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April 30, 2025

Legislative Update:

Texas House approves antisemitism bill in response to pro-Palestinian protests

(Texas Tribune) The Texas House on Tuesday gave initial approval to a measure that would require schools to use a common but controversial definition of antisemitism in student disciplinary proceedings. The bill will soon head over to Abbott’s desk.

Improved response to mass shooting is goal of “Uvalde Strong” bill approved by Texas House

(Texas Tribune) Uvalde’s former mayor, now in the Legislature, wrote the bill so that law-enforcement agencies would have better coordination and leadership as they respond to a mass shooting. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. The bill was proposed by state Rep. Don McLaughlin, who was the mayor of Uvalde when a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary school in 2022. In a statement, McLaughlin said the bill ensures confusion and hesitation will never be an excuse again.

Texas lawmakers propose scrapping the STAAR test in favor of three much shorter exams

(San Antonio Express-News) House lawmakers are proposing to replace the state’s annual STAAR exams with a series of tests given throughout the year under a plan they say would reduce the exams’ high-stakes nature and relieve pressure on students. State Rep. Diego Bernal, a San Antonio Democrat who authored the bill, said having multiple short tests makes the purpose less about grading a student’s learning each year, and more about diagnosing any problem areas and improving them over time. It also means teachers and schools can be better evaluated on student improvement in between tests, he said, rather than just raw performance scores.

Texas House Democrats end political standoff, green-light constitutional amendment proposals

(KERA) Democrats had vowed to prevent the passage of any proposed constitutional amendments to try and force Republicans to amend the controversial school voucher bill. Republicans didn’t give in.

A now-discarded plan to split Keller ISD caused a stir. Lawmakers now want clear rules on how to divide districts

(Texas Tribune) A House bill would require school districts to hold an election before breaking into smaller entities.

UT student advocates for law making sure people with disabilities aren’t left behind in emergencies

(KUT) The 21-year-old from Conroe wants evacuation chairs to be available at all public universities in Texas.

Also Reported:

More than 660 measles cases reported in Texas. Track the spread here

(Texas Tribune) Eleven of the 17 new cases of measles have been reported in El Paso, according to Tuesday’s update. Related:

In visit to Texas, RFK Jr. said autism, diabetes deserve more attention than measles (Texas Tribune)
The US has nearly 900 measles cases, and Texas accounts for over half. Here’s what to know (NBC DFW)

State ethics panel to review allegations of “dark money” in Prosper ISD trustee race

(Dallas Morning News) The Texas Ethics Commission has agreed to review allegations that a political action committee broke election laws when it spent $50,000 supporting two challengers running for the Prosper Independent School District school board. The PAC, known as the Accountable Leadership Committee, received $50,000 from a Washington D.C. fund to support candidates in the trustee races, campaign finance records filed with the school district show.

Houston ISD study: When kids are evicted, they often lose both home and school

(AP) Schoolchildren threatened with eviction are more likely to end up in another district or transfer to another school, often one with less funding, more poverty and lower test scores. They’re more likely to miss school, and those who end up transferring are suspended more often. That’s according to an analysis from the Eviction Lab at Princeton University, published in Sociology of Education, a peer-reviewed journal, and shared exclusively with The Associated Press’ Education Reporting Network.

A Dallas high school fortified its campus after a shooting. Then gunfire struck again

(Dallas Morning News) Texas’ approach to school safety wasn’t enough to prevent a shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins, experts say.

Verdict returned in murder trial of former Belton High School student Caysen Allison

(KCEN) A jury returned a guilty verdict for criminally negligent homicide — and not guilty of murder or manslaughter — Tuesday in the trial of former Belton High School student Caysen Allison. It came after more than 12 hours of deliberations. Allison was accused of stabbing Joe Ramirez to death in a bathroom of Belton High School in 2022. He faces up to 6 months to two years in a state jail facility, according to Allison’s defense attorney Zachary Boyd. Allison will remain out on bond while he awaits sentencing.

UT Austin uses private messaging apps, lawyer says. That’s against state law

(KUT) The lawyer for a protester arrested at a pro-Israel event argues UT officials actively hid communications about the case by using apps that can delete messages.

Fort Bend ISD staff clears special education evaluation backlog

(Community Impact) With overdue special education evaluations completed, Fort Bend ISD administrators said they seek to start the 2025-26 school year having completed 1,060 pending evaluations from the 2024-25 school year.

‘We’re opening doors of opportunities’ — Aldine ISD unveils seamless college pathway for students

(KHOU) A new partnership between Aldine Independent School District, University of Houston-Downtown and Lone Star College aims to give high school students a head start on their college education. The three institutions signed an agreement Tuesday during a ceremonial event at UHD, officially launching a 2+2 Program designed to help students earn degrees in a seamless pathway.

Classes cancelled at Marlin ISD due to low water pressure across campuses

(KCEN) Marlin ISD has announced that classes will be cancelled for Wednesday, April 30. The district said in an announcement after midnight that the reason for the cancellation is due to low water pressure across their facilities. Additionally, the city is under a boil water notice. This is far from the first time that the district has had to suddenly cancel classes. In February, the district had to adjust the school week schedule to make up for lost instructional time as a result of other various water-related issues in the city.

East Texas high schoolers compete in Region 7 Esports tournament

(KLTV) It takes a different kind of strength to win at this sport. Yes, we’re talking about Esports. Region 7 is holding a tournament featuring over a dozen school districts, as many area school districts have started esports teams. “I never really thought I’d play video games in school in the first place. But then I never thought it would get me a scholarship to go to college,” Brownsboro senior Colten Tidwell said.

Records show former Eanes ISD music teacher had nearly 9,000 videos/images of students

(KXAN) A former elementary music teacher at Eanes Independent School District who was arrested in February on charges of Possession of Child Pornography is now being charged with Sexual Performance by Child under 14. Records reflect that on April 28, DPS executed a search warrant at Zachary Barnett’s residence and seized a total of 13 digital devices. DPS’ analysis of the content on these devices revealed over 1,500 files of known Child Sexual Abuse and/or Exploitation Material (CSEM). Among those files were “a total of 8,885 pictures/videos of female students from Barnett’s class,” the affidavit states. “The majority of Barnett’s self-produced videos were zoomed into the female students’ skirts, their underwear, and/or their crotch area,” the affidavit said.

‘Large wallet’ prompted lockdown at La Joya ISD’s Palmview High as misinformation spread on social media

(myRGV) La Joya ISD said Tuesday a student’s report of a possible weapon on campus that prompted a lockdown at Palmview High School and nearby Bentsen Elementary was actually a wallet. According to a statement from district spokesperson Blanca Cantú, the high school was placed on lockdown 3:51 p.m. Monday after receiving a report of a possible weapon on campus. After locating and searching the individual, the statement said officials determined the object in question wasn’t a weapon, but instead a “large wallet.” By this point, misinformation had already quickly spread throughout social media about the cause of the lockdown.

Judge denies Amarillo ISD’s request to dismiss lawsuits in deaths of 2 students

(KVII) A federal judge denied Amarillo ISD’s request to dismiss lawsuits in the deaths of two students. Emerson Kate Cole died in January 2023, three months before her 11th birthday, two days after having an allergic reaction at school. According to the wrongful death lawsuit, the staff at Lorenzo de Zavala Middle School did not give Cole epinephrine as outlined in her 504 plan. Jaxson Mendoza died on August 25, 2022, after having a seizure on the track at Amarillo High School. According to the lawsuit filed by Mendoza’s parents, the school “refused” to give their son the necessary seizure medication, despite having a 504 Action Plan in place. Judge Lee Ann Reno ruled on Tuesday both lawsuits are “plausible.”

City of Pharr donates $1M to launch adult high school

(ValleyCentral) The City of Pharr presented a $1 million donation to launch a first-of-its-kind adult high school. The PossAble Dream Adult High School is a tuition-free public school for adults up to the age of 50 in South Texas. Dream Adult will offer students the opportunity to earn a traditional high school diploma, along with industry based certifications, employability training and college courses.

Lawsuit: Principal ran over Odessa student with ATV

(KOSA) A mother of an Odessa High School student has filed a lawsuit against the Ector County Independent School District claiming a principal ran over her son with an ATV on campus. According to the lawsuit filed by Wolf Law firm in Dallas, Principal Anthony Garcia was speeding and not paying attention when he hit the student, who was playing football during recess on September 15, 2023. Teresa Rodriguez is asking $250,000 to $1 million for her son, who was 14 at the time of the incident, the lawsuit stated.

Royse City ISD middle school student cut with craft knife during fight

(Fox 4 KDFW) Two female students got into a fight in the Summers Middle School cafeteria this past Thursday morning. One student cut the other student with an X-ACTO-style knife. Criminal charges could be filed.

UT San Antonio faculty member arrested at university’s main campus, school official says

(KSAT) The university says the faculty member was arrested in connection with a ‘criminal investigation’. The university confirmed the arrest is not related to immigration enforcement. However, UTSA said the faculty member was arrested in connection with a “criminal investigation” unrelated to the university, and referred inquiries to the FBI.

