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August 24, 2026
Abbott’s H-1B Teacher Ban Would Hit Texas’s Most Latino Districts Hardest

(Latin Times) A campaign-trail pledge to purge foreign-visa teachers from Texas classrooms would fall hardest on the state’s largest Latino-serving districts — and can’t take effect until lawmakers reconvene in 2027. Abbott’s Democratic opponent this November, state Rep. Gina Hinojosa of Austin, argues the real story is a shortage his own policies helped create.

Beaumont ISD board ends corporal punishment; Supt. shares absenteeism concerns

(KFDM) Beaumont Independent School District trustees voted Thursday night to revise the district’s student discipline standards, including ending corporal punishment, as Superintendent Sandi Massey warned the board about what she described as serious attendance problems among teachers and students and major issues with how students were previously advanced through accelerated learning programs. District officials said the decision was not connected to the recent controversy in Port Arthur involving the paddling of a student, a case that has raised questions about the use of corporal punishment in schools.

El Paso ISD confirms central office staff, including superintendent, must sub eight days

(KFOX) El Paso ISD central office administrators are heading back to the classroom this school year under a new plan the district says could save millions while also reconnecting decision-makers with the campuses they serve. The district is requiring salaried central office employees to work as substitute teachers eight days during the school year, four days each semester. Hourly employees are not required to participate, and some staff may be exempt depending on how their positions are funded.

Nursery ISD staff takes on expanded roles amid budget challenges

(Crossroads Today) At Nursery ISD, a small staff is taking on a big responsibility to support students both inside and outside the classroom. With limited resources and budget constraints that larger districts don’t face, the school district continues to prioritize what matters most: its students. Superintendent Dr. Larry Gajewsky acknowledges the challenges head-on. Teachers at Nursery ISD often wear multiple hats, helping with everything from instruction to campus improvements. This year alone, the district is operating with four fewer staff members and no longer has a certified art teacher on campus.

‘No more water to squeeze out of this rock:’ Georgetown ISD officials discuss tax rate election

(Community Impact) Although Georgetown ISD trustees passed a balanced budget for the upcoming school year, it doesn’t include raises for employees. Now, the district will ask voters to approve a higher tax rate that would fund $8.4 million in pay raises. The GISD board of trustees unanimously voted Aug. 17 to call for a voter-approval tax rate election, or VATRE, that will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. Earlier this year, the district announced that two new schools would not open this fall and pushed their opening timeline to August 2027. “There is no more water to squeeze out of this rock,” ISD Superintendent Devin Padavil said during the board’s Aug. 3 meeting.

Texas school districts still face challenges meeting armed officer requirement

(KXAN) Several years after state legislators passed House Bill 3, which aimed to make schools safer, KXAN investigators checked in with roughly two dozen school districts in our viewing area to ask about compliance. Overwhelmingly, districts that responded to KXAN said they still faced funding challenges. It could be part of the discussion during the upcoming legislative session as leaders inevitably debate school funding in general.

Austin ISD’s latest school ratings still trace the city’s historic divide

(Austin Current) Thirty of 31 schools to get a D or F rating from the state serve low-income students, but new data also show signs of improvement.

Texas judge denies Karmelo Anthony’s request for new trial in deadly stabbing at track meet

(AP) A Texas judge denied a new trial for Karmelo Anthony on Saturday in the stabbing death of a 17-year-old athlete at a high school track meet, a killing that drew national attention and led to harassment of the families.

Disability watchdog sues Klein ISD, alleging district blocked special education classroom monitoring

(Fox 26 Houston) Disability Rights Texas is suing Klein ISD in federal court, alleging district officials unlawfully blocked independent advocates from entering campuses to monitor special education classrooms for potential abuse and neglect. According to court filings, when organization advocates attempted to inspect classrooms at Benfer Elementary, Klein ISD police issued them criminal trespass warnings under threat of arrest. Klein ISD denies violating federal law, contending in court filings and official statements that its local visitor policies require administrative oversight to maintain campus safety and protect student privacy.

Richardson ISD sued after sending special needs student to juvenile program

(Dallas Observer) The student can no longer attend public school and has had to seek further treatment as a result of the district’s actions, the suit alleges.

Nine families sue United ISD, former employees over Nye Elementary student abuse claims

(KGNS) Nine families have filed a civil lawsuit against United ISD and four former employees, alleging physical and emotional abuse of children at Nye Elementary School. The lawsuit, filed Aug. 19, is 25 pages long and includes five counts. It alleges abuse of children ages six to eight at the school. The filing comes after parents protested outside the campus in May, alleging misconduct. Days later, former teacher aides Laura Sillas and Patricia Lopez, along with former teacher Martha Ramirez, were arrested in a related criminal case.

Dickinson ISD educator allegedly sent money to student who blackmailed her

(Fox 26 Houston) A 16-year-old student told investigators he had a sexually explicit relationship with Dickinson ISD educator Kristi Hanks and admitted blackmailing her for money. A witness said the teenager claimed Hanks gave him approximately $2,000 and a firearm—allegations Hanks denied. Investigators say phone records, payment notifications and messages recovered from the student’s phone contradicted Hanks’ initial denials. Hanks is charged with improper relationship between an educator and a student, a second-degree felony.

Former Rockport ISD teacher Indicted for Sex With Student

(Texas Scorecard) Josh Nguyen faces four felony charges and a civil lawsuit over his alleged sexual relations with a Rockport-Fulton ISD student.

