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July 22, 2026

Midland ISD challenges state school finance system: ‘They’re using us as tax collectors’

(Houston Chronicle) The Midland Independent School District board unanimously greenlit the lawsuit Tuesday night, arguing that the state’s restrictive funding rules unfairly strip the local board of its power to levy property taxes. The suit, which will be filed in Travis County, sets up the first significant challenge to the system since 2016 and, if successful, could force the state Legislature to rework the system to allow districts to keep more of their local taxes.

Houston-area lawmaker’s anesthesia firm blamed for $11M increase in Texas teachers’ insurance costs

(Houston Chronicle) The Teacher Retirement System has singled out the company where state Rep. Tom Oliverson is a partner, for driving up premiums for more than 400,000 teachers. The company, U.S. Anesthesia Partners, has been under the microscope of the Federal Trade Commission since 2023 for swallowing up smaller clinics and ratcheting up prices.

Fort Worth ISD superintendent says only 20 teacher vacancies remain

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) Fort Worth ISD Superintendent Peter Licata said only 20 teacher vacancies remain in the district as the first day of school approaches on Aug. 10. Licata said at Tuesday’s Board of Managers meeting these numbers are “astonishingly low” compared to the amount of vacancies the district usually has prior to the beginning of the school year, though he did not share numbers on vacancies in previous years. Licata said that in addition to the 20 teacher vacancies, there were vacancies for 25 speech language pathologists, 11 school psychologists, five dyslexia specialists, four inclusion teachers, two bilingual support specialists and 11 bilingual support teachers.

A Comal ISD parent wanted answers after a school shooting. Instead, he received a six-figure bill

(KSAT) After a deadly shooting inside a Comal ISD high school left a teacher wounded and a student dead, one parent says their search for answers about school safety has been met with a public information request price tag he can’t afford — about $130,000.

Texas Schools Face Federal Crackdown on Sex Abuse Coverups

(Texas Scorecard) The U.S. Department of Education is threatening to withhold federal funds if school districts fail to protect children from sexual predators.

Mental Health Programs Could Bear the Brunt of $600M Federal Cuts to Texas Schools

(The74) Federal cuts and a lack of dedicated mental health funding from the state could erode programs to address chronic absenteeism, crises and more.

Austin ISD approved $205M in cuts. Here’s what changes for schools this fall

(Austin Current) From bus routes to librarians, here’s what changed after the district approved its 2026-27 budget.

Lake Travis ISD officials approve the sale of 17 acres for $5.3M

(Community Impact) The Lake Travis ISD board of trustees authorized the sale of approximately 17 acres of surplus land near Lakeway Elementary School to support staff retention and build up the district’s fund balance.

Marfa ISD cuts employee healthcare contribution, new role for outgoing superintendent and 2 board members resign

(Big Bend Sentinel) It was mostly business-as-usual at Monday night’s Marfa ISD School Board meeting on the heels of announcing its superintendent finalist, Stephen McCanless, but a tense discussion regarding healthcare contribution rates and a surprising resignation following closed session was anything but.

San Elizario ISD reorganizes elementary grades as new school year begins

(KFOX) San Elizario ISD is beginning the 2026-27 school year with a major reorganization of its elementary schools in response to declining enrollment and financial pressures. The reorganization follows the school board’s earlier decision to close Lorenzo G. Alarcon Elementary and Lorenzo G. Loya Primary as part of the district’s cost-saving plan.

La Joya ISD overhauls transportation system for efficiency, safety

(myRGV) The district’s plan to update their transportation system for the 2026-2027 school year that includes route optimizations, centralized bus stops and new tracking features.

Grand jury indicts former Frenship ISD aide on voyeurism charge

(KCBD) A Lubbock grand jury indicted a former Frenship ISD aide on voyeurism charges. T’Nae Harrell was arrested back in May after admitting to police she acted inappropriately with a seven-year-old student. According to an affidavit from Lubbock ISD police, Harrell made a lewd comment about the student’s breast size then lifted her shirt to show another staff member. Four staff members witnessed the incident and it was also captured on classroom security video.

Former Bosque County tax assessor-collector found guilty on multiple charges

(KXXV) A jury has found former Bosque County tax assessor-collector Arlene Swiney guilty on one count of prohibited communication by a taxing unit and two counts of abuse of official capacity. Sentencing for Swiney will be held on Monday, July 27th at 9 a.m. The charges are considered a Class A Misdemeanor and could result in jail time and several thousand dollars in fines.

