Happy Friday, Houston! 🍂 Temperature check: High of 85; low of 70. Justin's insight: After several stormy days this week, the weekend is shaping up to be dry and cool. Read more here. |
 | Lauren Mitchell
Digital Production Editor
lauren.mtichell@houstonchronicle.com |
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Today we're talking about special education funding... |
If you read one thing: With the Legislature soon considering a revamp of the special education funding system, districts around the state are under tremendous strain. What are the main factors straining special education resources? The number of children who need special education in Texas is growing five times as fast as the state's student population. In the last four years, there have been 218,492 new special education students nationwide. About half were in Texas.
School districts are dealing with the influx in evaluations while facing a more than $2 billion annual shortfall in special education funding from the state. The deficit is most stark for evaluations. How schools are addressing the strain: School districts and charter school networks have doubled their spending on contract work over the past five years, from $30 million to about $60 million, according to state data obtained by Hearst Newspapers. Some have leaned on reserves, temporary grants or leftover COVID-19 funds to pay for the evaluations.
Meanwhile, some students have had to wait weeks or even months to get an evaluation, delaying their access to services. In each of the last two school years, state data show more than 6,000 evaluations were not finished within the deadlines set by federal law.
Read Edward McKinley's full story here.
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Susan Barber / Houston Chronicle |
- Fewer than half of Houston's 'smart' traffic signs are operational, six years into project. Despite years of work to distribute, install and integrate the signs into Houston's traffic management system, only 36 of the 91 dynamic message signs have been brought online.
What to know before the 2023 elections. As the 2023 election nears, the Houston Chronicle is answering your most pressing questions. We have rounded up information on how to vote, where to vote, who is on the ballot and more. Gov. Abbott calls for special session on private school vouchers, immigration and vaccine mandates. The special session agenda is packed with GOP priorities but excludes bipartisan-supported teacher pay raises and public school funding hikes. - HISD unveils pay-for-performance plan that could pay top principals $195K. Houston ISD is moving closer to adopting a new principal evaluation system that would pay campus leaders based on their school's performance starting next year.
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- Texas Legislature serves as model to break Washington gridlock, but moderates would need to step up. Republicans appoint Democrats to chair committees in the Texas Legislature in return for bipartisan support and better laws, writes Chris Tomlinson.
Former Texans QB's home among the most expensive Houston homes sold in August. A newly constructed European-style estate and other mansions on spacious, wooded lots in River Oaks and The Woodlands are among the most expensive homes sold in August. New York firm buys Houston's Milestone as it prepares carbon storage hub in the Permian. The carbon capture and storage industry is growing quickly as demand for climate solutions grows.
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🗳️ Election Endorsement: A former director of citizen's assistance for two mayors, Richard Cantu speaks with gravitas about community policing having lost his daughter to gun violence. 🗪 Other points of view: See which election candidates are endorsed by our Editorial Board. The 2023 election is upon us, and voters face decisions on Houston's mayor and City Council, major county bonds and state constitutional amendments.
Sign up for the "SaysHou" newsletter to get more editorials, columns and letters curated by the Chronicle's opinion team here. |
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Ken Ellis / Houston Chronicle |
Jeff Green, Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks bring new leadership (and skills) to Rockets. Three new veterans on Houston's roster are a welcome addition for skills on the court as well as leadership to younger players. Dusty Baker's mind very much on present as Astros pursue repeat. Talk of retirement can wait for the 74-year-old manager, whose contract expires at postseason's end, writes Jerome Solomon. Former Astros employee Antonio Padilla answers questions on Reddit about team's cheating scandal. After appearing on an episode of PBS' Frontline series, the former video department manager hopped on Reddit to answer fans' questions about the documentary, the Astros' sign-stealing scandal and his six years with the team. Find more of our sports coverage here. |
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Marie D. De Jesús/Staff photographer |
Top things to do in Houston this weekend: Houston's Korean Festival brings culture, big eats to Discovery Green. The 14th annual Korean Festival includes food, performing arts and a live performance by the renowned K-pop artist June. Andrew Dansby's top Houston concerts to see this week include Janelle Monae and the Foo Fighters. Festival Chicano and a tribute to two songwriters are among the recommended shows. In Theaters: New films include "The Exorcist: Believer," "The Royal Hotel" and "Foe." |
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Have a great weekend! Lauren Mitchell lauren.mitchell@houstonchronicle.com |
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