Texas State Parks Roll Out All-Terrain Track Chairs for Ultimate Outdoor Access

(TPWD News) These battery-operated chairs are available at 10 state parks across Texas, allowing visitors to traverse a variety of terrains with ease. Guests can check out a track chair for up to three hours at no cost. Reservations are required, and visitors should contact the park directly to secure a chair. Each chair can be operated by the user or by a companion using a joystick remote.

April 29, 2025

Legislative Update:

Voucher bill requires public schools to help administer the program for students with disabilities

(San Antonio Express-News) Gov. Greg Abbott and Republican legislators have pitched vouchers as an escape hatch for students with disabilities struggling in public schools, who will get up to $30,000 a year to spend on private education. But the program could also prove a major strain on public schools, which are saddled with the time-consuming and costly task of evaluating whether interested students qualify for special education services. The bill headed to Abbott’s desk requires public schools to complete comprehensive special education evaluations for all students interested in private school vouchers, including those with no intention of ever enrolling in public districts, within a 45-day deadline. Related:

Have questions about Texas’ proposed school voucher program? We have answers (Texas Tribune)
Texas School Voucher Bill: How it Could Impact Schools Nationwide (The 74)

Landon Payton’s cause of death is still pending. But his memory could soon help pass school safety bills

(Houston Chronicle) Landon Payton’s family has spent the last nine months looking for answers, including his official cause of death, as they prepare to file a potential lawsuit against the Houston ISD. His legacy could influence up to 10 bills Houston-area parents and state lawmakers have filed to improve emergency response policies at Texas schools, from requiring more automated external defibrillators on-campus to introducing more comprehensive CPR training.

Texas House committee to hear bill banning furries from public schools

(San Antonio Current) The 10-page, exceptionally detailed bill would ban students from barking, wearing tails and using a litterbox during the school day.

Texas students say K-12 DEI ban and other anti-LGBTQ+ bills threaten their safety, voice and mental health

(Texas Tribune) Students are concerned the legislation could silence supportive teachers, dismantle safe spaces, lead to overenforcement and prevent honest conversations about identity.

The Texas Lege’s ‘big government intrusion’ into university academics

(San Antonio Current) Expanding on last session’s anti-DEI campus crackdown, Republicans are now going after gender and ethnic studies programs and faculty independence.

Also Reported:

Rocketship Texas charter school plans May closure, transfer campus to new charter school operator

(Fort Worth Report) After three years of operation, Rocketship announced April 25 it was surrendering its state-awarded charter agreement and transferring its schools to statewide charter network Ignite Community Schools. The switch goes into effect at the end of the 2024-25 school year. The Texas Education Agency will oversee the charter transition. All student records will be transferred and services like before- and after-school care will continue without interruption under Ignite Community Schools. The new operator is part of Responsive Education Solutions, a charter network that runs more than 100 schools across Texas and Arkansas.

States — including Texas — drop Section 504 constitutional challenge

(K-12 Dive) The 17 state plaintiffs don’t want to declare the disability discrimination rule unconstitutional but continue to argue that gender dysphoria is not a disability.

Report shows Texas has good access to early education, but ranks 32nd in spending per pupil

(San Antonio Report) Texas ranks 11th in the country for access to early childhood education for 4-year-olds and ranks 15th for 3-year-olds. This is despite ranking 32nd for spending per pre-K student and 35th for overall pre-K resources, according to a 2024 report by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) released Tuesday.

Federal judge finds Spring Branch ISD in violation of Voting Rights Act

(KTRK) A federal judge has found Spring Branch ISD in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act. In 2021, Dr. Virginia Elizondo sued Spring Branch ISD alleging their school board system, comprised entirely of at-large seats, diminished the voting power of minorities. Elizondo had filed the suit after unsuccessfully running twice for a seat on the school board. At the time, a school board seat had never been held by a representative of color despite data showing nearly 60% of SBISD students identify as Hisp The judge ruled in Elizondo’s favor on Monday, giving the district 20 days to submit a plan to divvy the district up into electoral districts.

Fort Worth ISD could close at least 10 campuses amid budget crisis

(NBC DFW) Fort Worth ISD leaders held a community meeting at Dunbar High School to share new details about potential school closures amid a drop in enrollment.

El Paso school districts begin preparing budgets with uncertain state funding amid legislative session

(El Paso Matters) El Paso school districts have begun planning their budgets for the 2025-26 school year as they wait to see if state lawmakers will increase school funding in the 89th session of the Texas Legislature. Most districts in El Paso have already made significant changes to their budgets as they dangle over a financial cliff amid declining enrollment, stagnant state funding and, in some cases, overspending.

Houston ISD saw more ‘arts deserts’ in first year of state takeover. Why are arts educators hopeful?

(Houston Chronicle) The share of campuses labeled as “arts deserts” and the percentage of schools with zero arts partnerships have both increased since the takeover, according to newly released data from Arts Connect Houston. Still, some educators say more arts-focused professional development and Houston ISD’s enthusiastic new fine arts director could usher in positive change. Related:

Houston ISD replaced wraparound services with Sunrise Centers. Some fear students may slip through the cracks (Houston Chronicle)
Houston-area advising program EMERGE guides low-income students to top colleges, universities (Houston Chronicle)
CHANGES COMING: Houston ISD opening option for high school students to use METRO to get to school (KPRC)

Traces of E. coli found in Edinburg school floorboards, students relocating

(myRGV) Edinburg CISD held a news conference Monday at Canterbury Elementary School, after canceling school for the day, where the district confirmed trace amounts of E. coli in the floorboards of some of the school’s classrooms.The district identified the affected classrooms, and announced it will relocate more than 260 students to Freddy Gonzalez Elementary beginning Tuesday until the end of the school year. Unaffected areas of Canterbury will continue as scheduled, which includes third, fourth and fifth grade.

Blue Ridge ISD board approves creation of district police department

(WFAA) The board of trustees of Blue Ridge ISD, a three-school district in Collin County with just over 1,000 students, unanimously approved a resolution to establish the Blue Ridge ISD Police Department.

Kingsville ISD gets F rating in TEA report its lawsuit kept private

(KIII) Kingsville ISD, which sued the TEA over changing its standards for grades, received an F rating and a 59 grade overall on a 1-100 scale. Related:

Houston ISD gets C grade from TEA in delayed release of 2022-23 accountability ratings (Houston Public Media)
‘I feel alarmed,’ TEA ratings reveal stark east-west divide in Austin ISD schools (CBS Austin)

Frisco school board faces new questions after fatal stabbing of student Austin Metcalf

(CBS Texas) The Frisco school board is facing new criticism related to the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf. Frisco parents, like Dawnita Grimes, are concerned about decisions made by the school district since the April 2 stabbing death of a student. One of those decisions was the district’s approval of a rally by the group “Protect White Americans” on a Frisco ISD campus on April 19.

Nursery ISD expands to seventh grade, finalizes transfer partnership with Victoria ISD

(Crossroads Today) Victoria ISD to welcome Nursery students in grades 8–12 starting with the 2025–26 school year.

‘Cutting into the bone’: Texas child care could suffer under looming Head Start cuts, advocates say

(KERA) Education and child advocacy leaders are warning that a proposal to eliminate federal funding for Head Start could devastate Texas families, erasing decades of progress in early childhood education and worsening the state’s ongoing child care crisis.

Texas universities say Trump administration restored immigration status of some international students Visas

(Texas Tribune) More than 250 students in Texas had their status revoked in recent weeks. Despite the reversal, federal attorneys say they’re developing policies to resume terminations.

Opinion: If your child is assessed for Texas special education, you can challenge the results. Here’s how.

(Houston Chronicle) Two years ago, I was in the thick of learning about special education and available resources for my children. I recently wrote about how Houston ISD assessed my children to be autistic when they were not. It was a stressful time, and I thought if I did my homework, asked pertinent questions and expressed my deep concern for my children, everything would be fine. Now, as I reflect on lessons learned, I have one important recommendation to all parents navigating the special-education arena for their children: Don’t do it alone.

North Texas colleges are changing building designs as they expand. Here’s why

(Fort Worth Report) With construction booming at colleges across Tarrant County, the higher education leaders who are leading these projects are looking not only at how a building is designed but also how it lives — in other words, the ways in which people will use the space.

Nolan Estes, former Dallas ISD superintendent, dies at 94

(KERA) A former Dallas school superintendent who successfully desegregated the district has died. Dr. Nolan Estes led the district from 1968 to 1978. During that time, He successfully desegregated the school system and established a network of magnet schools, charter schools and early childhood centers.

Weeklong sting leads to arrest of Conroe ISD teacher, another man for child exploitation

(KPRC) Authorities in Montgomery County say a weeklong undercover sting led to the arrest of two men trying to prey on children online—and one of them was a local kindergarten teacher. That’s when they say they caught 39-year-old Brian Schultz, who they later discovered was a kindergarten teacher at Snyder Elementary in Conroe ISD. He’s now facing a second-degree felony charge for online solicitation of a minor.

