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April 21, 2026
Outsourced To Kids: Childhood Language Brokering in Texas
(Texas Signal) In Texas, where many residents have limited English proficiency, children in immigrant families often act as “language brokers,” translating complex and sometimes sensitive information for their parents. This responsibility can expose kids to adult situations — like medical or legal conversations—and place emotional stress on them, even as it builds skills and family bonds. Relying on children for translation reflects gaps in access to professional language services and raises concerns about fairness and child well-being. Available data suggests that there are as many as 1.5 to 2 million child language brokers in Texas. Yet, no official statewide count exists.
‘It hinges on students’: Fort Worth builds pipeline from classrooms to careers
(Fort Worth Report) The Fort Worth mayor’s council was established in 2022 to bolster the career readiness of Fort Worth students. Since then, the numbers of dual credit graduates and students earning at least 15 college credit hours have each grown by about a third.
Houston ISD anti-takeover protesters read books aloud in front of Mike Miles’ home
(Houston Chronicle) Teachers, students, and activists gathered outside Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles’ home for a five-hour “read-in” protest, reading books aloud to oppose changes under the state takeover. The demonstration, organized by Community Voices for Public Education, criticized policies such as reduced access to libraries, increased use of scripted curriculum, and reliance on shorter or AI-generated reading materials instead of full books. District leadership points to improved test scores, but critics say the reforms undermine reading enjoyment, critical thinking, and the broader educational experience.
Underperforming Arlington ISD schools see improvements on midyear test
(Arlington Report) The data, which is based on midyear tests, showed growth for D and F campuses. Trustees say they hope that growth will show on STAAR results.
Copperas Cove ISD launches statewide Innovation Academy
(Fox 44) The Copperas Cove ISD has announced an Innovation Academy for advanced programs open for students from anywhere in Texas to study at home. The virtual campus will be open for a limited number of students from across the state beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.
Connally ISD investigating after student left on bus throughout school day
(KCEN) According to Connally ISD, on the afternoon of Monday, April 20, a bus driver found a student unattended on a bus. The district said it was determined the student had been left behind after the morning route and had stayed on the bus for entire school day. Connally ISD said it is working closely with Texas Rural Student Transportation, the company that manages its transportation needs, to conduct an investigation into how the student was left on the bus.
East Texas schools talk safety after hoax threats
(KETK) Multiple East Texas schools have received threats over the last few weeks, including Chapel Hill, Rusk, Alto, and Troup. Now, law enforcement agencies are examining the most effective tactics to prevent these threats from escalating.
Beaumont ISD approves $1M scoreboard replacement at Doggett Family Stadium amid criticism
(KFDM) Questions are being raised in Beaumont ISD after the school board approved about $1 million to replace the scoreboard at Doggett Family Stadium, one of the most expensive high school stadiums in the country.
‘Now the cellphone’s a white van’ — New safety initiative aims to protect young Texas girls from online predators
(KVUE) Not on Our Watch TX has partnered with the Girl Scouts of Central Texas and the National Center of Missing & Exploited Children to launch a new curriculum to teach Girl Scouts important online safety skills in exchange for a new patch.
‘If he’s not safe, he can’t learn’; Mom secures GPS tracker for son with autism at school
(KFOX 14) After weeks of pushing for permission to help keep her 8-year-old son safe at school, Kristina Waldrop says the Ysleta Independent School District has agreed to allow her child to wear an AngelSense GPS tracking device in class but she says the fight isn’t over.
Former Agua Dulce ISD teacher accused of child sex crimes tells authorities she’s pregnant
(KIII) Former Agua Dulce High School science teacher Jaden Charles told Agua Dulce City Marshal Joe Martinez on Tuesday that she is pregnant. Charles currently has four children. Her alleged crimes go back two years, Martinez tells 3NEWS, from before the 25-year-old began teaching. It is believed there could be up to 12 victims, all male.
‘Two sides to this story’: Defense challenges inappropriate relationship charges for former Goose Creek CISD counselor
(KPRC) Former Goose Creek Memorial High School counselor Lorinda Bocardo is out on bond after being charged with felony offenses tied to what investigators describe as an inappropriate relationship with a teenage student. Her defense attorney Jed Silverman told only KPRC 2 News on Friday there are “two sides” to the story and argues prosecutors won’t be able to prove the allegations in court.
Spring ISD teacher accused of leading car chase, running from police half-naked, court records show
(KTRK) According to Houston police, the incident began in downtown Houston, where they say Tyler Canada sped past officers on Milam Street, swerving through traffic, running red lights, and at one point, driving the wrong way. Police said he did not stop despite officers flashing lights and sirens. Instead, he drove about 15 miles to his home, where police found his car in the driveway. When they knocked, Canada, naked from the waist down, ran off down the street, according to police.
Fort Worth ISD assistant principal killed in Benbrook shooting
(KRLD) Benbrook police are investigating the fatal shooting of Lindsay Velasquez, a 42-year-old assistant principal at Luella Merrett Elementary School in Fort Worth ISD, who died from a gunshot wound to the head at her home last Friday evening. Her husband was arrested at the scene and charged with manslaughter.
Donna ISD Security Guard Charged With Sex Crimes Against Student
(Texsa Scorecard) Francisco “Frank” San Roman Jr. was arrested on multiple charges including indecency with a child by sexual contact.
Protesters challenge premise of Texas A&M civil discourse symposium amid new restrictions
(Texas Tribune) Some students said the message of the forum, headlined by former Vice President Mike Pence, rang hollow as the university has placed limits on what professors can teach.
Leadership shakeups at UT continue as LBJ School dean departs for Duke
(Austin American-Statesman) Dean JR DeShazo will leave the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the end of this academic year.
AI is changing how Texas universities teach computer science as job market slows
(Texas Tribune) Admissions to Texas computer science programs are down roughly 20%, professors said, but they still see a future for their students.
Tarrant County College air traffic controller training program gets permission to take off
(Fort Worth Report) The program will prepare students for a high-wage, in-demand career that pays an average of $172,250 per year in DFW.
Texas schools make Forbes’ 2026 ‘New Ivies’ list as AI reshapes college hiring
(Austin American-Statesman) Two Texas universities — Rice University and UT Austin — earned spots on Forbes’ New Ivies list amid growing employer skepticism of traditional Ivy League schools.
U.S. schools get another year to comply with web accessibility deadlines
(K-12 Dive) Reactions were mixed to the U.S. Department of Justice’s extension for digitally accessible content managed by state and local government entities.
Dallas has a plan to consolidate libraries, 71% of residents surveyed oppose the plan
(WFAA) The city of Dallas is considering a $2.6 million cut to its library budget, but 91% of residents surveyed say they want funding for libraries to increase.
The Onion has agreed to a new deal to take over Austin-based Infowars
(NPR) The satirical media outlet said Monday it finally acquired the controversial show hosted by Alex Jones after roughly 18 months of back and forth in a Texas bankruptcy court. Families of those killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, who sued Jones for defamation, want the sale to happen. They’re still waiting to collect on the nearly $1.3 billion judgment they won against Jones for spreading lies that they faked the deaths of their children to boost support for gun control.
Speaker Dustin Burrows asks Texas House to investigate Roblox in response to game simulating Uvalde shooting
(Texas Tribune) Burrows added the charge to his list of interim priorities, instructing lawmakers to study ways to strengthen child protections on gaming platforms like Roblox.
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