Community colleges beat student outcome predictions. Now Texas can’t afford related incentives

(Texas Tribune) A formula designed to reward colleges for student success generated larger payouts than budgeted. Now, Texas’ higher education agency may limit how schools receive such funding.

University of Houston may cut 40% of core requirement classes in response to GOP law. See the list

(Houston Chronicle) Potential cuts include “Intro to Global Climate Change,” “Black Liberation Theology,” “Introduction to Women’s Studies” and “Introduction to LGBT Studies.”

Lawsuit challenges Texas Tech directives that altered teaching at El Paso medical school

(El Paso Matters) A Texas Tech Health El Paso faculty member alleges they removed part of a lesson on El Paso’s underserved population after being instructed not to use the word “disparity” in class. The American Association of University Professors and its Texas chapter sued the Texas Tech University System on July 8, arguing that policies restrict teaching about topics including race, sex, gender identity and sexual orientation. The plaintiffs have asked a federal judge to immediately block the policies while the lawsuit moves forward.

Texas Tech’s $10,000 hoop dreams fantasy camp underlies college sports reality

(Houston Chronicle) Last week, the Texas Tech Red Raiders announced they would be hosting an “ultimate basketball fantasy camp experience” for fans in the form of the Double T Legacy Camp from July 31 to August 2. The experience is designed for participants between the ages of 30 and 75, with “a weekend where dreams become reality.” For $10,000, fans will have a chance to participate in a fantasy basketball camp inside the United Supermarkets Arena.

Texas A&M University-San Antonio’s strategic partnerships transforming South Side

(San Antonio Express-News) What began as a vision for expanding access to higher education on the South Side has evolved into a thriving live-learn district.

El Paso Community College launches varsity esports with video game ‘Hive’

(KVIA) Tuesday, El Paso Community College (EPCC) held a grand opening, ribbon cutting for the Tejano Esports Hive — a central video gaming location for the college’s newest sport at the Valle Verde campus’ student union. Starting this fall, EPCC will now have an official varsity program where student athletes compete in video games in teams with other colleges.

Parasite-linked illness cases rise in Texas as doctors explain symptoms

(NBC DFW) Health officials have confirmed 98 cases of the parasite-linked illness in Texas while pediatric specialists explain how it differs from a typical stomach virus.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs executive order over “birth tourism,” targets hospitals and providers

(CBS Texas) The governor of Texas is targeting hospitals and providers to put a stop to so-called “birth tourism” schemes. This comes after Gov. Greg Abbott instructed the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to investigate so-called “birth tourism” packages earlier this month. Abbott issued an executive order on Tuesday directing state agencies to investigate and eliminate the unlawful “schemes” in Texas. The order will hold accountable any licensed healthcare provider involved.

Federal cuts threaten a Houston soccer club for at-risk youth. One state leader hopes to save it

(Texas Tribune) State and community leaders are working to keep the reVision soccer nonprofit alive after it was featured at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Texas cancels contract with Dallas-area private foster care provider EMPOWER

(KERA) Texas’ child welfare agency cut ties with the nonprofit Monday, according to an internal email obtained by KERA News. EMPOWER was already under state oversight following the deaths of two children in the provider’s care and the hospitalization of another within the past two years.

Teachers of Tomorrow and Six Texas Education Service Centers Launch Partnership to Expand Certified Teacher Pipeline

(Teachers of Tomorrow) Teachers of Tomorrow (ToT) is launching a strategic initiative with six Texas Education Service Centers (Regions 9, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17) to expand the pipeline of certified teachers in Texas and help address Texas’ certified teacher shortages, especially in high-need subject areas and rural districts. Related:

Teachers of Tomorrow Named Official Alternative Teacher Certification Sponsor of the University Interscholastic League (Teachers of Tomorrow)

How a Former Teacher Built a 50,000-Member Women’s Business Community

(D Magazine) Amanda Smith started Dallas Girl Gang as a simple Facebook group. Now, the platform is helping aspiring entrepreneurs launch businesses.

Texas School for the Deaf mourns death of senior, ‘Godzilla’ actress Kaylee Hottle

(CBS Austin) The Texas School for the Deaf is mourning the loss of one of its students after actress Kaylee Hottle, best known for her role in the “Godzilla” film franchise, died in a car crash in Maryland. She was 18. In a Facebook post Tuesday, the Austin-based Texas School for the Deaf announced that Hottle, one of its seniors, had died in a crash in Frederick, Maryland.

Practically Purple Pride: Thrall ISD Student-Run Business Thrives

(Texas Association of School Boards) Learn how Thrall ISD’s student-run business designs and sells spirit gear, giving students hands-on business experience while boosting community pride.

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