Fort Worth ISD’s flag football growth leads to historic signings with Texas Wesleyan

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) A Fort Worth ISD flag football player made history, becoming the first women’s varsity flag football signee in Texas, according to Texas Wesleyan University officials. Isabel Ibarra, a Fort Worth North Side senior and Fort Worth ISD’s most valuable player, is the first signee of Texas Wesleyan’s varsity flag football program; Texas Wesleyan is the first university in Texas to start a team that will begin competing in spring of 2026.

April 25, 2025

Legislative Update:

Private school vouchers head to Abbott’s desk to become law

(Texas Tribune) The Texas Senate voted on Thursday to send legislation creating a statewide private school voucher program to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk to be signed into law, all but concluding an ugly intraparty battle that has dominated state politics for much of the last two years.

Burrows Blocks Effort Limiting Scholarship Program to US Citizens

(Texas Scorecard) Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows sided with Democrats to kill a Republican amendment that would have ensured taxpayer-funded scholarships only go to U.S. citizens. The amendment came during debate over House Bill 2249 by State Rep. Diego Bernal (D–San Antonio), which creates the Texas Teacher Recruitment Scholarship Program. The program would offer up to $40,000 to individuals pursuing teacher certification. But nothing in the bill requires those recipients to be citizens.

Also Reported:

1 in 5 Texas schools got a D or F rating under new performance standards

(Texas Tribune) Failing grades for districts were made public for the first time since 2019. They showed schools with the poorest students were more likely to get a low score. Related:

Texas school districts push back on “unfair” 2023 performance ratings (CBS Texas)
Houston ISD gets C grade from TEA in delayed release of 2022-23 accountability ratings (Houston Public Media)
Here’s why Fort Worth ISD believes district is not at risk of state takeover (KERA)

Whooping cough cases rising in US, more than double same time last year: CDC

(ABC News) Whooping cough cases are on the rise in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Federal judges deal major blow to Education Department’s anti-DEI guidance

(K-12 Dive) The Trump administration’s efforts to withhold funds from schools “raise the specter of a public ‘witch hunt,’” one ruling said.

New Student Loan Threats Has This Dallas ISD Teacher Scared for His Future

(Dallas Observer) Jake Hall stopped paying back his student loans during the pandemic. As prices for so many necessities rose, the 33-year-old high school teacher cut the $100 he was throwing at his loans from his budget. He wasn’t too worried about it because in March of 2020, the federal government placed a three-year moratorium on student loans and set interest rates to 0%. Guided by the promises of former President Joe Biden, Hall assumed his $15,000 left in loans would eventually be forgiven, and so he never reinstated payments. However, on April 21, under the control of a new president, the Department of Education announced it would resume collections of its defaulted federal student loan portfolio on May 5.

Houston ISD officials project 100 job cuts to central office before next school year

(Community Impact) Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles said officials are planning to cut around 100 jobs from the district’s central office as officials continue to deal with a declining student population. The planned cuts to the district’s central office are coming as officials contend with a declining student population that could see around 6,800 students exit the district before the start of the 2025-26 school year.

Former Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen seeks reinstatement, backpay in latest appeal over Humble ISD termination

(Community Impact) Former Humble ISD Superintendent Elizabeth Fagen is continuing her appeal of the district’s board decision to terminate her contract last year, according to a recent court filing. Representatives from O’Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo, the law firm representing Fagen, submitted the filing in the U.S. 80th District Court in Harris County on April 17. The filing marks the latest attempt by Fagen to appeal the board’s November decision to terminate her contract.

Collin County authorities investigating ‘doxxing’ attempt against judge in Frisco track meet stabbing case

(Dallas Morning News) Authorities in Collin County opened an investigation earlier this month after social media posts surfaced appearing to share the home address of the judge presiding over a high-profile fatal stabbing case in Frisco, officials confirmed. Related:

Austin Metcalf’s family in Frisco targeted by 3rd ‘swatting’ call (Fox 4 KDFW)

University of Dallas suspects big tech Google and Meta censoring ads just because it’s Catholic

(College Fix) The University of Dallas, a Catholic university, is facing repeated ad censorship from tech giants Google and Meta, sparking growing concerns over bias against faith-based institutions. Despite the Texas university’s efforts to comply with advertising policies, Google has persistently blocked ads for its graduate program, while Meta – the parent company of Facebook and Instagram – disabled ad account access for its digital marketing partner, according to information the university provided to The College Fix.

Georgetown school district defends book review process, says HB 900 caused changes

(Austin American-Statesman) After directing librarians to pull more than 100 books at two high schools for review, the Georgetown school district announced this week that at least 33 of the titles can remain on the shelves. The district will also recommend Monday that 25 more titles be made available for checkout. The rest of the books are still pending review for age-appropriateness and literary merit. They were singled out as part of the district’s implementation of House Bill 900, a 2023 state law prohibiting “sexually explicit” and “harmful” materials in school libraries, Digital Services Director Kim Garcia said at a school board meeting Tuesday. The announcement comes after the district threatened to discipline a Georgetown High School librarian who had refused to pull 150 copies of books for review. The librarian, Susan Cooper, said she felt the sweep violated students’ First Amendment rights.

Fort Worth ISD testing data shows promise for grades 3-8, struggles for freshmen

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) The Fort Worth Independent School District’s results from its latest quarterly assessments show promise for elementary and middle school students in English Language Arts, but a notable drop in test performance for older students taking English I.

Cy-Fair ISD to bring bus routes back for certain students as solutions for student safety are being considered

(KHOU) Cypress-Fairbanks ISD confirmed to KHOU 11 News on Thursday that certain students will get access back to bus routes after losing it for the 2024-2025 school year. The change comes after months of reports on several students being hit and injured while traveling to or from their Cy-Fair ISD schools. The directly impacted families of the students we have spoken with told us they were either walking or biking to school. Several are among the more than 30,000 students who lost their school bus routes at the start of the 2024-2025 school year.

Man sentenced to 5 years for attacking Richardson ISD bus driver

(Fox 4 KDFW) Corvonta Brooks was sentenced to five years in prison for injuring a Richardson ISD bus driver in 2024. The bus driver recalled pulling over because the kids on his bus were unruly. That’s when a man began banging on the bus door. Brooks allegedly climbed on board, fought with the driver, and left him with extensive bruising.

Former Big Country principal arrested by feds for child sex crime

(KTAB/KRBC) A former Big Country principal was arrested by federal agents for a child sex crime. Kenneth Wade Wallace, 58, was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshal-Led Gulf Coast Violent Offender and Fugitive Task Force Victoria Division earlier this month on a warrant for Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child under the age of 14 in connection to the allegations. “Wallace has worked as an educator for several different school districts in and around central Texas, including Paint Creek ISD, Fort Stockton ISD, Ector County ISD, and most recently as a Principal for the Panther Creek Consolidated ISD,” according to the U.S. Marshal’s Service. The exact circumstances surrounding the allegations against Wallace have not been publicly disclosed. Wallace now remains held in jail on a $100,000 bond, and if he posts bail, he is mandated to have no contact with children.

UPDATE: Mullin ISD teacher allegedly had student at home for sexual activity

(KTAB/KRBC) The Brown County Sheriff’s Office released additional information on the arrest of Lily Victoria Janek, charged with Improper Relationship Between Educator and Student Thursday, saying Janek allegedly confessed to the crime. According to the Sheriff’s Office, while Janek was employed as a PE Teacher/Coach at Mullin ISD, on multiple occasions she, “invited [a high school] student to her home in Brownwood where it was alleged that sexual activity occurred.” Janek confirmed these allegations during a subsequent interview, according to the report.

Odessa Charter School Security Guard Arrested For Lewd Abuse of a Student

(SouthPlainsLive) An Odessa school security guard was arrested Wednesday for allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with a student and committing multiple acts of sexual assault. According to the Odessa Police Department, Maurice Devante McCoy, 31, was taken into custody on April 23 on charges of Sexual Assault of a Child and Improper Relationship Between Educator and Student. McCoy was working as a contract security guard at Harmony Science Academy. Police say McCoy met the student during his time at the school, and over the next few weeks, he sexually assaulted the student multiple times at his home. Investigators arrested McCoy at his residence in Midland after a brief foot chase.

Former Texas private preschool teacher gets maximum sentence for producing child pornography

(Fox 4 KDFW) A former Abilene private preschool teacher, 28-year-old Mark Penfield Eichorn, was sentenced on Thursday to 30 years in federal prison for producing child pornography. Eichorn admitted that he paid two boys to record videos of themselves performing sexual acts on each other, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Northern District of Texas. The boys were 12 and 13 years old.

