Intersect Ed

In this episode, our panelists discuss the “Legacy Education Fund,” a new, proposed idea about a public education endowment that could move Texas beyond two-year budget cycles and establish a lasting investment in our public schools.

This episode of Intersect Ed discusses the sticking points regarding HB 4 in Texas’ 89th Regular Session, as well as what the special session item – “eliminating the STAAR test” – could mean for accountability in our state. Our Intersect Ed host, Morgan Smith, is joined by Amy Dodson, Dean of Advocacy for Raise Your Hand Texas, in a question-and-answer session focused on the differences between criterion-referenced tests and nationally norm-referenced tests. 

This episode of Intersect Ed was taped on the morning of Tuesday, June 3, just a few blocks from the Capitol, the day after the 89th Texas Legislative Session ended. Public education and Texas legislative policy experts, who regularly meet with staffers, legislators, and advocates throughout the state, shared their top insights with a live audience. They discuss what has been hailed as Historic legislation for public education -  including the $8.5 billion package in school funding and teacher raises, and the passage of Texas’ new voucher program - as well as the inability of the legislature to agree upon and therefore change our assessment and accountability system. Host Morgan Smith was joined by Jaden Edison, public education reporter with the Texas Tribune, Scott Braddock, editor at Quorum Report.com, Edward McKinley, Austin Bureau reporter for the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News, and Bob Popinski, Senior Director of Policy at Raise Your Hand Texas.

This episode of Intersect Ed discusses how we measure the performance of Texas public schools, the value of local accountability systems, and the ways HB 4 could provide meaningful assessment reform for our schools and better support student learning for the sake of learning instead of assessment. Additionally, if HB 4 passed, it would put public schools on more of an equal playing field with private schools when it comes to testing, something that is a focus of SB 2 - the voucher bill that was signed by Gov. Abbott on May 3, 2025. Our Intersect Ed host, Morgan Smith, is joined by Harry Feder, Executive Director of FairTest - The National Center for Fair and Open Testing; Brad Owen, Superintendent at Burkburnett ISD; and Max Rombado, Legislative Director at Raise Your Hand Texas.  

This episode of Intersect Ed discusses an often misunderstood topic: funding special education in Texas public schools. Our schools provide special education services to the almost 800,000 students with disabilities in the state. This episode will explore why it costs so much to do it right and the $2 Billion dollar gap that Texas school districts are covering after they allocate the funds received from the state and federal government to ensure special education students receive the services they need.