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Nov. 6, 2026
Election News
TEA commissioner Mike Morath signals “smooth transition” amid Gina Hinojosa firing vow

(KPRC) Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath told a group of school leaders on Wednesday he was committed to “… ensuring a smooth and successful transition for the incoming education commissioner.” This comes after Texas Governor-Elect Gina Hinojosa vowed to fire Morath on day one in her victory speech Tuesday night.

Hinojosa Begins Transition, Moves To Replace Abbott’s Education Chief

(Texas Scorecard) Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa is moving quickly, announcing Thursday that she is already interviewing candidates to replace Education Commissioner Mike Morath while tapping a former Republican lawmaker who opposed school choice to help lead her transition.

Texas Dems celebrate flipping State Board of Education, brace for potential recount

(Texas Tribune) The race determining the balance of power on Texas’ education board could go to a recount as fewer than 600 votes separate candidates.

Texas school vouchers face uncertain future under Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa

(Houston Chronicle) More than 110,000 Texas students received voucher awards this year, Houston has nearly a quarter of them, leaving families uncertain about what happens next.

Will Texas Republicans try to limit Hinojosa’s power as governor?

(Dallas Morning News) Hours after Texans elected Gina Hinojosa, the first Democratic governor in more than three decades, a Republican lawmaker urged his party to limit the office’s powers before she takes office. State Rep. Brian Harrison, a Midlothian Republican, called on Gov. Greg Abbott and fellow Republicans to use the next 10 weeks to strip the governor’s emergency powers. If not, he warned, Hinojosa would “inherit nearly all the powers of a dictator.”

New Texas comptroller will ‘immediately curtail’ investigations into Prosper ISD, other districts 

(KERA) Texas Comptroller-elect Sarah Eckhardt says she will narrow the state’s reviews of four school districts selected by acting Comptroller Don Huffines — Prosper, Barbers Hill, Austin and El Paso — to financial checks only, dropping scrutiny of library books and hiring. Eckhardt says her main focus is the overdue state revenue estimate and rebuilding staff to oversee the $1 billion school voucher program.

Texas elects first woman, openly LGBTQ+ person to lead state Supreme Court

(Fox 7 Austin) Democrat Maggie Ellis defeated incumbent Jimmy Blacklock for Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice, becoming the first woman to lead the court and the first openly LGBTQ+ person elected statewide in Texas. Ellis announced plans to revisit state orders on same-sex marriage, expand access to justice, and work with lawmakers to increase funding for indigent defense. Democrats swept four other open seats on the state’s highest civil court, moving the nine-member bench to a female majority alongside Democratic wins in key statewide executive races.

New Texas lawmakers promise public education reforms, but change may be slow, longtime educator says

(KTRK) Newly-elected Texas lawmakers are promising big changes to public education in Texas, but a longtime educator says real change will take time.

Socorro ISD employee health insurance cost rise +$100 a month after tax proposal rejected

(KFOX) Socorro Independent School District employees are likely to pay more for health insurance next year after voters rejected a tax proposal that district leaders said would have brought in new funding. SISD’s board held a special meeting this Thursday evening following Tuesday’s election, where El Paso voters struck down Proposition A that would’ve brought in $49 million. The board decided to make cuts to health benefits, voting to move forward with a health insurance option next year that does not increase the district’s monthly contribution. As a result, employees’ monthly rates would rise by more than $100 for each health plan.

Cy-Fair ISD faces ‘difficult decisions’ after voters reject all 5 bond measures

(Fox 26 Houston) Voters overwhelmingly shot down all five Cypress-Fairbanks ISD funding propositions, rejecting an operating tax rate increase to address an $80 million deficit as well as $1.64 billion in capital bond packages. Superintendent Dr. Doug Killian says the election results put increased pressure on the school system to explore various operational adjustments and cost-saving measures in the near future.

Keller ISD figuring out next steps to repair schools after bonds fail

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) After voters rejected the largest bond package in the Keller school district’s history, officials said the urgent need to replace air conditioning units, plumbing, crumbling pavement and leaking roofs isn’t going away. On Tuesday, voters turned down the $828 million bond package which was divided into five propositions on the ballot.

Prop A fails: Nederland ISD superintendent says ‘difficult decisions still lie ahead’ as district plans cost cuts

(KBMT) Nederland ISD will explore cost cuts after voters rejected Prop A, a tax rate increase that would have brought in about $4.1 million in new funding.

Lumberton ISD faces budget decisions after voters reject tax increase

(KBMT) Lumberton ISD must address a $1.5 million budget deficit after voters rejected a tax increase that would have generated $2.5 million for district operations.

Austin ISD considers changes to legislative priorities following Texas election

(KVUE) Following Tuesday’s election, Austin ISD leaders are considering changes to legislative priorities as questions remain about a possible state takeover.

With Democrats in charge of Texas, what’s next for UT Austin?

(KUT) Under Texas Republicans’ leadership, UT Austin has been undergoing a sea change. In just the last two years, the school installed new top leadership, slashed numerous majors, launched an overhaul of its core curriculum, and intervened in the governance of KUT Public Media – Austin’s NPR station that the university has housed for decades. What could happen now that Democrats, who have harshly criticized many of those changes, are about to take charge?

Texas Agencies Asked for $4.3B Less in Appropriations, but $13.3B More Elsewhere

(Texas Scorecard) What will this mean in the state’s divided legislature next session?

Also Reported
Teacher shortage continues in specialized areas of bilingual, ESL, math and science

(KLTV) More than 42,000 Texas teachers are uncertified, more than triple the 2019 level. A new law requires them to leave core subjects by 2027–28, but some East Texas districts have been given until 2029. The biggest shortages are in bilingual education, special education, math and science, and Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa says higher pay is the fix.

Texas law makes it easier to remove students from class. Experts question the impact

(Fort Worth Report) A Fort Worth panel examined teacher safety, juvenile justice referrals and whether schools have enough resources to address student behavior.

Dispute over proposed charter school campus in Duncanville heads to trial

(KERA) Life School, a charter school district, sued the city of Duncanville after the city refused to let it build a large new campus for about 2,000 students. Neighbors oppose the project, mainly over traffic, noise, and a planned stadium. Life School says it has spent millions to address those concerns and that state law requires cities to treat charter schools like public school districts. The case goes to trial on Monday, Nov. 9.

Dallas ISD discusses school closures with vote scheduled for later this month

(WFAA) Parents and community members urged Dallas ISD to not close six schools on Thursday that are on the chopping block as the district seeks to make up a projected $128 million budget deficit tied to enrollment that came in below projections. If approved later this month, the closures would take effect for the 2027-28 school year.

La Joya ISD faces tough choices amid shrinking student population

(Progress Times) La Joya ISD’s enrollment has dropped by more than 3,000 students since 2022, and a new study predicts another 21% decline by 2035 as local birth rates fall. The district is using only about 58% of its building space and faces $160 million in immediate facility repairs. Superintendent Marcey Sorensen plans community meetings and a facilities master plan to address the problem.

North East ISD trustees to vote this month on closing three elementary schools

(San Antonio Express-News) North East Independent School District trustees could finalize which campuses will close next fall at a Nov. 16 meeting, district officials announced Thursday. The district originally planned for trustees to vote on the plan at a Nov. 9 board meeting, but officials will now take an extra week to ensure community perspectives “are included as the board continues its review,” spokesperson Aubrey Chancellor said Thursday.

These are the third-party groups interested in ‘redesigning’ Fort Worth schools

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) There are six third-party organizations interested in applying to “launch a new school model or redesign an existing school” within the Fort Worth school district as charter schools, according to records released to the Star-Telegram on Wednesday. Related:

Keller ISD aims to finalize school consolidation plan before winter break

(Community Impact) The Keller ISD board of trustees will attempt to finalize plans to close its three intermediate schools and reassign students before the district’s winter break begins, Superintendent Cory Wilson said during an Oct. 29 board meeting.

Elgin ISD delays decision on superintendent after DWI arrest

(KVUE) The Elgin ISD Board of Trustees made no decision regarding Superintendent Christopher Bailey’s future during their Thursday meeting following Bailey’s arrest. He faces a DWI charge. Bailey addressed the board and apologized. Employees who attended the meeting said Bailey continues to have their support.

Is your Arlington ISD school under a state-required improvement plan? Here’s what that means

(Arlington Report) Arlington ISD is placing 26 schools under an improvement plan. The school board unanimously voted Thursday night to send the plans to the Texas Education Agency. District staff will execute the improvement plans while the agency monitors progress.

Lost in translation: El Paso ISD aims to break language barriers, parents ask for improved interpretation

(El Paso Matters) El Paso ISD is trying to improve translation services after Spanish-speaking parents said they often can’t understand teachers at school meetings. The district has added an online form for requesting interpreters and a bilingual hotline. Parents say these changes help, but few families know about them and they don’t work in emergencies.

Judge awards UT Arlington professor $422K after retaliation, sex-based harassment verdict

(Fort Worth Report) A federal judge awarded UT Arlington professor Haiying Huang $422,327 after a jury found the university retaliated against her for raising concerns about women faculty’s workload and failed to stop sex-based harassment by her department chair. The judge also barred UTA from further retaliation but rejected her broader demands, such as outside audits. Huang, who still teaches at UTA, has filed a second lawsuit alleging more retaliation.

Department of Defense praises UT Austin for cutting ties with foreign institutions

(Daily Texan) The U.S. Department of Defense, also called the Department of War, has named UT as one of seven universities that went “above and beyond” in mitigating identified relationships with foreign entities in a news release. Related:

Donna ISD Teacher Charged With Having ‘Lewd’ Images of Child

(Texas Scorecard) A now-former teacher in the Donna Independent School District was jailed for having “lewd” images of a child after police investigated a report of an unauthorized entry into a residence. Eddie Lorenzo Garcia was arrested and charged with possession or promotion of lewd visual material depicting a child, a state jail felony, and criminal trespass, a Class B misdemeanor.

Frisco ISD student pulled from natatorium pool, hospitalized

(Fox 4 KDFW) A Frisco ISD student was pulled from the pool at the Bruce Eubanks Natatorium on Thursday morning and taken to the hospital. Frisco Fire Department crews responded to a possible drowning at the Bruce Eubanks Natatorium on Thursday morning, fire officials said. Frisco ISD tells FOX 4 that the student is alert and responsive.

How artificial turf fields are affecting outdoor practices under new UIL heat safety rules

(San Antonio Express-News) Under the UIL’s new heat-safety rule, some San Antonio–area coaches have moved practices from artificial turf to cooler grass, since turf can get much hotter in the sun. Still, most teams say the rule hasn’t kept them from practicing outside. A few districts are trying cooler turf, but several local bond measures to pay for new fields appear to have failed this week.

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