Latest TexEdNews:

Reported Elsewhere:

Having problems?
Please refresh your browser.

Reported Elsewhere

Where possible, these headlines link to no-paywall or soft paywall articles, or to websites offering free trials. TexEdNews neither condones nor endorses the accuracy of this news feed.

Sept. 28, 2026
From hiring to curriculum, Texas schools say they are complying with DEI limits

(San Antonio Express-News) Texas school districts must certify they are complying with the state’s DEI ban by the end of September. Districts are reporting little cost savings.

San Antonio ISD puts two senior leaders on leave amid questions about bond funds

(San Antonio Express-News) Two senior San Antonio Independent School District administrators – including the most recent interim superintendent – are on leave over concerns about how $1.3 billion in 2020 bond funds have been spent, according to four people with direct knowledge of the matter. The decision sidelines two of SAISD’s most senior administrators as the district prepares to ask voters to approve another bond issue and as a new superintendent, Adrian Bustillos, starts his tenure.

Katy ISD joins Texas school voucher program through virtual high school

(KTRK) Katy Independent School District has entered Texas’ school voucher program through its virtual learning program, a move the district says will provide more educational options for students while generating additional revenue. The district’s Virtual Legacy High School, its 16th high school, is approved to participate in the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program, allowing students statewide to enroll in virtual classes. Individual classes cost $250 for students who live within the district and $400 for students from outside the district.

Beaumont ISD warns families of court action after thousands of unexcused absences

(KFDM) Thousands of student absences in the first weeks of school have prompted Beaumont ISD to warn that some families could soon face truancy cases in court if attendance does not improve. In the first 26 instructional days, Beaumont ISD recorded 23,921 student absences. More than 2,100 students have already missed at least four days, district officials said. “We will file truancy with the court after 10 unexcused absences,” said Richard Yoes, Beaumont ISD’s chief of schools and academics.

Alief ISD Partners with Groundwork Outreach to Reach 1,100 Families Who Missed Enrollment

(Alief ISD) Alief Independent School District and Groundwork Outreach, a Texas nonprofit that connects families to public benefits, are going door-to-door together to find out why over 1,100 students missed enrollment or registration this year and to help them complete enrollment. 

Lockhart ISD Cuts Classroom Screen Time by 50% for Elementary Students, Promotes Play

(Texas Scorecard) The Central Texas school district’s new initiative aims to promote healthier habits and hands-on learning while reducing students’ reliance on classroom technology.

Laredo ISD board approves $2M early notification incentive for veteran staff

(KGNS) The Laredo Independent School District Board of Trustees approved a $2 million early notification incentive program Thursday, Sept. 17, offering bonus pay for veteran employees. The program is open to full-time staff members with at least 20 cumulative years of service who have worked in the district for their last five consecutive years. Payouts follow a sliding scale from 10% to 20% of an employee’s base salary.

Texas Democrat who championed A-F trigger law says he’s trying to fix schools

(Texas Tribune) The Democratic legislator responsible for a provision in Texas law that allows the education commissioner to take over underperforming school districts stood by it Friday, saying his top priority was “fixing the public schools.” State Rep. Harold V. Dutton Jr. said he opposes the removal of school boards’  elected officials when they receive five consecutive F ratings. But he also suggested their responsibility to educate every child, irrespective of background, was more important. 

Killeen ISD proposes starting high school earlier than elementary as parents raise transportation concerns

(KXXV) Killeen ISD is surveying families and employees on a proposed schedule change for next school year that would start high schools earlier than elementary and middle schools. The district says the change would ease transportation and safety problems, free up time for extracurriculars, and let older students look after younger siblings after school, though no specific times have been set yet. Parents described elementary children catching buses before dawn, trouble arranging childcare, and frustration with rezoning and chronic bus problems, with one calling for administrators to take pay cuts to hire more drivers. The survey closes September 30.

