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Oct. 21, 2026
Dallas ISD to pay $1 million settlement tied to former teacher accused of sexual abuse

(KERA) The U.S. Justice Department announced a $1 million settlement with Dallas ISD over allegations the district failed to properly report a teacher accused of abusing multiple children – and who went on to allegedly abuse more in Forney ISD. Dallas ISD will pay $145,000 in a penalty and $855,000 for district-wide reforms, including posting mandatory signage outlining child-abuse reporting duties, conducting compliance audits, and reviewing all sexual misconduct allegations dating back to 2022 and sharing the findings with the Texas Education Agency. The settlement comes as part of Project Safe Schools, which North Texas law enforcement agencies launched in August to hold districts accountable for alleged abuse. 

Fort Worth ISD seeks operators to redesign schools. 6 organizations are interested

(Fort Worth Report) Fort Worth ISD says it is seeking new programs, not takeovers of struggling campuses, clarifying Superintendent Peter Licata’s August remarks.

Houston ISD cut or moved 360 employees as schools lost more students than expected this year

(Houston Chronicle) Houston ISD schools have terminated or reassigned at least 360 employees, including teachers and librarians, as the district adjusts staffing levels to account for lower-than-expected enrollment.

San Antonio ISD bets on strict classroom structure to improve schools

(San Antonio Express-News) The San Antonio Independent School District is rolling out sweeping, prescriptive changes to the way most of its 42,000 students learn in a bid to avoid state intervention and improve chronic academic issues. “High 5,” the new initiative developed under Superintendent Adrian Bustillos, requires teachers to adopt district-created lesson plans at more than 70 of SAISD’s 80 campuses, including at high-performing schools, magnet programs and most district charters – which historically have had flexibility over what goes on in the classroom.

San Marcos CISD considers affordable housing community for teachers

(KXAN) During a school board meeting Monday night, representatives with Upward Communities presented a potential partnership to develop a housing community for district employees. The board did not make a final decision and tabled the proposal for a future meeting.

Ballots in two San Antonio-area school districts missing information at start of early voting

(San Antonio Express-News) Voters in at least two San Antonio-area school districts reported problems on their ballots during the first day of early voting in the 2026 midterm elections. The issues, reported at Edgewood and East Central independent school districts, include missing tax rate proposals and school board candidates or added ballot items from other public school systems.

A CDL or a pay cut? Texas coaches push back on controversial district policy

(Houston Chronicle) Alvin ISD requires new coaches to get a commercial driver’s license (CDL) within a year so they can drive team buses. Coaches who don’t get one have their coaching pay cut by 25%, then 50%, and are eventually pushed out. Coaches across Texas criticized the policy as unfair, saying it punishes already underpaid staff and could worsen the coaching shortage. Some other districts instead pay for the license or give bonuses.

REPORT: Texas Rangers find no criminal offense in Lindale ISD choking death investigation

(CBS19) Documents from a Texas Rangers report show staff at Lindale ISD used an adult-sized choking rescue device rather than a child-sized on 8-year-old Adrian Thompson, who fatally choked in April. The report also states the investigation found “no criminal offense” happened in relation to her death. Adrian Thompson died in the early morning hours of April 16 this year after experiencing a medical emergency the previous day while eating lunch at Velma Penny Elementary School.

Mother sues Manor ISD, Texas officials over 2024 deadly stabbing

(KVUE) The mother of a student stabbed to death at Manor Senior High School nearly two years ago has filed a lawsuit against Manor ISD and state education officials, alleging failures to protect her son and provide support for his disabilities.

14-year-old detained after online school threat in Laredo

(KGNS) Laredo police detained a 14-year-old girl as the main suspect after an online threat against an unnamed campus. The FBI alerted the Laredo Police Department’s Texas Anti-Gang Unit, and investigators traced the threat to a home. With her parent’s cooperation, the girl was interviewed and the family agreed to a search, during which officers found a loaded 9 mm handgun at the back of the house. After consulting the Webb County Attorney’s Office, police charged her with making a terroristic threat, a third-degree felony.

Texas A&M Law dean, Fort Worth ISD manager helped grow Fort Worth. Now he’s leaving for New York

(Fort Worth Report) A chief operating officer helping develop a university campus in downtown Fort Worth. A board member shaping Fort Worth ISD’s future. A partner to local business leaders. Now Bobby Ahdieh is leaving for New York.

Texas College Among Founding Members of New Higher Education Accreditor

(Texas Scorecard) The National Association for Academic Excellence (NAAE) announced that Houston Christian University, Merrimack College in Massachusetts, Benedictine College in Kansas, the University of Mount Saint Vincent in New York, and Bellevue University in Nebraska will help establish a new model of institutional accreditation. The new accrediting organization aims to promote academic excellence, institutional independence, and greater accountability in higher education.

