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August 20, 2026
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick proposes penalties for schools that keep “vulgar” books on library shelves

(Texas Tribune) “We’re coming for the books,” the lieutenant governor said in announcing plans to lower the performance rating of Texas schools that violate a recent law targeting obscene titles in school libraries. Flanked by easels displaying printed covers of books he found obscene, the lieutenant governor said school boards and administrators have not been following a 2025 law aimed at weeding out lewd books from the shelves in Texas’ more than 9,000 campuses attended by some 5.5 million schoolchildren.

Texas Comptroller to Investigate School District Spending

(Texas Scorecard) Don Huffines will review up to four districts as Gov. Greg Abbott calls for greater scrutiny of the state’s $104.9 billion in K-12 spending. Abbott formally requested the investigation in a letter to Huffines, citing the $104.9 billion Texas spends on K-12 education and arguing that increased education funding should come with increased scrutiny. Related:

Exclusive: Online courses inflated Houston ISD ratings. Without them, some schools would have Fs

(Houston Chronicle) New data obtained by the Houston Chronicle shows college-prep courses boosted state A-F accountability ratings by at least one letter grade at half of the district’s high school campuses in 2025. Related:

Houston urban school districts shed thousands of students as outer suburbs drive regional growth

(KHOU) As Houston-area schools continue to announce closures, enrollment is sliding within the region’s urban and older suburban districts as growth in the outer suburbs and the launch of Texas’ new school voucher program threaten to pull even more students. A Houston Business Journal analysis of Texas Education Agency student enrollment data for the past five school years shows that Houston’s urban districts have had the biggest enrollment losses, while fast-growing suburbs outside the city’s core have seen higher enrollment.

A North Texas family got vouchers to attend the dream school. Using the funds came with sacrifices

(Dallas Morning News) Yua and Haruki Howk left public school for a private special needs school. Their journey shows what it takes to turn a voucher into a choice. Related:

Fort Worth ISD put cameras in classrooms at struggling schools. Why?

(Fort Worth Report) Classrooms in Fort Worth ISD’s lowest-performing schools now have web cameras pointed at students — mirroring takeover changes seen in Houston classrooms. The cameras have alarmed a parent group and teacher association that say families and educators were not notified. District officials said the cameras allow students to watch live lessons when they’re out of the room over behavioral issues. Related:

State-Appointed Lake Worth ISD superintendent gets $240K salary. Here’s what else is in her contract

(Fort Worth Report) Lake Worth ISD Superintendent Ena Meyers will make $240,000 a year — plus to-be-determined performance bonuses. The terms are part of a contract that runs from April 23, 2026, through June 30, 2030 — longer and more expensive than the three-year agreements offered to Meyers’ two predecessors. The contract is between Meyers and Lake Worth ISD’s state-appointed board of managers.

New Edcouch-Elsa ISD super to be paid $225K annually

(myRGV) Edcouch-Elsa ISD and its new Superintendent Rosalba De Hoyos agreed to a three-year contract with an annual salary of $225,000.

How one Central Texas school district employs uncertified teachers

(Community Impact) Austin ISD is working to certify 464 teachers—about 9% of its teachers—currently assigned to core classrooms who don’t hold a state teaching certification, according to district documents. Statewide, 12% of teachers were uncertified in the 2024-25 school year, up from 3.8% in 2019-20, according to Texas Education Agency data.

Lubbock ISD board votes on book bans for middle and high school libraries

(Everything Lubbock) After hearing from the school’s parents and community thoughts on the proposed ban, LISD’s board voted on whether several books would be banned from LISD libraries.

H-1B visa holders make up less than 1% of Texas teachers. Abbott wants it to be zero

(KXAN) Federal data shows there are currently 337 H-1B visa holders working at public school districts in the state. Even though the number of H-1B employees in Texas schools make up roughly 0.11% of all Texas teachers, school districts say this policy could negatively impact their instruction.

Copperas Cove students to return to school Thursday

(KWXT) Copperas Cove ISD reopened and resumed classes on Thursday, Aug. 20, at its regular time. The school district said water service has been restored to its community. “We understand this has been a challenging way to begin the school year and apologize for any inconvenience which this may have caused,” it wrote in a message to parents. The district will remain under a boil water notice, meaning water fountains will be turned off throughout the district.

‘Blessed to be out’ — Dallas ISD officer leaves hospital after being shot with own gun in Sam’s Club parking lot

(WFAA) “I have a fighting spirit,” Justin Jones told WFAA after being released from the hospital, after police say a suspect took his firearm and shot him in the leg.

Sheriff warns Guadalupe County school security at risk amid staffing shortages

(KENS) The Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office announced staffing shortages could lead to two full-time school resource officers being pulled from Marion ISD and Navarro ISD. Sheriff Joshua Ray addressed the issue in a recent Facebook post, saying the department is already stretched thin because of increased call volume and a shortage of sworn deputies and detention officers.

15-year-old speaks out after coach paddled him at Port Arthur ISD

(Fox 26 Houston) 15-year-old Noah Lopez said he was unexpectedly paddled three times by a coach in the school office for “three mistakes” he made during practice. The district is reviewing the reported incident to make sure policy and procedures were followed.

Lake Travis ISD High School football team cancels season opener amid death of senior player

(Fox 7 Austin) The Lake Travis High School varsity football team has decided to cancel its season opener against Dripping Springs due to the recent death of one of its seniors, Odin Hensley. The head coach says he has been focusing on the well-being of his players, staff and the community. Hensley died after a medical emergency during practice last week. It was later revealed he had suffered cardiac arrest.