Kemp ISD Teacher Charged With Sexually Grooming Student

(Texas Scorecard) Ryan Ashley Hedges, 42, was arrested Tuesday by the Kemp Independent School District Police Department and charged with sale, distribution, or display of harmful material to a minor — a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail. On Wednesday, police added a charge of child grooming, which is a third-degree felony punishable by 2 to 10 years in prison. Hedges taught at Kemp High School.

14-year-old girl arrested after making threat at Victoria school

(Crossroads Today) No weapons found and no injuries reported, authorities say.

New report reveals which degrees offer the best return on investment

(KHOU) A new report from CNBC has identified the highest-paying college majors, with several fields offering six-figure salaries after just a few years in the workforce. Chemical engineering and computer science top the list, with graduates earning around $80,000 by age 25.

Federal judge orders temporary restoration of legal status for Iranian student at Texas A&M

(Houston Chronicle) Ahmad Beyhaqi is among the foreign students beginning to stack up wins in court. U.S. District Judge David Hittner said Tuesday that Beyhaqi was likely to succeed in his case, where he has alleged that the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement had no authority to terminate his status.

Built for speed: New Texas A&M facility powers the future of defense

(KBTX) A new research facility in Bryan is helping the United States speed ahead in one of the world’s most high-stakes technology races. The Texas A&M University System officially dedicated the Ballistic, Aero-Optics, and Materials (BAM) Range on Thursday at the Rellis Campus in Bryan. The BAM is now the largest enclosed hypersonic testing range in the nation, and a key part of the military-focused Bush Combat Development Complex.

Ransomware attack targeted San Antonio-based charter bus company last fall, attorney says

(KENS) A “sophisticated ransomware attack” by a group known to the FBI impacted a San Antonio-based charter bus company in November, potentially exposing the private information of hundreds of personnel, an attorney for the company said. Star Shuttle reported the data breach to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office on Monday, saying that the Social Security numbers for 509 individuals was vulnerable.

City of Abilene files Catastrophe Notice due to cyber attack

(KTAB/KRBC) The City of Abilene has filed a Catastrophe Notice due to a cyber attack. The Catastrophe Notice was filed with the Office of Attorney General in order for the City of Abilene to suspended the requirements for the Public Information Act from April 22 to April 28. This means that the cyber attack is preventing the City of Abilene from responding to Public Information Requests in a timely manner, which is usually required by law.

April 24, 2025

Legislative Update:

Abbott signs first bill of session into law, creating a Texas DOGE

(Texas Tribune) Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday signed the first law of this year’s legislative session, a bill creating a new regulation-cutting agency inspired by Elon Musk’s federal Department of Government Efficiency. “Texas can have our own DOGE,” Abbott said Wednesday. “What this law is going to do is make government more efficient and less costly.” Senate Bill 14, which passed both the House and Senate with bipartisan supermajorities, establishes the “Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office” at a cost of $22.8 million over the next five years.

Property tax cut for seniors passes Texas Senate

(KXAN) A plan to cut property taxes for senior citizens and disabled Texans is moving forward at the State Capitol. The Texas Senate voted 30-1 Wednesday to approve Senate Bill 23, which raises the homestead exemption for those 65 and older, if voters approve a related constitutional amendment. The bill raises the additional homestead exemption for elderly and disabled homeowners from $10,000 to $60,000. That’s on top of the current $100,000 exemption for Texas homeowners. The legislation now moves to the Texas House for consideration.

Texas’ insurance crisis is hitting an unexpected target: public schools

(Houston Chronicle) School districts across Texas have struggled to keep up with rising property insurance costs as severe weather batters school buildings. Insurance costs for districts have increased by 44% statewide since 2020, according to financial data from the Texas Education Agency. Now, state lawmakers are considering two proposals to help offset these costs – at least in coastal counties, where the crisis is particularly acute.

Rural Health Bill Amended to Prohibit Social Transitioning of Minors

(Texas Scorecard) The Texas House took a step toward reinforcing the role of parents in their children’s mental health care, adopting an amendment that ensures state-funded services cannot be used to promote social gender transitions in minors in certain rural hospitals. The amendment, offered by State Rep. Steve Toth (R–Conroe), was added to House Bill 18 by State Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R–New Boston). HB 18 is aimed at strengthening rural hospitals and expanding access to care across underserved areas of the state.

House Public Education Committee Hears Homeschool Freedom Protection

(Texas Scorecard) Amid concerns about the impact of school choice legislation on the homeschooling community, a measure to codify established homeschool freedoms received a public hearing in the Texas House. House Bill 2674 by State Rep. David Cook (R-Mansfield) would prohibit any state regulation of homeschooling.

Also Reported:

Texas AG seeks records from Plano ISD in EPIC City investigation

(WFAA) Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday called for records from Plano ISD officials related to an investigation into EPIC City, a proposed Muslim-centric community in Collin County. Specifically, the AG’s office was informed of comments made by Plano Mayor John Muns regarding facilitating a dialogue between Plano school board officials and individuals at EPIC, according to the press release. The press release didn’t provide more details about what Muns said.

Uvalde strikes $2 million settlement with Robb Elementary families 3 years post-tragedy

(KENS) Nearly three years after the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School, the City of Uvalde has reached a $2 million settlement with the families of victims, marking what some are calling a long-overdue step toward healing and accountability. On Tuesday night, in a closed-door meeting, Uvalde city councilmembers unanimously approved the confidential agreement with families impacted by the 2022 tragedy that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers. The $2 million in the settlement will be covered by the city’s insurance policy.

Can drones fill the safety gap and protect Texas schools from active shooters?

(KBTX) An Austin-based tech company is pitching lawmakers on a drone defense system designed to disrupt school shootings in under a minute without using deadly force. Justin Marston, CEO and founder of Campus Guardian Angel, said the system is modeled after tactics used in modern warfare, particularly the war in Ukraine. The company’s system uses drone “launch boxes” stationed around schools and a remote operations center staffed by former law enforcement and military personnel. Marston says in an active shooter scenario, operators deploy drones in tactical waves—first to distract, then to disorient, and finally to disable.

Texas gets billions in federal education funds. What happens if it all goes away?

(KERA) Texas receives billions of dollars annually from the Department of Education, and with efforts by the Trump administration to close or shrink the federal agency, it’s unclear how Texas education might fair if the department actually goes away. While the president’s move is surprising to many, former Dallas ISD superintendent Michael Hinojosa has seen it before.

Trump targets AI, school discipline in new executive orders

(K-12 Dive) In addition to advancing AI in schools, the orders call for a review of discipline guidance based on “discriminatory and unlawful ‘equity’ ideology.”

A White School Officer Pepper-Sprayed and Kneed a Black Beaumont Student, Complaint Says. Will Feds Act?

(Texas Observer) Trump’s gutting of the Education Department could stymie justice for 17-year-old Ja’Liyah Celestine.

Head of NAACP disinvited from speaking to Texas state bar over suit against Trump administration

(AP) The State Bar of Texas rescinded a speaking invitation to the NAACP’s president after the civil rights group challenged the Trump administration’s dismantling of the Education Department, citing new rules over speaking topics the bar says could be deemed political. Derrick Johnson, the NAACP’s president and CEO, had been set to speak during the state bar’s annual meeting in June in San Antonio. He said Wednesday he was shocked his invitation to speak was taken away.

Ex-Houston ISD principal sues Mike Miles for $3M over emotional distress, 1 year after mass exodus

(Houston Chronicle) Jessica Berry, the former principal at Herod Elementary School, filed the complaint in March for the district’s alleged violation of employment law and requested $3 million in damages. The lawsuit also asks for sanctions against the district, board and superintendent, as well as the termination of Miles and the termination of the board. Related:

Houston ISD plans around estimated 6,800 student drop for next academic year (Houston Chronicle)
Many Houston ISD students aren’t making a living wage post-graduation. This Carnival cruise could help (Houston Chronicle)

How Sherman ISD stays afloat while spending more than available

(KXII) More people moving to Sherman means more kids in Sherman schools, but growth doesn’t always mean more money.

Wilmer-Hutchins students walk out following return to school after campus shooting

(NBC DFW) Wednesday morning, students at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas Independent School District returned to school for the first time since a 17-year-old shot multiple people inside the school last week. Some students participated in a walkout in protest of what happened.

Canutillo school district reverses plan to cut nursing positions

(KFOX) The Canutillo Independent School District has announced it will not proceed with plans to cut registered nursing positions, a decision made as part of efforts to address the district’s budget deficit.

TEA extends Austin ISD deadline for Dobie MS turnaround plan

(KXAN) The Texas Education Agency on Wednesday issued an extended deadline for Dobie Middle School’s federal accountability plan from April 30 to June 30. “This new deadline gives us more time to consider the feedback we’ve received … and to more deeply explore options for Dobie’s future,” Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura said.

Fort Worth ISD families demand fairness as school closure decision approaches

(Fort Worth Report) East Fort Worth families said Fort Worth ISD’s closure process isn’t fair. District leaders said westside schools are too full to close.

