The Legislative Reference Library produces a weekly list of current journal articles for members of the legislative community. New lists are available most Thursdays at 3pm. The most recent list is below.

"The future of college?" By Graeme Wood. Atlantic Monthly, September 2014, pp. 52-60
Profiles the Minerva Project, a for-profit online university, which solicits admissions without regard to national origin. Reports that Minerva is not a MOOC provider because its courses are not massive but capped at nineteen students and are only open to its students. Notes all classes are seminars, not lectures, and that students are expected to learn the basics of the subject independently. Points out that, while students will live in dorms, there will be no campus, no sports, and no research libraries. Considers the future of traditional universities if Minerva is successful.

"From recidivism to recovery: the case for peer support in Texas correctional facilities: executive summary." By Megan Randall and Katharine Ligon. Center for Public Policy Priorities, August 6, 2014, pp. 1-3
Explores the use of mental health peer support services as one way to support recovery, improve continuity of care, and reduce recidivism for inmates with mental illness during the re-entry process. Recommends that Texas develop a peer support pilot program in a local county jail based upon a successful initiative used in Pennsylvania.
See:http://forabettertexas.or ...
Report at: http://forabettertexas.or ...

"Common core contested left and right." By Amanda Paulson. Christian Science Monitor, August 11, 2014, pp. 21-23
Describes the opposition, from the left and the right, to full implementation of common core standards. Explains that there was limited controversy when the standards were introduced. Notes that the standards have become intertwined with national politics, which threatens the program and the future of education reform.

"Education: how we got here." By Sarah Garland. Christian Science Monitor, August 18 & 25, 2014, pp. 26, 28-31
Argues that the 1981 release of A Nation at Risk, commissioned by the Reagan administration, influenced later education reform efforts, such as No Child Left Behind, Race to the Top, and common core standards. Notes the push for new teacher evaluations, new standards, new criteria, and new tests from A Nation at Risk are found in later education reform programs. Includes graph identifying the results of education reform programs.

"Why child migrants head to the U.S." By Whitney Eulich. Christian Science Monitor, August 11, 2014, p. 13
Addresses factors that have led to the increase in unaccompanied Central American children migrating to the United States. Considers possible solutions to stop this migration yet keep the children safe.

"The pitch: debt relief. The reality: borrowers may well pay more." By Kelly Field and Dan Bauman. Chronicle of Higher Education, August 15, 2014, pp. A4, A6, A8
Examines entities offering "debt relief" services for those with student loans. Explains that such firms target poor and middle-income borrowers who do not realize they can consolidate their loans free of charge.

"A closer look at the proposed teacher evaluation system." Classroom Teacher (Texas Classroom Teachers Association), Summer 2014, pp. 16-19
Details proposed Texas teacher evaluation system scheduled to be used in 60 school districts this school year prior to full implementation in 2016-2017. Includes sidebar that identifies ten problems with the system.

"Geothermal energy: hot rocks." Economist, August 16th-22nd, 2014, pp. 54-55
Reports enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) have the potential of increasing geothermal generating plants' capacity — currently small contributors to America's power grid. Points out the negative side of EGS, describing the process as geothermal fracking. Notes EGS can trigger earthquakes and, if water used in the process leaks, contaminate surface waters or soil.

"Facts about immigration and the U.S. economy." By Heidi Shierholz, Daniel Costa, and David Cooper. EPI Issue Brief, August 12, 2014, pp. 1-19
Clarifies misperceptions about the immigrant population in the United States, how immigration affects the economy and the workforce, and on the budgetary effect of unauthorized immigration.
See:http://s3.epi.org/files/2 ...

"Mean streets." By Mike Maciag. Governing, August 2014, pp. 32-38
Investigates disproportionately higher pedestrian death rates in high-poverty neighborhoods. Notes that pedestrian deaths are an increasing concern in suburban areas.
Report at: http://www.governing.com/ ...
See:http://www.governing.com/ ...

"Children's Health Insurance Program premiums adversely affect enrollment, especially among lower-income children." By Salam Abdus, et al. Health Affairs, August 2014, pp. 1353-1360
Examines how CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) premiums affect the enrollment of low-income children. Considers to what extent parents having access to employer-sponsored insurance plays a role in CHIP coverage.

"Medicaid admissions and readmissions." By Tara Trudnak, et al. Health Affairs, August 2014, pp. 1337-1344
Examines the cost and prevalence of Medicaid admissions and subsequent readmissions within a month. Finds that mental and behavioral disorders account for the largest share of Medicaid readmission payments.