Texas-appointed school boards in Fort Worth, Lake Worth face trustee vacancies, elections

(Fort Worth Report) Elected trustees in Tarrant County’s two takeover districts are concerned Texas appointees are not maintaining local representation. Lake Worth ISD missed the deadline to call its November trustee election. In Fort Worth ISD, an elected trustee seat has remained vacant for more than seven months after Wallace Bridges resigned. Both districts plan to hold special elections in May. But elected board presidents Tammy Thomas and Roxanne Martinez say the delays leave voters without the representation that is supposed to continue even while state-appointed managers govern.

Hays County area school districts plan affordable housing communities

(Community Impact) Hays CISD broke ground on an exclusive neighborhood Sept. 1. Upward Communities is working with multiple Central Texas school districts to create affordable housing communities for employees. Hays CISD is building a 362-home subdivision called Live Oak Commons near Uhland Elementary School to retain and recruit staff. With more than 600 employees on the waitlist, HCISD is developing a selection system. Options will range from one- to four-bedroom homes.

Stockdale ISD Superintendent Todd Deaver has passed away

(Wilson County News) Todd Deaver, superintendent of the Stockdale Independent School District (ISD), has passed away. Deaver was named Stockdale ISD superintendent in August 2022. The district announced Sept. 23 that Deaver would be “temporarily unavailable” and named Roxanne Moczygemba, the district’s Programs and Testing Coordinator, as acting superintendent.

‘A wonderful kid’: Sanger community mourns 13-year-old killed in school bus crash

(WFAA) Julian Amador died after the school bus he was traveling in veered off the road, hit a culvert and rolled over on Thursday, DPS said.

Top Texas high school forfeits wins after transfer QB from Oklahoma ruled ineligible

(Houston Chronicle) The Lewsiville ISD Fighting Farmers’ perfect start disappeared just as the top-ranked program prepared to begin district competition.

Tarleton State University rodeo student athlete dies after accident at Alpine rodeo

(WFAA) Tarleton State University rodeo athlete Alejandra Franco was fatally injured in an accident involving her and her horse in the roping box during the Thursday night event at the S.A.L.E. Arena, officials said.

State Suspends Credentials of Federally Indicted Forney ISD Principal

(Texas Scorecard) Wendy Bailey, charged with participating in a “pass the trash” scheme, was among 11 educators whose certifications were temporarily suspended in September.

Houston ISD Westbury High School homecoming football game canceled after deadly shooting

(KPRC) Houston ISD cancelled the Westbury High School homecoming football game scheduled for Saturday following Friday’s deadly shooting of a senior student LePaul Warran just steps from the school campus. A 17-year-old suspect was subsequently apprehended, police said. Warren, a wide receiver and starter on the school’s varsity football team and a shooting guard for varsity basketball, was described by his godfather as a “good kid, very respectful, very polite.” School officials are working to reschedule the game.

Ex-Valley Mills ISD teacher who had sex with teen boys placed on deferred probation

(KWTX) Judge Thomas West of McLennan County’s 19th State District Court on Friday approved a plea deal placing former Valley Mills ISD High School teacher/coach Shelby Dawn Lashombe, 25, on six years of deferred probation with a $1,000 fine, four weekends in jail, and 60 days on a county work detail. She had pleaded guilty in April to two second-degree felony counts of improper relationship between educator and student involving two 16-year-old boys from West and Axtell high schools, who were not her students, and in return prosecutors dropped two sexual assault of a child charges. Under deferred adjudication she avoids a felony conviction and sex-offender registration if she completes probation. Lashombe, who now works at a Waco furniture retailer, was supported during the sentencing hearing by a crowd of about 50, including one of the victims’ fathers.

Loaded gun confiscated at Round Rock ISD Stony Point High School, 2 officers injured

(KXAN) Officers confiscated a loaded gun from a student’s backpack at Stony Point High School on Friday, Sept. 25, according to a letter sent to families from the school’s principal that was shared with KXAN by Round Rock ISD. One of the students allegedly fled from officers when they approached him in the cafeteria, the letter said. The student allegedly fought with officers before being detained. Two officers required medical attention from EMS because of the fight with the student, the letter said. A spokesperson for the district said the officers were treated at the scene before being released.