New Braunfels ISD donates property for youth center amid funding challenges

(News4SA) The New Braunfels Independent School District (ISD) has decided to donate a former high school and administration building to the New Braunfels Youth Collaborative, citing financial constraints as the reason for the decision.The school board made the decision last Monday, attributing the change to inflation and the current state of school funding.

Houston Housing Authority stops granting millions in tax breaks for not-so affordable apartments

(Houston Chronicle) The Houston Housing Authority’s new chief executive officer, Jamie Bryant, said he will stop accepting proposals for a controversial property tax break program as criticism mounts that some deals do little to benefit low-income renters.

Hamshire-Fannett teen indicted for faking school bomb threat as ‘payback’

(KBMT) A student at Hamshire-Fannett High School was indicted for creating a fake Instagram account and sending messages that suggested a bomb threat against the school as an act of revenge, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. On Feb. 25, 2025, around 11:07 a.m., two students each received an Instagram message from the user “HF.ALMOSTFRIDAY” claiming that “a girl [they] had mad drama with” planned to “blow up the school tomorrow,” the affidavit states. The incident happened during lunch at the high school. Both students reported the message to the assistant principal, who contacted law enforcement at approximately 1:17 p.m., according to the affidavit.

Texas Southern students push for more housing as renovations push upperclassmen off campus

(Houston Chronicle) Several dozen students gathered under scattered showers and cloudy skies Wednesday to protest Texas Southern University’s lack of affordable housing options as shortages will soon push upperclassmen into costlier off-campus apartments. Texas Southern is officially limiting its residence halls to freshmen starting fall 2025, with University Towers closing for long-awaited renovations. The university’s overall housing capacity will essentially be cut in half, as the dorm was by far the largest on campus, housing 800 freshmen in two seven-story buildings. Related:

He came to Texas Southern for a doctorate. Now he’s taking the university to court (Houston Chronicle)

ACLU, free speech organization call for end to drag ban on University of Texas campuses

(KERA) Two civil rights groups are demanding that the University of Texas System end a drag ban that was announced after a request from Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare.

Kindergarten teacher arrested, charged with online solicitation of a minor, Conroe ISD says

(KHOU) A kindergarten teacher at Snyder Elementary in Conroe ISD was arrested Tuesday on charges of online solicitation of a minor, according to school officials and jail records. Brian Schultz, who had taught kindergarten at Snyder Elementary since August 2021, was taken into custody in an arrest unrelated to the elementary school, Principal Crystal Poncho confirmed in a statement to parents.

Texas Tech’s $10k Degree Completion Program brings graduates opportunities

(Daily Toreador) The Texas Tech $10k Degree Completion Program is wrapping up its first year as an active degree plan with over 200 enrolled participants and five individuals already graduated. With 10 students expected to graduate in the spring, Tech carried the program’s success into Tech Health Sciences Center El Paso where hybrid classes are offered as of March 29.

Texas A&M University System launching Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies at Fort Worth campus

(KCEN) Texas A&M University System already announced plans last year for several buildings on its Fort Worth campus, and has now announced it will be launching an aviation technology laboratory downtown as well. Drones, air taxis, supersonic and hypersonic aircraft will be part of the focus of the laboratory.

New gaming institute added to UT Austin’s Moody College of Communication

(Daily Texan) A new gaming institute has been added to the Moody College of Communication to help prepare students for careers in the video game industry, according to an April 10 news release. Matt Karch, CEO of Saber Interactive, funded Moody’s new Karch Gaming Institute with a $5 million gift to help prepare students for the growing video game industry, according to the news release.

The smallest library in Texas gets a makeover

(Big Bend Sentinel) For years, Marathon has been home to the smallest accredited library in Texas. When a new expansion opens in May, more than quadrupling the library’s square footage, the town will have to give up that distinction.

April 23, 2025

Legislative Update:

Gov. Abbott plans to sign bill Wednesday that would create Texas efficiency office, similar to DOGE

(KHOU) Governor Greg Abbott on Wednesday plans to sign a bill that would create an efficiency office in Texas. It would be one similar to the federal government’s Department of Government Efficiency — or DOGE — which was established by President Donald Trump when he took office earlier this year. SB14 would create an efficiency office to streamline state regulations, reduce unnecessary rules and improve public access to regulatory information.

Historic public education funding for Texas? Inflation tempers school finance plan

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) Texas House lawmakers approved a nearly $400 increase in the base amount public schools get per student as part of a nearly $8 billion school funding bill, but some seeking more money for education caution that the funds aren’t enough to keep up with inflation.

School districts stay quiet as lawmakers push to limit when they can sue the state

(Texas Tribune) School leaders have privately criticized a bill that would make it harder to contest their performance ratings in court. But they did not testify against it to avoid lawmakers’ ire.

Also Reported:

Texas schools on edge as A–F ratings set for release after legal battle

(Houston Chronicle) After years of courtroom clashes, pandemic disruptions, and growing tension between local school districts and the state, the Texas Education Agency is set to release its highly anticipated A–F school accountability ratings this Thursday. Related:

‘This is where we start’: Superintendent responds as Abilene ISD anticipates ‘C’ rating (KTAB/KRBC)

Uvalde City Council approves settlement with families of Robb Elementary Shooting

(KENS) Families who lost their loved ones in the Robb Elementary shooting will now receive support from the Uvalde City Council. According to the Uvalde Leader News, the Uvalde City Council unanimously approved a settlement after an hour long meeting in closed session Tuesday night. he city has not publicly released details of what the families are going to get in this settlement, but the decision comes a month before the three year mark of the shooting.
Related:

Texas measles outbreak surpasses 600 cases with most among children, teens

(ABC News) The measles outbreak in western Texas has now reached 624 cases, with 27 new infections confirmed over the last five days. Nearly all of the cases are among unvaccinated individuals or among those whose vaccination status is unknown, according to new data published by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) on Tuesday. Related:

Video shows Texas doctor with measles treating kids. RFK Jr later praised him as an ‘extraordinary’ healer (AP)
Track the spread of measles in Texas (Texas Tribune)

Coach, her mother arrested after now-viral Taft-Mathis softball game brawl

(KIII) Briana Cruz turned herself in and made bail last week. She is still teaching in Mathis ISD. An arrest affidavit for her mother also was sworn out. The (police) affidavit states that Cruz “recklessly takes (the Taft player) to the ground” after she shoved the Mathis catcher. But, Mathis Supt. Todd White disagrees with that assessment after finally being able to discuss the incident with Cruz on Tuesday. “We were able to finish up due process,” he said. “She had a chance to walk us through some of the videos, you know, and there’s some, some, some definite components. It’s obvious that, you know, that she tripped going in and then you can see her bump into another one. You can see her reach out her hand to try and catch balance.” White said the school will consider hiring Cruz a lawyer to defend her on the assault charge. “We did violate UIL rules, and so we have consequences for that,” he said.

Wilmer-Hutchins students to return to campus Wednesday with heightened security after school shooting

(WFAA) The school has been closed since the shooting on April 15.

Fort Bend ISD plans to remain competitive through specialized academies amid charter school growth

(Community Impact) Fort Bend ISD administrators have unveiled a three-to-five year plan to expand student choice and academy programs districtwide. To promote educational innovation and compete with neighboring charter schools, the district will expand specialized programs and pilot new experiential learning opportunities at the elementary level beginning in August, Chief Academic Administrator Adam Stephens said at the April 14 board meeting. “No longer are we the only option in town,” he said. “We have to begin to think about what our competitors offer our students that we currently don’t.”

Hays CISD cuts STEM programs at five schools due to budget issues, no layoffs planned

(CBS Austin) Hays Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) says it’s eliminating STEM rotation programs at five elementary schools due to budget constraints. The district says no staff will be laid off, but some may see changes to their current roles. Leaders hope state lawmakers will boost public school funding, but in the meantime, they’re looking for ways to cut costs.

New Caney ISD approves $1K bonuses for returning full-time employees

(Community Impact) Full-time New Caney ISD employees who are returning for the 2025-26 school year will receive a $1,000 retention incentive on their May 5 paycheck, district leaders said. On April 21, NCISD’s board of trustees unanimously approved the retention incentives with trustee Beth Prykryl absent. The incentives are expected to cost about $2.3 million, said Christie Gates, executive director of human resources for NCISD.

Judson ISD to implement portion of controversial Bluebonnet Learning curriculum this fall

(KSAT) Judson Independent School District is set to implement a portion of the controversial Bluebonnet Learning curriculum this fall. The Judson ISD’s Board of Trustees approved to purchase the instructional materials for mathematics of Bluebonnet Learning on April 17.

Fort Worth ISD plans to double middle school class time. Here’s why

(Fort Worth Report) The data was clear. Fort Worth ISD’s middle schools are not working. The district plans to move all 17 traditional middle schools to a new schedule that would introduce longer class periods and have students alternating their classes every day. District leaders are betting on seeing block schedules lay the foundation for a middle school academic upturn.