Crandall ISD football player airlifted for further care after suffering injury at practice

(Dallas Morning News) A Crandall football player was injured at practice Wednesday and was taken by medical helicopter for further care, Crandall ISD said in a prepared statement. The district said it could provide no additional details and would not identify the student. The temperature was in the 90s late in the morning and climbed over 100 early in the afternoon. Crandall has an indoor practice facility, but it is unclear what time of the day the practice was at, whether it was indoors or outdoors or whether it was heat-related. It comes one week after senior offensive lineman Odin Hensley from six-time state champion Austin Lake Travis died after suffering cardiac arrest at a football practice.

Fort Stockton ISD High School student receives medical care after incident during conditioning

(KOSA) A ninth-grade student experienced a medical issue Wednesday afternoon during offseason athletic conditioning at Fort Stockton High School. According to the Fort Stockton ISD, coaches and athletic trainers immediately responded, provided care and stayed with the student while emergency medical services were contacted, the district said. The student is receiving appropriate medical care and is doing better, according to the district.

Central Texas school district warns unruly sports fans: immediate ejections, long-term suspensions now in effect

(KWTX) Clifton Independent School District released detailed fan and spectator behavior guidelines aligned with Texas Senate Bill 2929, a state law that took effect for the 2025-2026 school year. Under state law, once an official or school administrator asks a spectator to leave, the decision is final. Clifton ISD has implemented a strict three-tier consequence system for anyone ejected from a district event, whether the ejection is initiated by school administrators or game officials.

Judge removed from Texas track meet killing case as Karmelo Anthony seeks new trial

(AP) The trial judge who presided over the case of Texas teenager convicted of fatally stabbing a 17-year-old athlete at a high school track meet was ordered removed from the case as the defendant seeks a new trial and appeals his conviction.

Weapon found at Aiken Elementary in Brownsville ISD, parent charged

(myRGV) The Brownsville Independent School District confirmed that officials at Aiken Elementary School had located a weapon on school grounds on Wednesday. The BISD Police and Security Department responded immediately, located and secured the weapon, and the situation was brought under control. There was no ongoing threat to the campus, and all students and staff remained safe during the incident and afterward, BISD stated in a news release.

Jury sides with UT Arlington professor who accused university of discrimination, retaliation

(CBS Texas) A federal jury has found in favor of a former engineering professor at The University of Texas at Arlington who claimed she faced discrimination and retaliatory firing after she complained about her treatment through the university’s internal system.

Students push back as Texas A&M International University weighs elimination of nearly 30 degree minors

(Laredo Morning Times) Texas A&M International University students and organizations are petitioning against the potential elimination of nearly 30 degree minors as the university reviews low-enrollment academic offerings ahead of consideration by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents.

Alamo Colleges moves forward with first property tax increase in 13 years

(San Antonio Express-News) Alamo Colleges District trustees voted unanimously Tuesday night to move forward with a 1.75-cent property tax rate increase – the district’s first tax rate hike in 13 years. The district has seen an explosion in enrollment, especially among dual credit students, who take community college classes while still in high school or homeschooled. Officials are worried they’re going to have to endure a financial “storm” of flat property values and uncertainty about state funding in the coming years.

Former Klein ISD Therapeutic and Readiness Center classroom aide fired, accused of injury to a child

(Fox 26 Houston) Former Klein ISD Therapeutic and Readiness Center classroom aide James Broussard has been fired and arrested on a charge of injury to a child. According to court documents, Broussard unlawfully, intentionally and knowingly caused bodily injury to a child younger than 15 years of age. The exact cause of the injury is unclear at this time.

Dickinson ISD educator arrested for improper relationship between educator, student

(Fox 26 Houston) According to the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, 46-year-old Kristi Hanks of La Marque was arrested following an investigation into the allegations of an improper relationship with a 16-year-old juvenile student at the Galveston County Juvenile Justice Center. According to a release, Hanks is an educator with Dickinson ISD. During the summer, she was working at the juvenile justice center, where she was assigned to provide educational instruction to juvenile students.

Corpus Christi ISD employee, former girls wrestling coach arrested on child sexual assault charge, CCPD says

(KIII) The Corpus Christi ISD Police Department says a former student accused 51-year-old Corey Bellino of sexual assault while the student was underage at Carroll High School.

Former Hardin-Jefferson ISD coach indicted for human trafficking, former student is alleged victim

(KFDM) The Jefferson County grand jury on Wednesday indicted a former Hardin-Jefferson ISD High School teacher and coach for Trafficking of Persons, linked to a former student. If convicted of the 2nd degree felony, Derek Peveto, 46, could face up to 20 years in prison. The family of a teen-age girl says the girl was involved in a sexual relationship with Peveto, who was then a special education teacher and football coach at Hardin-Jefferson High School. A search warrant uncovered multiple photographs and videos depicting the pair engaged in sexual conduct that began in February. He resigned in May.

Texas could get more control over Head Start. What would that mean for childcare?

(KERA) The federal government is considering giving states more power over Head Start. Providers in Texas worry that will lower childcare standards.

Tarrant County families will lose childcare aid as inflation, budget woes continue

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) Fewer Tarrant County families will be eligible for childcare subsidies as state officials cut funding and continue to grapple with inflation woes.

Texas kindergarten vaccine exemptions jump

(Axios) Texas’ kindergarten vaccine exemption rate jumped nearly a full percentage point in the 2025-26 school year, according to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data released Monday. Why it matters: The rise in exemptions coincided with efforts by the Trump administration to make vaccine policy changes and with measles cases hitting levels not seen in more than three decades.

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