"School discipline gone South." By Laurie Posner. IDRA Newsletter (Intercultural Development Research Association), August 2014, pp. 3-4, 6
Points out that the South serves the nation's largest number of minority and economically-disadvantaged students and is also the region most likely to suspend, expel or physically discipline youth. Reports several groups are taking action to halt punitive practices they believe are ineffective, unfair, and unsafe.
See:http://www.idra.org/IDRA_ ...
Related information at:http://www2.ed.gov/about/ ...

"The Latino electorate by immigrant generation." By Patrick Oakford. Internet Resource, June 12, 2014, pp. 1-9
Explores Latino voting patterns and considers the implications of not addressing immigration reform. Focuses on the group expected to feel the current debate most sharply — the sons and daughters of today’s undocumented residents.
See:http://www.americanprogre ...

"The great equalizer." By Charles C.W. Cooke. National Review, August 25, 2014, pp. 26-28
Explores the connection between civil rights and the right to bear arms.

"No surprises." By Natalie O'Donnell Wood. State Legislatures, July/August 2014, pp. 40-43
Profiles four chiefs of staff, including Jesse Ancira, chief of staff for Speaker Joe Strauss.

"Voting: what's next?" By Katy Owens Hubler. State Legislatures, July/August 2014, pp. 59-61
Reviews four voting systems that will change the way votes are cast. Includes discussion of STAR Vote, a system developed by Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir. Notes that when space travel becomes the norm, the Texas Legislature in 1997 passed a law permitting astronauts to electronically send their ballots from space (HB841, 75th Legislature).

"Veterans win in-state tuition benefit." By Adrienne Lu. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), August 19, 2014, pp. 1-7
Discusses a little-known provision in a federal law signed earlier this month, the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, that allows any veteran who served at least 90 days of active service to pay resident tuition rates in any state within three years of leaving the military.
Related information at:http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/ ...
Related information at:http://www.military.com/e ...
See:http://www.pewtrusts.org/ ...

"Going up: states keep raising speed limits." Status Report (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), July 30, 2014, p. 7
Discusses state speed limits and how many states have recently raised speed limits on interstates.
See:http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ ...

"Teen crashes fall since the advent of graduated licensing." Status Report (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety), July 30, 2014, pp. 6-7
Examines how graduated driver licensing has affected teen crash rates.
See:http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ ...

"Substance abuse trends in Texas." By Jane C. Maxwell. Substance Abuse Trends in Texas, June 2014, pp. 1-24
Provides updated statistics on the abuse of alcohol and illegal and prescription drugs in Texas. Includes a special section on infectious diseases related to drug abuse.
See:http://www.utexas.edu/res ...

"Paying the price of e-filing; Lifespan of the $2 e-filing fee will vary by county." By Angela Morris. Texas Lawyer, August 18, 2014, pp. 1, 15
Reports technology in many counties has not kept pace with courts' needs, requiring counties to spend thousands of dollars on new case management systems and more robust Internet speeds to comply with the Texas Supreme Court's e-filing mandate. Notes that it may take smaller counties years to recoup their costs, as they will collect less revenue from the $2 e-filing fee than large urban counties.
Related information at:http://www.lrl.state.tx.u ...

"Where do Texas's public education dollars go?" Texas Lone Star (Texas Association of School Boards), August 2014, pp. 18-20
Provides a breakdown of how $52.4 billion in Texas state funds was spent in the 2012-2013 school year. Reports almost 61 percent of education dollars was spent on direct instruction while less than 3 percent went towards central administration. Includes chart that identifies incremental cost of student activities during a typical school day.

"Texas, are we there yet? A roadmap for implementing and enforcing a future texting-while-driving ban." By Christi Schofield. Texas Tech Administrative Law Journal, Summer 2014, pp. 399-422
Proposes model legislation for a statewide ban on texting-while-driving in Texas based on laws adopted in Utah and Washington State.
Related information at:http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw ...
Related information at:http://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw ...
Related information at:http://le.utah.gov/~2014/ ...

"Core crash." By Haley Sweetland Edwards. Time, August 25, 2014, pp. 40-41
Examines what is behind the current political backlash against the once lauded common core education standards that are being implemented in 41 states this school year. Highlights the political battle in Mississippi, noting the standards are at risk of being repealed. Discusses concerns of teachers.