.(Viktoriia/AdobeStock)

Texas Kids Can Benefit from Nonprofit's “Make Summer Fair” Initiative

The last day of school for Texas kids is typically one of elation, but for children in rural areas with high poverty rates, it also can mean …

Changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid approved by Congress in 2020 will delay application availability from Oct. 1 until December this year. (cienpies/AdobeStock)

TX Rural Students Face College Shutout Without Changes to FAFSA

Texas educates more rural students than any other state at nearly 700,000, and there is concern a new law meant to simplify applying for college …

School board meetings have historically included intense cultural debates, such as the teaching of evolution, the removal of offensive sports mascots, or educator-required

Conservative 'M4L' Group Sets Sights on School Boards, Book Bans

A group formed to oppose COVID-19 mask mandates is expanding its agenda to influence school board elections, and a national watchdog group believes …

Non-traditional and online learning are touted as options to address the U.S. nursing shortage, attributed to burnout from the pandemic and many nurses searching for better pay and less stress. (JackF/AdobeStock)

Debunking the Non-Traditional Higher-Education Stigma

Many college students balance family and work responsibilities with academics - making non-traditional higher education a lifeline to a future degree …

Texas is the largest state in the lower 48, but the National Education Association says teacher compensation has stagnated, ranking Texas 28th in the nation for teacher pay, $7,652 less than the national average. (JokePhatrapong/AdobeStock)

PTA Designates Week to Re-Engage With Your Child's School, Teachers

Parent participation at school is often tied to a child's success. And this week, Texas parents are encouraged to engage as the National Parent …

For every $1 invested in ARRIBA - El Paso's workforce development program - the local economy receives $28 back, according to a 2021 study by the Hunt Institute for Global Competitiveness. (Rob/Adobe Stock)

TX Model Transforms Low-Income Students Into Skilled Professionals

For more than two decades, a workforce development program in El Paso has invested in the economically disadvantaged to help them attain the …

Por cada $1 invertido en ARRIBA, programa de desarrollo de la fuerza laboral de El Paso, la econom�a local recibe $28 de vuelta, seg�n un estudio de 2021 del Instituto Hunt para la Competitividad Global. (Rob/Adobe Stock)

TX Modelo transforma a estudiantes de bajos ingresos en profesionales

Durante más de dos décadas, un programa de desarrollo de la fuerza laboral en El Paso ha invertido en los económicamente …

A reform bill passed by the Texas House of Representatives in 2021 to reduce penalties for minor marijuana possession died in the State Senate. (VictorMoussa/AdobeStock)

Texas University Changes Drug Discipline Policy Amid Suggestion of Racism

A fledgling Texas newspaper is claiming credit for a change in policy by the Texas State University System regarding penalties for students found to h…

The U.S. Army had its highest number of active duty personnel in 2020, according to Statista.com. (PatouRicard/Pixabay)

TX Writer: Low-Income Youths Targeted for Military Service

By Aina Marzia for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service Collaboration …

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PNS Daily Newscast - May 8, 2024

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TX: Education