UT Austin’s Regional Security Operations Center opens office in Perry-Castañeda Library

(Daily Texan) UT Austin’s state-funded Regional Security Operations Center, created in 2024, has opened a new office in the Perry-Castañeda Library. The student- and professional-staffed center offers free cybersecurity services to school districts, nonprofits, and infrastructure facilities that lack security teams or big budgets. The new space allows more collaboration, and the center plans to train more than 50 new students this semester.

Denton’s Texas Woman’s University Unveils Quakertown Memorial a Century After Black Community’s Forced Removal

(Hoodline Dallas) Texas Woman’s University held two ribbon-cutting ceremonies Tuesday for the Quakertown Memorial and a new outdoor trail system, marking a long-awaited public tribute to a Black community that was forcibly displaced from the land nearly a century ago. Quakertown was a predominantly Black community whose residents were forcibly relocated to southeast Denton by the local government in the 1920s, as previously reported by Community Impact.

Taxpayers are funding private school tuition. It’s helping classical Christian schools expand

(AP) Conservatives are banding together to grow classical Christian schools by leveraging new taxpayer-funded scholarships. Classical Christian education is known for combining rhetorical teaching and the study of Western history with a Christian worldview. Its increased popularity across the country has coincided with a nationwide push to use public funds for private education.

Texas Comptroller Don Huffines issues series of “executive orders,” raising questions about his office’s authority

(Texas Tribune) Texas Comptroller Don Huffines has signed four “executive orders” on taxes, surveillance cameras, and DEI, but they mostly just tell his staff to start rule changes he could already make. Critics say he’s acting like a governor to build a record before his close November race against Democrat Sarah Eckhardt.

Texas Republicans plan to strip lieutenant governor powers if Democrat wins

(Raw Story via News Minimalist) Texas Republicans are reportedly planning to strip the lieutenant governor of legislative powers if Democratic nominee Vikki Goodwin defeats incumbent Dan Patrick in next month’s election, according to the Quorum Report. The proposal, confirmed by multiple sources, would involve state senators changing chamber rules to limit Goodwin’s control over committee assignments and bill flow, as many of the office’s powers are granted by the Senate rather than the Constitution.

Mysterious group behind transgender mailers formed weeks ago in Wyoming

(Houston Chronicle) A newly formed group called the Texas Transgender Student Union sent mailers and texts with resources for trans students to many Republican voters as early voting began in Texas. The group was registered just weeks ago as a Wyoming LLC using a mass-registration address, and the real Texas trans advocacy group it cited denies any involvement. Many suspect the mailings were a political tactic to rile up GOP voters rather than a genuine effort to help trans youth.

Teen on electric dirt bike hit by vehicle on way to school in Leander

(CBS Austin) A 17-year-old girl riding an electric dirt bike to school was hit by a vehicle Monday morning in Leander, police said. A preliminary investigation found the teen was riding the 6,500-watt electric dirt bike on the sidewalk and tried to cross the road when she was struck, police said. She was wearing a full-face helmet. According to police, she was treated at the scene and later taken to a hospital by a parent. Police reminded residents that electric dirt bikes are not legal on public roads or sidewalks and are meant for use only on private property.

Free school lunch is no longer on the menu for many kids. It’s one of many strains on cafeterias

(Texas Standard) Schools in the U.S. serve almost 30 million lunches every day. But rising food costs, regulations and cuts to food assistance mean school kitchens have to do more with less.

Mariachi continues growing in Texas schools

(Spectrum) At San Antonio ISD’s Fox Tech High School, David Zamarripa has led the mariachi program for more than 30 years, and it now has over 300 students. Mariachi became a statewide UIL competition in 2016, and the number of schools competing has grown from 55 to 100. Students say the program gives them pride in their culture and a sense of family.

Texas football player back on the field after rare knee condition nearly ended his career

(NewsWise) Klein (ISD) Collins High School football player Brody Powers is back on the field after a rare knee condition nearly ended his career. After a second surgery and nine months of rehab, he recently scored a touchdown.

GoFundMe raises $100K after airman’s Alamodome fall in San Antonio

(MySA) The tragic accident came before UTSA and Navy’s football game on Saturday.

New “EarlyConnectSA” search tool aims to increase childcare access by connecting providers and families

(Texas Public Radio) Pre-K 4 SA and Early Matters San Antonio — initiatives dedicated to improving the early childhood education landscape — have officially launched a search tool called EarlyConnectSA. The new search tool, which covers Bexar, Comal and Guadalupe counties, consolidates information about quality ratings, programming, availability and financial assistance. It also offers location-based search results to connect families with a quality childcare provider to best serve their children.

Chickenpox outbreak reported at Shepherd ISD High School, district says

(KTRK) The Shepherd Independent School District announced a chickenpox outbreak at Shepherd High School, possibly stemming from the homecoming dance on Oct. 3.

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TRS Adds San Felipe-Del Rio CISD to ActiveCare

The TRS board during a special meeting last week approved San Felipe-Del Rio CISD (SFDRCISD) to join the TRS-ActiveCare employee health plan starting Jan. 1, 2027. The board specifically adopted the district’s special…
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