Fort Worth ISD high school put on lockdown after fireworks set off in bathroom

(Fox 4 KDFW) Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth ISD was placed on lockdown on Friday after police responded to reports of gunshots inside the school. Responding officers found that fireworks had been lit in a bathroom inside the school, and the lockdown was lifted. Arlington Heights administration is currently reviewing surveillance footage to determine which student or students set off the fireworks.

A tiny Texas college goes big with new soccer complex in Hill Country

(Houston Chronicle)  Hill College, a community college in Hillsboro that serves multiple counties in Central Texas, including much of the Greater Waco area, is in the midst of one of its first major capital projects in quite some time. In April, the school broke ground on the $4.2 million Hill College Soccer Complex. On Wednesday, the school filed a second project with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation for a new $3.7 million addition to the soccer complex, construction of which is underway. 

UT Austin College of Liberal Arts suggests axing LGBTQ minor, race and migration major

(Austin American-Statesman) After consolidating ethnic and gender studies departments, UT Austin’s College of Liberal Arts is proposing cutting an LGBTQ minor and major focused on race. Related:

University of Houston regents approve removal of 133 courses from its core curriculum

(KHOU) University administrators approved the removal of 133 courses from its core curriculum Aug. 20. The affected classes include courses like “Sexuality and Society,” “Introduction to Hispanic Literature” and “Hindu Religion and Identity: A Global Movement.” The changes pare down UH’s core curriculum from 280 to 147 courses while still allowing the removed courses to remain as electives. Core classes in Texas are established by the state’s education code and count toward a 42-credit-hour or 14-class general education for all undergraduate students at public colleges and universities.

Stray dogs attack 20 animals at Somerset ISD agriculture barn

(KENS) 16 animals died and four were seriously injured after stray dogs attacked about 20 sheep, goats and pigs at Somerset ISD’s Agriculture Barn over the weekend, according to the district. The attacks happened Friday and Saturday at the Somerset Agriculture Barn, which has served students and the district’s agriculture program for more than 40 years.

Mount Enterprise ISD announces the end of free school meals for all students

(KETK) Mount Enterprise announced on Friday that the district no longer qualifies for free meals for every student. A grace period will last until October 1, and after that date breakfast will cost $1.50 and lunch will be $3 for students that do not qualify, the district said.

Houston has 13 of Texas top charter schools, per U.S. News. See if your school made the list

(Houston Chronicle) Houston is home to 13 of the top charter schools in Texas, according to recently released ratings from U.S. News and World Report. The region had the highest share of schools in the state’s top 50 list out of any area in Texas. 

Modern-day one-room schoolhouses are gaining popularity. What to know about microschools

(Dallas Morning News) Microschools — modern-day one-room schoolhouses — are popping up. Microschools have small groups of students in different grades, offer individualized instruction, and serve as an alternative to traditional schooling. Data on microschools is sparse, and the Texas Education Agency does not keep track of them.

El Paso’s early college experiment turns 20 — and dual credit is still growing

(El Paso Matters) The programs offer financial savings and faster degrees, but educators warn acceleration can bring academic and social trade-offs.

She graduated from San Antonio ISD a few months ago. Now she’s working in an SAISD classroom

(San Antonio Report) Sylvia Marquez, 19, only graduated from San Antonio ISD’s Travis Early College High School a few months ago, but she’s more than halfway to becoming a certified teacher in the same school district that taught her.

Vidor ISD shares information about confirmed scabies cases, primarily at Vidor High School

(KFDM) Vidor ISD is taking extra precautions after confirming cases of scabies at Vidor High School, prompting additional cleaning and health measures across campus. The district said the situation primarily involves Vidor High School, but the update was sent district-wide out of an abundance of caution. Officials also addressed concerns about students becoming ill, saying a few students left campus with mild symptoms, but there have been no reports of severe illness or emergency situations.

Interim DeSoto ISD superintendent announces resignation after 6 months in role

(WFAA) In a post on LinkedIn, Brent Mitchell expressed gratitude for his time in the role, but didn’t give a reason for the resignation.

Texas lawmakers eye new social media restrictions aimed at protecting children

(NBC DFW) Lawmakers are considering limits on infinite scroll, algorithms, beauty filters and push notifications.

Texas juvenile prisons were on ‘full lockdown’ for days after officer’s assault, state says

(Texas Standard) The lockdown occurred after an “exceptionally brutal” assault against a correctional staffer, according to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

Court cuts $50M judgment against Alex Jones over falsely labeling Sandy Hook killings a hoax

(AP) A Texas appeals court on Friday slashed a $50 million judgment that conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was ordered to pay families of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre over his false claims that one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history was a hoax. The Infowars founder can only be forced to pay about $6 million, the Texas Third Court of Appeals ruled in a unanimous opinion, citing state laws that limit lawsuit damages. The ruling does not affect a separate $1.25 billion judgment against Jones in Connecticut.

Dallas library leaders talk about layoffs, shortened hours due to city’s $51 million shortfall

(KERA) The city of Dallas is in a $51 million budget hole, and the Dallas Public Library is one of the highest-profile casualties. The library system will cut some branches’ hours and eliminate more than 70 positions, about 30 of which are currently filled, according to The Dallas Morning News. The library will also scrap adult learning programs like GED and English language classes.

Texas oil and gas regulators will no longer have to accept public comment at open meetings

(San Antonio Current) The Railroad Commission of Texas adopted a new participation policy before sharing it with the public.

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