Denton ISD plans to shift staffing to put one librarian at each campus

(Denton Record-Chronicle) Denton ISD plans to reorganize its library staff so that one librarian will serve each campus, which is a slight change from having some campuses with two librarians.

Houston ISD parents say some students were presented STAAR exams despite opting out

(Houston Public Media) Some Houston ISD parents say their children were presented with standardized tests even though they had opted out of taking them. HISD parents and some in surrounding school districts are participating in a boycott against the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness test, or STAAR test, which is being administered this spring. A similar boycott happened last year, which organizers at the time said was to protest the ongoing takeover of HISD by the Texas Education Agency.

Houston ISD to take 440 NES middle school students on Dyad trip to Panama, Costa Rica in late May

(Houston Chronicle) Houston ISD is planning to take approximately 440 eighth grade students at New Education System schools on free trips to Panama and Costa Rica in May as part of a student travel program. State-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles launched the Dyad program in the district in 2023 after overseeing a similar program at his former charter school network, Third Future Schools.

Tyler woman accused of bringing alcoholic Jell-O to elementary school Christmas party

(KLTV) A parent has been arrested after being accused of bringing alcoholic treats to a Christmas party at Jones Elementary in Tyler. On Dec. 20, 2024, at about 11:15 a.m., the assistant principal for Jones Elementary notified a Tyler ISD PD officer that she believed a parent had brought alcoholic Jell-O shots to a class Christmas party, according to an affidavit. The document says Teresa Isabel Bernal, 33, of Tyler, was identified as a suspect.

Former Odessa football coach jailed on child sex abuse charges, again

(KMID/KPEJ) A former Hood Junior High School (Ector County ISD) football coach was arrested earlier this month after a former student made an outcry of abuse. Dustin Ray Leonard, 35, has been charged with Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Young Child or Disabled Person, a first-degree felony.

Midland ISD School Board President under fire for ‘vulgar’ social media post

(KOSA) A Facebook post with vulgar language is putting Midland ISD School Board President, Brandon Hodges, back under fire by some community members. First Alert 7 did offer Brandon Hodges the opportunity to speak on camera about these concerns from the community, but as of Wednesday evening, we have not heard back.

Increased police presence at Midland ISD amid out-of-state threat

(KMID/KPEJ) Parents, students, and staff across the Midland Independent School District saw an increased police presence Tuesday after a threat was made toward elementary campuses. The district said its police department worked together to determine the source of the threat, which was found to have originated outside of the state. That suspect was arrested some time during the school day.

Hamilton ISD under fire after video appears to show teacher dragging student

(KXXV) A local family is speaking out after hallway cameras caught a teacher dragging their child. Now, all eyes are on the district for answers.

Anti-bully group denied entry at San Antonio charter school while trying to support bullied student

(News4SA) The Anti-Bully Gang was kicked off the school campus of KIPP Camino Academy in San Antonio when they showed up to make a 12-year-old girl experiencing bullying feel special. The Anti-Bully Gang is known for driving students experiencing bullying home from school in fancy cars along with their parents to make them look cooler in front of the other students. But last Wednesday when they arrived to KIPP Camino Academy to drive the girl home, they were told to leave.

East Texas school employee arrested for sending inappropriate image to student

(CBS 19) According to Kemp ISD superintendent Dr. James Young, on Monday, district officials say they were made aware of a high school employee reportedly sending an inappropriate digital image to a student. The employee did not return to any Kemp ISD campus after the initial report was made, school officials confirmed. Following a “thorough and swift” internal investigation, the Kemp ISD Police Department obtained a warrant and arrested the employee. The name of the employee has not been released.

Lockhart volleyball coach arrested for sex crime involving a child

(Fox 7 Austin) A volleyball coach in the Lockhart area was arrested for “sexual performance of a child,” the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office said. According to the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, on April 15, deputies executed an arrest warrant for the offense of sexual performance of a child. Aaron Aguilar, of Lockhart, was arrested. Aguilar was a former Lockhart ISD employee, but had not been employed by the district since March 2024. He was a special education aide and PE aide/assistant during his time at Lockhart ISD.

Donna ISD employee resigns after improper relationship with student arrest

(myRGV) Donna school district police arrested a Pharr man last Thursday on a charge of improper relationship between an educator and student. Javier Hernandez, 47, is also charged with indecency with a child by sexual contact. Sandra Quintanilla, the district’s public relations officer, confirmed Tuesday Hernandez was a teacher and has submitted his resignation.

New Braunfels man arrested in eviction-turned-standoff that prompted evacuation of nearby elementary school

(KENS) A heavy police presence in a nearby neighborhood residence caused Voss Farms Elementary School to be placed on a secure status on Tuesday, according to police. New Braunfels ISD released a statement saying that students and staff were relocated to Legend Point Elementary as a precaution before beginning the process of releasing students around 2:30 p.m.

Waco ISD Bus Drivers Share What Keeps Them Going

(KWKT) In honor of National School Bus Driver Appreciation Day on Tuesday, April 22, two longtime Waco Independent School District transportation professionals discuss their unwavering dedication to the students they serve.

A Dallas family’s baby was taken into state custody after a hospital visit. Now they’re suing Texas

(KERA) Mila Jackson, now 2 years old, was returned to her family after the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services used erroneous legal documents to put her in state custody. But the ACLU of Texas says the DFPS administrative procedure has left the family with an administrative guilty verdict.

How much debt do Houston area community college students take on? More than you might think

(Houston Landing) While community colleges are known for being affordable, student loan debt is still a reality for many students. On average, roughly 19 percent of last year’s graduates across the nine community colleges in the Houston region had student debt. Which colleges have the most students graduating with debt, and how heavily does it weigh on them post-grad? Here’s what the data shows.

USDA cuts threaten food supply for 200,000 people in Amarillo area

(KVII) The High Plains Food Bank is grappling with a significant reduction in its food supply after the U.S. Department of Agriculture slashed $500 million from the Texas Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). This cut has resulted in the cancellation of 13 truckloads of food, enough to feed 200,000 people for a year.

‘Small number’ of Baylor students’ immigration status terminated by federal government

(KXXV) Baylor University confirms “a small number” of its international students have had their visas revoked and terminated as part of what it calls “an evolving situation” affecting colleges across the country.

Arlington wins restraining order against small town it says cost it millions

(CBS Texas) The city of Arlington says it has obtained a temporary restraining order against the small west Texas town of Pecos, halting deals that have cost the area more than two million dollars in annual tax revenue. It started when Pecos’ Housing Finance Corporation, or HFC, approved a 100% tax exemption on the Jefferson North Collins apartment complex in north Arlington in exchange for an undisclosed amount of money. Towns and small counties have offered these tax breaks, mostly in urban areas throughout Texas, in exchange for payment from commercial real estate developers.

UPDATED: What to know about ‘cyber incident’ at Abilene city government

(Abilene Reporter News) Abilene is investigating a ‘cyber incident’ that caused a network outage Friday. City services remain functional, and no financial irregularities have been detected. The city’s IT department and cybersecurity experts are working to restore systems and investigate the incident.

April 22, 2025

Legislative Update:

Data show school choice funds won’t go far with private special education programs in Texas

(KXAN) As the Texas legislature finalizes a deal on school choice, private schools serving children with disabilities say they are wary of strings that might be attached to taking taxpayer dollars. Our investigative team analyzed data from across Central Texas and found even with help from the state, private schools will still be out of reach for many low-income families without significant financial aid and scholarships.

How Gov. Greg Abbott won millions and helped stop Texans from doing the same

(Houston Chronicle) Forty years ago this week, a tree fell on Greg Abbott, paralyzing the future governor from the waist down. He sued for damages and won millions — and then helped stop Texans from doing the same.

Texas Senate resurrects ‘bathroom bill’ barring trans people from using certain facilities

(Austin American-Statesman) While bathroom bills are often marketed as being about women’s safety, LGBTQ rights advocates argue they would jeopardize the safety of transgender Texans.

Texas Lottery executive director resigns from position amid controversy

(KXAN) Ryan Mindell, the executive director for the Texas Lottery Commission, resigned from his position on Monday, according to a statement from commission Chair Robert G. Rivera. Mindell has faced mounting criticism during the current legislative session from lawmakers who feel the agency failed in maintaining the integrity of the Texas lottery.

Also Reported:

No visitors allowed at Santa Fe ISD schools after cyber event

(KHOU) Santa Fe Independent School District in Galveston County announced it experienced a cyber-event over the weekend, affecting internet and phone services across the district. The district shared the update on Facebook early Monday, stating that due to the ongoing issues, visitors will not be allowed at any Santa Fe ISD campuses until further notice. Officials have not released additional details about the nature or cause of the cyber-event. KHOU has reached out to the district for more information and will provide updates as they become available.