Court Records: Former Klein ISD athletic coordinator arrested, accused of child sexual abuse

(KTRK) A former Klein ISD athletic coordinator was arrested on Saturday, charged with multiple child sex crimes, according to court records. According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, 43-year-old Nicholas Alan Codutti was charged with indecency with a child and sexual performance by a child. Court records obtained by ABC13 show that the alleged abuse happened in 2018 and 2019, while Codutti was employed with Tomball ISD as a coach. Records allege that Codutti started a long-term sexual relationship with a then-16-year-old student, which continued until she was 23 years old.

Warren ISD removes employee after statements ‘raise concerns about student safety’

(KFDM) The Warren Independent School District says it’s aware of an incident involving an employee and students in which statements were reportedly made that raised concerns about student safety at the Warren Elementary campus. The district says the staff member in question has been removed pending the outcome of the investigation.

Mystery sonic booms rattle Winters ISD, prompts brief school lockdown

(KTXS) A series of unexplained sonic booms has rattled Winters over the past month, shaking windows and buildings and, in one instance, prompting Winters ISD to place its schools on a brief lockdown. Residents and business owners say the loud booms have been heard repeatedly during the past 30 days. Witnesses describe the sounds as powerful enough to shake windows and buildings throughout the community.

United ISD High School facing $50 million lawsuit over alleged classroom mistreatment

(KGNS) Parents are suing United ISD in federal court, claiming staff locked their teenage son in a high school classroom and mistreated him for months. The 11-page lawsuit names the district and six individual employees and points to 100 surveillance clips allegedly showing daily mistreatment. The lawsuit involves twin brothers who are mostly nonverbal with severe autism. Both were allegedly mistreated at United High School, but the family says one brother suffered more.

University workers from across Texas rally over academic freedom, curriculum changes

(KVUE) University workers and state employees from across Texas rallied near the University of Texas at Austin on Friday, raising concerns about academic freedom, university programs and changes to the school’s curriculum. Members of the Texas State Employees Union organized the rally as the union kicked off its General Assembly. 

New funding supports AI safety research and training at UT San Antonio

(Texas Public Radio) UT San Antonio assistant professor Nishant Vishwamitra is leading a $500,000 National Science Foundation–funded project to train students to spot and fix security flaws in AI-generated code before they enter the workforce.

Texas State University bets big on pitching lab in $16M baseball, softball overhaul

(Houston Chronicle) A pitching lab and expanded ballparks will support the school’s growing postseason ambitions.

This Texas college built a sports dynasty. Now comes a huge $43M upgrade

(Houston Chronicle) Construction of a new “Sports Complex” at Blinn College is set to begin in November, featuring new practice facilities, locker rooms, and more, with an estimated cost of $43 million.

Tarrant County College trustees approve $1M funding for GED, English and job training classes for adults

(Fort Worth Report) Tarrant County College aims to serve 745 adults in Tarrant, Johnson, Hood, Erath and Somervell counties with English classes, GED prep and job training.

Camp Mystic faces auction amid bankruptcy and unresolved flood-related lawsuits, reports say

(KENS5) A bankruptcy plan filed Friday proposes putting Camp Mystic up for a court-supervised auction, potentially ending the Eastland family’s ownership of the Kerr County camp. According to the Kerr County Lead, the plan, filed in bankruptcy court, calls for an auction in which the first bid is expected to come from a buyer backed by Camp Mystic families and alumnae. The filing does not identify the group or specify the amount of the anticipated bid.

Bexar County elections chief: State error likely caused some ballots to be rejected in past elections

(San Antonio Report) Bexar County’s top election official said Saturday that a state error stopped more than 45,000 people’s voter registration applications from reaching her office in the past year. Some of the applications date back to last October — meaning some Bexar County residents who followed the legal steps to register likely had their ballots rejected in recent elections, including in the March primaries. Bexar County elections administrator Michele Carew said she doesn’t believe those votes would have been enough to change the outcome of any races.

Click for Earlier
“Reported Elsewhere” Dates

Latest from TexEdNews!

$ = Subscribers Only

TexEdNews Article Archives

$ = Subscribers Only

Commissioner’s Decisions
(Through August 2026)
SY 2025-26
PEIMS Articles: