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May 21, 2026
The Hard Lessons of “Hardening” Schools

(Texas Monthly) The Texas Legislature has poured more than a billion dollars into fortifying schools against violent threats. It will never be enough.

Ysleta ISD cites $57M in urgent maintenance needs as district projects $16.7M deficit

(KFOX) Ysleta Independent School District officials said Wednesday the district needs $57 million in urgent maintenance work as it faces a $16 million budget shortfall. During a budget workshop on Wednesday, YISD’s Chief Financial and Operations Officer, Lynly Cambern, told the school board that the $57 million figure reflects only the most urgent maintenance needs and does not include other maintenance needed across the district.

Parents react to El Paso ISD’s plan to ‘stabilize financial standing’

(KVIA) Following the El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday night that detailed a plan to recover from a budget deficit of $52 million, parents share concerns of how their students stand to be directly impacted from any resulting school closures or staff cuts.

Carroll ISD Declares Title IX Win For Girls’ Sports And Privacy

(Dallas Express) Carroll ISD leaders say the district is nearing a final resolution in its legal fight against the Biden administration’s 2024 Title IX regulations after the school board discussed dismissal of a federal appeal involving the U.S. Department of Education.

Report: Texas school districts sharing content from indicted Southern Poverty Law Center

(Christian Post) As the Southern Poverty Law Center faces federal indictment on alleged fraud charges, a new investigation reveals its educational arm has quietly influenced K-12 classrooms nationwide. According to a May 12 report from parental rights advocate Defending Education, SPLC’s “Learning for Justice” (formerly Teaching Tolerance) materials and “Social Justice Standards” have reached 218 school districts, 30 state government entities, and 42 states, including Texas. The SPLC has pleaded not guilty and called the charges politically motivated.

Midland ISD approves $11.1 million roadway improvements tied to Lee High School plans

(KMID/KPEJ) Midland Independent School District trustees approved a bid this week for roadway improvements tied to the future Midland Lee High School project, with district officials saying the final cost came in millions of dollars below the original estimate.

Judge orders release of Austin high school senior detained by ICE after traffic stop

(KVUE) “This is a good day for Austin,” Congressman Greg Casar, who has been calling for the release of 18-year-old Luis Fernando Cabrera, said.

Alvin ISD’s Marek, Wilder elementary schools close for summer early due to storm water damage

(Houston Chronicle) Alvin ISD shut down Marek and Wilder elementary schools for the rest of the academic year due to “significant water damage” Wednesday after thunderstorms doused the Houston area overnight. School district officials expected to resume classes on Thursday but opted to close the schools for summer break, which begins Friday, after assessing the damage throughout the buildings.

How the Bryan ISD Virtual Academy works

(Community Impact) Bryan ISD’s Virtual Academy, a virtual learning program for students from grades 3-12, received an update on its progress at the May 16 Bryan ISD school board meeting. The program is set to begin serving students with a hybrid or fully online schedule for the 2026-27 school year. The program will serve students in and outside of the district within the area.

Belton ISD to launch Virtual Learning Academy for high school students

(KXXV) The Belton Independent School District will launch a Virtual Learning Academy for high school students in the 2026-27 school year, offering families flexible learning options under new state legislation. The pilot program is available to students in grades 9-12 with two pathways. Those include a hybrid option allowing students to remain connected to their home campus and participate in extracurricular activities, or a fully online virtual experience.

Amarillo ISD fireworks display sparks debate as wildfires burn near Amarillo

(High Plains Pundit) City of Amarillo officials addressed questions Tuesday regarding fireworks displays held during Amarillo ISD graduation ceremonies, following criticism from some residents after recent wildfires in the area. During a press conference, city officials said fireworks displays are generally permitted when organizers meet all required city, county, and state regulations. Officials noted that Amarillo ISD’s graduation fireworks displays met those requirements.

Farrington Field development benched as Fort Worth ISD seeks resident input

(Fort Worth Report) A city tax district could help fund stadium upgrades, but residents want Fort Worth ISD to avoid rushing a land deal.

State Board Reconsiders Revoking ‘Reckless’ Coach’s Certification

(Texas Scorecard) The State Board for Educator Certification voted to reconsider its earlier decision not to punish former Rockwall ISD coach John Harrell, whose 2023 boot camp-style football workouts injured more than 20 students, several of whom were hospitalized. Board members said they had previously applied the wrong legal standard when deciding whether Harrell acted “recklessly,” and they sent the case back to an administrative law judge for further review.

Video of alleged abuse of United ISD special education students leads to 3 arrests

(Laredo Morning News) Three former United ISD employees — a special education teacher and two aides — were arrested Wednesday after video evidence allegedly showed abuse of special needs students at Nye Elementary School, and the principal reportedly resigned in connection with the incident. Related:

Judge Dismisses Sex Abuse Lawsuit Against Prosper ISD

(Texas Scorecard) A federal court found the district could not be held liable for allowing a bus driver to molest two elementary school students for months, in view of surveillance cameras.

Former Mount Pleasant ISD coach accused of raping woman after driving her home, affidavit says

(KLTV) A former Mount Pleasant Junior High School coach was jailed after police said he raped a woman at her home. Antoine Javon Ross, 32, was released May 1 from the Titus County Jail on $100,000 bond for sexual assault, according to jail records. A Mount Pleasant ISD spokesperson confirmed Wednesday that Ross was fired following his arrest on April 29.

Hays CISD hiring new Lehman High School baseball coach amid bullying investigation

(KVUE) Hays CISD is looking for a new baseball coach at Lehman High School after the district suspended 10 members of the baseball team and put head coach Jacob Kaase on leave last month. Kaase is still on leave, but the school district posted a job opening for his position this week.

‘Nothing was broken or stolen’: Cotulla ISD bars 20 seniors from graduation after senior prank

(KENS) Twenty Cotulla High School seniors will not be allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies after district officials said students entered school property without authorization and caused damage, according to a statement from Cotulla Independent School District.

Northside ISD principal charged with DWI after allegedly driving wrong way

(KENS) 36-year-old Kevin Vanlanham is the current principal at E.M. Pease Middle School. Converse police officers say he was driving the wrong way and showed signs of intoxication during field sobriety tests when he was stopped at around 2 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Does UT Austin give out too many A’s? It’s fueling concerns about academic rigor

(Austin American-Statesman) The average U.S. university grade today, including at UT, is an A. Here’s why a Texas researcher thinks that’s a problem. An American-Statesman analysis found that at the Forty Acres, two-thirds of grades recorded were A’s, and 87% of grades were a B- or better in Fall 2025.

Mock funeral mourns death of academic freedom as UT System weighs rule on cutting programs

(Texas Tribune) College students and professors are protesting with mock funerals across Texas, saying universities are dying from political interference. School officials say they’re responding to shifting needs.

Texas State University System could end tenure for its 3 community colleges in southeast Texas

(Houston Chronicle) The Texas State University System wants to end tenure-track positions for future hires at its two-year colleges, aligning with other Texas technical schools that rely on renewable contracts instead of the lifetime job protection tenure once offered. The system’s board of regents is scheduled to vote on the proposed rule change at a meeting next Thursday. If passed, no incoming faculty at three schools – the Lamar Institute of Technology, Lamar State College-Orange and Lamar State College-Port Arthur – will receive tenure or be put on a tenure track.

Property tax changes hit Alamo Colleges finances in 2027 budget outlook

(San Antonio Express-News) Alamo Colleges District is forecasting a $28 million budget shortfall in 2027, with officials citing stagnant property values and growing tax exemptions that also have hit other
local governments financially this year.

UT El Paso seeks attorney general ruling on ABC-7 Coliseum records request

(KVIA) The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is seeking an opinion from the Texas Attorney General’s Office on whether it must release records requested by ABC-7 related to discussions with El Paso County about managing the County Coliseum and Sports Tourism program. The records request follows a tip ABC-7 received involving concerns over discussions between the county and UTEP regarding Coliseum management and Sports Tourism.

Texas may need to pay $826 million annually for SNAP due to One Big

(KXAN) The Texas Legislature may need to set aside $826 million in next year’s state budget bill for food aid due to House Resolution 1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill, according to the nonprofit Feeding Texas. Related:

As Austin schools close, Becker Elementary says goodbye to 37-year-old community garden

(KUT) The garden won three presidential awards and is the place where thousands of students have learned core subjects through hands-on activities. Now, the Bouldin Creek and Becker communities are mourning a space that brought them together.

From Classroom to Cockpit: Midway ISD students showcase aircraft they built

(KCEN) Midway ISD students spent two years designing and building an airplane through the Tango Flight program, gaining real-world engineering and aviation skills.

Texas adds deaf, hard of hearing designation to driver’s licenses

(Fox 7 Austin) People who have trouble communicating due to a type of hearing disability are eligible to make changes to their driver’s license and IDs with a trip to a local DPS office.

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