City of La Marque is out of more than $15K after city leaders said it fell victim to a phishing scam

(KTRK) The City of La Marque is trying to figure out where between $15,000 and $20,000 has gone. Officials say the money was stolen through a phishing scam. It’s a scheme that Lone Star Forensic Group managing director Eric Devlin said doesn’t just hit individuals and their bank accounts. Devlin said thieves target governments and pretend to be vendors. The interim city manager told ABC13 the finance employee was new. They made a payment in December that wasn’t typical for the vendor. A routine audit caught the mistake weeks after it happened. The employee was fired.

Student loans in default to be referred to debt collection, Education Department says

(KHOU)The Education Department will begin collection next month on student loans that are in default, including the garnishing of wages for potentially millions of borrowers, officials said Monday. No federal student loans have been referred for collection since March 2020, including those in default.

Wilmer-Hutchins H.S. shooting suspect’s $3.1M bond won’t be reduced

(Fox 4 KDFW) The 17-year-old accused of injuring several people in a shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School will remain in jail for now. Prosecutors argued that Tracy Haynes’ attack was premeditated and planned to target several individuals. The defense tried to argue that Haynes was acting in fear because members of the 5K gang had threatened him and his family. A judge refused to lower his $3.1 million bond.

2 arrested at protest over Frisco track meet stabbing, police say

(WFAA) Two people were arrested last weekend during a protest related to the fatal stabbing at a Frisco track meet earlier this month, officials say. On Saturday, a protest in Frisco at Kuykendall Stadium, organized by a group called “Protect White Americans,” purporting to be organized to call for “Justice for Austin Metcalf” and for Anthony to remain in jail pending a trial, according to a poster, led to two arrests, according to police. Police said Saturday’s final charges are pending after the event.

Houston ISD announces ‘restructuring’ of transportation for upcoming school year

(KPRC) Houston ISD Chief of Operational Effectiveness Kari Feinberg said the district is focused on restructuring staffing at the terminal and departments. A spokesperson told us: “HISD is not reducing its transportation staff, in fact, we will have a larger team than we do right now. We are changing the roles and responsibilities for a number of positions, so many people will have a different job than they do now. Most of these roles will give our employees more responsibility and increased compensation.” Feinberg said 125 positions are being closed, but 155 are opening up.

With Austin ISD considering consolidating Dobie, Lamar middle schools, parents demand answers

(KVUE) A new option is on the table for an underperforming school that is on the brink of closing.

Killeen ISD implements stricter backpack rules, safety measures ahead of year-end events

(KCEN) Killeen Independent School District is rolling out updated backpack policies and reinforcing safety protocols across secondary schools (grades 6-12) starting May 1, as the district prepares for end-of-year activities.

Just the Facts: Local Government Debt in Texas’ Most Populous Cities, Counties, and School Districts 3rd Edition

(Texas Public Policy Foundation) Local government debt in Texas is large and growing quickly, raising serious concerns around affordability, sustainability, and prudence. The 10 largest school districts have borrowed more than $36 billion, or $35,885 per student.

Conroe ISD superintendent explains why his district made Forbes’ list of Best Large Employers

(KHOU) Conroe ISD came in at No. 69 out of 700 employers ranked in the magazine’s list — it’s also the top-ranked school district on the list for the second year in a row.

Keller ISD parents accuse school board trustee of bullying students on social media

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) A member of the Keller school board is catching flack for a social media post that includes a photo of two district students.

Fort Worth ISD recommends three closures, consolidation of schools in Polytechnic area

(Fort Worth Report) The recommendation — part of the district’s $2 million facilities master plan — will go before the school board May 20 as part of the district’s effort to address declining enrollment. A similar proposal with the middle schools was pulled in 2024 over a lack of community input.

Students sue Department of Defense for pulling ‘DEI’ books from its school libraries

(The 19th News Network) Students in schools run by the Department of Defense have staged multiple walkouts in recent months to protest the agency’s decision to pull books that may not align with President Donald Trump’s executive orders on race and gender. Now, a dozen students from six families are suing the department for sidelining books, curriculum and cultural awareness events that conflict with the president’s goal of excising “gender ideology” and diversity, equity and inclusion from public life.

Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD terminates teacher’s contract 2 years after student injured him

(KSAT) Chris Dombkowski says doctors diagnosed him with a traumatic brain injury from the November 2022 incident.

STEM Partnership for Rural Texas Communities Hosts Initial Training

(Texas Advanced Computing Center) Rural Opportunities in Computer Science (ROCS) trains teachers in CS and AI education through agricultural challenges.

Two North Texas schools locked down after student brings piece of cardboard resembling gun, police say

(NBC DFW) One student is in custody after they were found with a piece of cardboard that resembled a gun, sending two schools into lockdown Monday morning, Lewisville police say. In a statement released to parents, according to the district, authorities located a student with a piece of cardboard that looked like a gun at Durham Middle School, and the student was immediately detained.

National Endowment for the Humanities grants cancelled, affecting Austin-based projects

(Daily Texan) Humanities Texas, a humanities council conducting and supporting educational projects such as The Library Foundation, received an email on April 2 announcing the cancellation. The operating grant the organization received from the National Endowment for the Humanities made up 65% of the organization’s annual budget, said Texas Humanities director Eric Lupfer. He also said the organization held 66 teacher workshops at local cultural and educational establishments like the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the LBJ Presidential Library.

Climate center for Texas is back online after funding ‘lapse’

(KXAN) The four regional climate centers that lost federal funding late last week are “in the process of going live again,” Texas’ state climatologist told KXAN’s Nick Bannin on Monday. Funding for the Southern Regional Climate Center (SRCC) at Texas A&M, along with three other centers nationwide, stopped operations on Thursday, April 17, after funding “lapsed.”

Socorro ISD high school band director pleads guilty to improper relationship with a student

(KFOX 14) A Socorro ISD El Dorado High School teacher pleaded guilty to six counts of improper relationship with a student in January. He was sentenced to 10 years of Community Supervision and the Corrections Department with 100 hours.

Walmart mass shooter pleads guilty in El Paso court, gets life sentence

(El Paso Matters) The grinding path to justice for the most lethal mass shooter to ever appear in a U.S. courtroom came to an end Monday when Patrick Crusius pleaded guilty to murdering 23 people and wounding 22 others in an anti-Hispanic assault on an El Paso Walmart in 2019. “The community you tried to break has become a symbol of resilience, of love overcoming hate, of humanity enduring in the face of evil,” 409th District Judge Sam Medrano said to Crusius after sentencing him to 23 life terms in prison.

Over 100 years of shopping, socializing, student traditions on The Drag

(Daily Texan) Once paved by dirt and now the home to sprawling national chains, The Drag has remained a University staple. For over 100 years, The Drag has been the most famous strip of Guadalupe Street. The Daily Texan explored The Drag through the decades as it evolved from a dirt road to the center of the campus community.

Rice University announces plans to grow student body – again

(Houston Chronicle) Rice University officials announced plans on Monday to once again expand the student body, building on the momentum of a historic project that raised a 4,000-person undergraduate population to 4,800 over the last five years. The Rice University Board of Trustees approved a goal moving the target to 5,200 undergraduates – which would mark a 30% increase since expansion began in 2020. The graduate population will increase marginally to 4,300 students, up from the current 4,100, school administrators said.

April 21, 2025

Legislative Update:

Dan Patrick endorses Texas House’s voucher plan, clearing path to final approval

(Texas Tribune) The lieutenant governor proposes that the Texas Senate adopt the House bill, which would eliminate a negotiation over the two versions and cement the victory for supporters. Related:

House Approves Controversial School Discipline Bill: What’s Inside the “Teacher Bill of Rights”

(Texas Policy Research) HB 6 makes substantial changes to the Texas Education Code, impacting both traditional public schools and open-enrollment charter schools. Supporters say the bill gives teachers the tools needed to regain control in classrooms, especially in light of post-pandemic behavioral challenges. Opponents, including Texas Policy Research, argue the bill grants too much unchecked authority to unelected administrators, weakens oversight, and introduces exclusionary practices, particularly through the use of virtual Disciplinary Alternative Education Programs (virtual DAEPs).

Also Reported:

Former Houston ISD executive, vendor found guilty on 33 counts in bribery, conspiracy scheme

(Houston Public Media) A federal jury Friday returned guilty verdicts against a former Houston Independent School District executive and a vendor accused in a multimillion dollar bribery scheme. Over the course of a weeks-long trial, the jury heard from more than 50 witnesses — including five former district officials who allegedly received bribe payments in the scheme. Friday, the jury found Brian Busby, the former district chief operations officer, and Anthony Hutchison, a former vendor, guilty on all 33 counts of bribery, conspiracy and witness tampering.

Texas measles cases rise to 597. Here is what you need to know

(Texas Tribune) Two more counties, Potter and Parmer, have reported a measles case. The outbreak has cost state taxpayers $4.5 million to pay for immunization, testing and a public awareness campaign.

