SXSW 2025 Heads to The Studio With Seth Rogen

New films from Ben Affleck, Nicole Kidman, Nic Cage added to fest

"...and Baby Doe, which both chronicle how the legal system has been weaponized against women. Some catch people at..."

Jan. 22, 2025 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

Texas Lege Preview: Saving Public Education

Vouchers and school funding and never the twain shall meet

"...say schools they mean school vouchers, a scheme many teachers and parents fear would sabotage our system of free..."

Jan. 10, 2025 News Feature by Brant Bingamon

Election Results for Constitutional Amendments and County Propositions

Voters approve child care tax breaks, teacher retirement boost, gas plant subsidies, and more

"...state of Texas actually does love its public school system. Voters showed it again by agreeing to give retired..."

Nov. 10, 2023 News Feature by the News Team

Chronicle Endorsements for the November 7 Election

Looking for guidance on the ballot's constitutional amendments and county propositions? We got you.

"...any new funding into the state's beleaguered public school system, but it would temporarily reduce the amount of revenue..."

Oct. 20, 2023 News Feature

Opinion: Vouchers’ Ripple Effect – How They Threaten Texas’ Teacher Retirement System

Texas state Rep. Vikki Goodwin makes the case against public school vouchers

"...Vouchers could put our teachers' retirement funds in jeopardy...."

Oct. 13, 2023 Column by Vikki Goodwin

State Board of Education: Bell-Metereau Faces Two Challengers

Bluer district creates opportunity to push board leftward

"...district by less than 2% in 2020 after Mercer's retirement. In between, she ran in the 2018 primary for..."

Feb. 11, 2022 News Feature by Morgan O’Hanlon

State Employee Unions Look Askance at Texas Lege’s Pension Changes

Unions give a hard pass on cash balance plan proposed in Senate Bill 321

"...argued that the guarantee of a monthly pension upon retirement is one reason why so many people stick with..."

May 14, 2021 News Feature by Kimberly Reeves

Lege Lines: Do It for the Kids

House Dems lay out school finance plan

"...(Senate Bill 3) and to-be-determined merit pay for "classroom teachers" to also cover support staff, fund a larger share..."

March 1, 2019 News Feature by Michael King

Central Texas Lawmakers Speak Out About the 86th Legislative Session

Interviews with the team representing 2.1 million Austin metro residents

"...will get a series of piecemeal approaches. So, TRS-Care [Teacher Retirement System], managed care for medically fragile children, and..."

Jan. 4, 2019 News Feature by the News Staff

Rep. Donna Howard on the 86th Texas Legislature

“Let’s target some new money toward childhood literacy, toward high school success, toward teacher quality – the kind of things that research shows make a difference”

"...a larger number of students entering the public education system needing more resources. We have more low-income students and..."

Jan. 4, 2019 News Feature by Austin Sanders

Sen. Kirk Watson on the 86th Texas Legislature

“In Texas, we don’t focus on what our needs are; we focus on what we want to pay”

"...become such a paramount part of our school finance system, that if you start looking at something like the..."

Jan. 4, 2019 News Feature by Michael King

Lege Lines: Peace in Straus' House

News from the saner chamber

"...he called "our priorities," including school finance reform, the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, a first attempt at local..."

Aug. 11, 2017 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

State Emergency-Leave Rules Tightened

Comptroller will now verify all applications

"...of a loved one. Who would possibly abuse that system? Well, apparently Attorney Gen­er­al Ken Paxton. And Agriculture Commis­sion­er..."

June 10, 2016 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

AISD Salaries Up for Debate

With cost of living going up, teachers need a raise

"...that the proposed increases won't offset inflation, nor keep teachers in the district...."

May 6, 2016 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Shortchanged

A lot of belt tightening and creative thinking make getting by with low dollars possible for AISD

"...with a long-running challenge to the state's school finance system finally reaching the Texas Supreme Court on Sept. 1..."

Sept. 4, 2015 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Farewell to Linda Bridges, Hero of Texas Schools

Teachers union leader passes, leaving legacy of advocacy

"...A former elementary special education teacher in Corpus Christi ISD, and president of its local..."

Jan. 14, 2015 News Post by Richard Whittaker

Barbara's Fire

Attorney, teacher, and veteran fighter for freedom, Barbara Hines retires from a career mentoring students

"...Today, as she eases into professional retirement by December's end, she is inevitably reflective. While clearly..."

Dec. 12, 2014 News Feature by Tony Cantú

AISD Race: A Voice for Southwest Austin

Schneider faces two challengers as he seeks a fourth term

"...pair of challengers wants to send him to full retirement...."

July 25, 2014 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

ACC Admits Fumbling Obamacare Memo

Administrators face grilling from local lawmakers

"...that they were operating under incorrect information from the [Teacher Retirement System of Texas]." On further consultation with the..."

Jan. 10, 2014 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

ACC Throws Book at Affordable Care Act

Administrators trim adjunct faculty hours to avoid providing health coverage

"...two changes to its employment rules: changes to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, and to who would be..."

Dec. 13, 2013 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

In the Name of Ann Richards

AISD's School for Young Women Leaders is a district showcase – does its glittering reputation hide a darker side for teachers and students?

"...when she joined the school as a physical education teacher in August 2008. Mason-Murphy – or Coach Mason, as..."

Aug. 30, 2013 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Lege Lines: The Score

How the 83rd did on water infrastructure, the budget, education, the environment, and transportation

"...appropriations, and assorted accounting tricks had gone through the system, the actual biennial budget was $189.9 billion – a..."

June 14, 2013 News Feature by Brandon Watson

There They Go ... Here They Come Again

A no-drama session ends – will a high-drama special follow?

"...the damage. Dems also won increased contributions to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, and ended an accounting trick..."

May 31, 2013 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

New System Shortchanges Teachers

"...Dear Editor, The proposed changes to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas are immoral. Imagine that your..."

April 24, 2013 Postmarks

Nov. 6 Elections: The 'Chronicle' Endorsements

"...Repub­lican regime. When we eventually return to a two-party system in Texas, we can begin to speak (and vote)..."

Oct. 19, 2012 News Feature

What About Retired Rural Teachers?

"...Jan. 6]. With all due respect when mentioning education, teachers, etc., no one mentions the elderly retired rural teachers...."

Jan. 9, 2012 Postmarks

A Mission To Communicate

Austin ISD's new multicultural, multitasking outreach director has a big job ahead: telling the district's story and getting the district to listen to the response

"...(who died earlier this year) and Welch (who took retirement) are both gone, and in their stead is Sanchez's..."

Nov. 11, 2011 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Texas <3 Teachers (Allegedly)

File under "chutzpah"

"...Truitt, R-Dallas, the resolution declares this week Texas Retired Teachers Week...."

March 23, 2011 News Post by Richard Whittaker

This Way to the Big Top!

From budget disaster to hysterical bloodletting, the legislative circus is back in town

"...most Republicans (and some Democrats) to fixing Texas' nonfunctional system of taxation, and 3) an abiding (and seemingly inexplicable)..."

Jan. 14, 2011 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Teachers Want Books Checked at Pension Fund

TRS internal investigation isn't credible, union president says

"...at the state agency that handles $102.4 billion in teacher pension funds, it was initially written off as campaign..."

Oct. 29, 2010 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

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