Austin Metcalf’s father tells ‘Protect White Americans’ leader he’s creating racial divide

(Dallas Morning News) At a protest in the parking lot of David Kuykendall Stadium, Carter pulled out his phone and dialed Jeff Metcalf, the father whose 17-year-old son was fatally stabbed in the stadium’s bleachers weeks earlier — a case that has sparked racist discourse online and thrust two grieving families into the national spotlight. “You’re trying to create more race divide than bridging the gap,” Metcalf told Lang over speakerphone, addressing Lang and the protest held by his organization, Protect White Americans. Related:

Frisco ISD seeking charges against man who said he ‘broke into’ high school stadium (Dallas Morning News)

New Fort Worth ISD transportation director rolls out fewer routes, ‘reading captains’ and a new dispatch center

(Fort Worth Report) Nathan Graf is adding audio books, cutting routes and launching job fairs to overhaul Fort Worth ISD’s troubled bus system.

Texas School District Sits On A Ticking Time Bomb – The Spark May Be Their Health Insurance Plan

(RiskManagers.us) A Texas school district is sitting on a financial time bomb and their self-funded health plan may provide the spark. District finances look dismal, and their self-funded health plan does too. With an operating budget surplus of only 18 days, a sudden spark within their self-funded health plan can bring the district to it’s knees. Their renewal is September 1. They should run away from their self-funded plan as fast as they can before catastrophe strikes. They should beg TRS ActiveCare for permission to join the state government health plan or establish an ICHRA program.

Recent Visa Revocations Spark Fear in Local College Students

(Dallas Observer) College students across Texas are now erasing their social media out of fear of deportation.

Beaumont ISD continues staff recruitment for campuses, considers international applicants

(KBMT) Beaumont Independent School District is actively recruiting staff for three campuses as they transition back to district leadership following the end of a partnership with Third Future Schools.

Midland ISD: Letter stating 15-minute limit for public comment, referenced outdated legal provisions

(KOSA) Tuesday, a letter given to residents who spoke during an MISD School Board meeting sparked frustration on social media. That letter stated that the board would only allow a total of 15 minutes for public comments. MISD has now released a statement saying this letter did not reflect the current School Board policy. Specifically, the letter referenced outdated legal provisions suggesting a 15-minute limit on public testimony.

Bexar County property owners who challenge their 2025 appraisal get a one-year reprieve. Here’s how it works

(San Antonio Report) Bexar Appraisal District’s board of directors charted new territory last year when it approved plans to skip a year of appraising properties in which the owner has successfully challenged their valuation. Broadly speaking, the new policy will apply to property owners who successfully challenge their valuation in 2025. In most cases, that lowered market value will roll over to 2026.

Bird flu now spreading through wild mammals, Texas Parks and Wildlife confirms

(Texas Public Radio) The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has discovered avian flu in several species of mammals, including skunks, foxes and raccoons. Dairy cows in Texas tested positive for this strain of flu a little more than a year ago. Since then, it’s passed between livestock and even to humans. The flu’s presence in wild mammals represents a new stage of its spread.

Azle High School softball coach arrested for alleged improper relationship with student

(Fox 4 KDFW) Azle High School head softball coach Carlos Font is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student. The alleged victim, who is now a former student, filed a report with the Azle Police Department. According to the Azle Independent School District, a former student contacted the police and reported that the alleged relationship happened several years ago. Coach Font has worked for Azle ISD for the past seven years as a teacher and assistant coach in various sports.

Former Fort Bend ISD teacher arrested for alleged improper relationship with student

(Fox 26 Houston) A former Fort Bend ISD teacher, Kara Hernandez, was arrested on Feb. 14 for allegedly having an improper relationship with a middle school student. Hernandez, 31, formerly worked at Ronald Thornton Middle School in Fort Bend ISD before her arrest on Feb. 14. According to Fort Bend ISD, allegations of past inappropriate conduct by a Thornton Middle School staff member were brought to the district’s attention by a former student in September. Hernandez now faces two charges: indecency with a child involving sexual contact and an improper relationship between an educator and a student.

Still Creek Ranch Academy teacher accused of Improper Relationship with Student; second of 2025

(KBTX) A former teacher at the private Still Creek Ranch Academy in Bryan was arrested for allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with a student just months after her father, a former house parent at Still Creek Ranch, was charged in a separate case involving sexual misconduct with a minor.

Victims, family from Sutherland Springs shooting awarded $230 million

(Texas Standard) A federal judge has awarded victims of the 2017 Sutherland Springs church shooting and their families more than $230 million. The award is a repudiation of the federal government — which was found mostly liable for the deaths of 26 people including a pregnant mother and her unborn child as well as the injuries of more than 20 others.

How ransomeware attacks on 23 Texas sites changed the way cyber criminals operate

(Texas Standard) In the debut episode of her new podcast, “Click Here,” Former NPR correspondent Dina Temple-Raston explores the ongoing impact of one of the largest-ever U.S. cyberattacks.

Texas A&M University Police say cyber scams are at the top of its crime list

(KBTX) Scams are everywhere, and new ones are brought to light on a regular basis. The Texas A&M University Police Department (UPD) said they notice scam reports frequently as well. The department said online scams are at the top of the list of crimes it sees each year. UPD told KBTX that the young population on A&M’s campus is a prime target for scammers to take advantage of. These scams often intimidate or trick students into paying money, either online or on social media. Some examples the police gave were fake ticket sales for sporting events, concerts, and other activities intended for students. Police noted how it often sees these scams surge during football season.

April 18, 2025

Legislative Update:

In private school voucher push, Gov. Abbott breaks through by playing hardball

(Texas Tribune) Anti-voucher Republicans said they voted for the bill so they could fight to improve it, and also to fend off political retribution. Related:

Ending 30 Years of Resistance, Trump and Abbott Break the ‘People’s House’ (Texas Observer)
See how Texas House members voted on school vouchers (Texas Tribune)
Texas Jews split as lawmakers sign off on $1B private school voucher program (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Texas Advances Bill to Expand Career and Technical Education

(Government Technology) House Bill 120 would triple school district funding from $50 to $150 per student for Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools, or P-TECHs, through which students can earn 60 college credits during high school.

9,200 emails and counting: Carroll ISD residents lobby legislators opposing open enrollment districts

(Community Impact) At the Carroll ISD board meeting April 14, board President Cameron Bryan updated district residents on the status of SB 686, a bill that, if passed, would require school districts with capacity to allow open enrollment for students outside of their districts. Bryan, who called the bill “horrible,” said that CISD residents have sent more than 9,200 emails to state representatives opposing the bill.

House Republicans refuse to pass ceremonial resolution honoring Cecile Richards

(Texas Tribune) Normally, memorial resolutions to honor Texans who have died are passed without controversy. But the resolution for Richards, a former president of Planned Parenthood who died this year, sparked a cascade of outrage from conservatives.

State Legislature debates, approves cuts to state funding for UT Austin salaries, wages

(Daily Texan) The Texas House approved Senate Bill 1, which appropriates state funds for the next two years, on April 11. The bill would cut spending allocated towards UT’s salary and wages, which does not include faculty, by about $65 million. The bill passed by the House has some variations from the bill passed by the Senate on April 1, meaning the bill needs to be renegotiated between both chambers before going to the governor. SB 1 contains the spending plan for UT and all schools in the UT and A&M systems, including how much of the funds should be spent on faculty salaries, research costs and staff wages. The bill allocates nearly $900 million to UT over the next two years.

Also Reported:

Wilmer-Hutchins High School shooter was let inside, Dallas school officials say. But questions remain

(KERA) Dallas ISD Police Chief Albert Martinez told media that the suspected shooter, who is a student at Wilmer-Hutchins, entered the school Tuesday afternoon with a 40-caliber weapon after another student opened a side door for him that was “locked and secured” — in contrast to an arrest warrant stating the door was unsecured. Martinez confirmed at least four male students were shot and a fifth student suffered an injury from running and falling before the alleged shooter was in and out of the school in less than two minutes. But many questions were left unanswered as Martinez said he could not confirm whether the student had already been on campus before returning, how he got access to the gun, and what led up to the incident — which Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde said, “was not random.” Related:

CDC scraps plan to help Texas schools curb measles over layoffs, employee says

(CBS News) The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has scrapped a plan to offer help curbing measles in Texas schools after some staff working on the agency’s response to this year’s record outbreak of the virus were warned they could face layoffs, an agency employee said.

Virginia flag banned in Texas district over exposed breast

(Axios) Lamar CISD, a school district around 30 minutes from Houston, last fall removed a section about Virginia from its online learning platform used by 3rd-5th graders, Texas Freedom to Read Project co-director Anne Russey tells Axios. The reason: The bare breast on Virginia’s flag, a picture of which was included in the lesson, violated the district’s recently adopted ban on any “visual depictions or illustrations of frontal nudity” in elementary school library material.

Tensions Erupt as Track Stabbing Victim’s Father Shows Up Unannounced at Suspect’s Family Press Conference

(People) The father of the Texas high school student stabbed to death at a track meet made an unexpected appearance at a press conference being held by the parents of the teenage murder suspect. Jeff Metcalf, who lost his son Austin Metcalf, arrived at the Dallas venue where the parents of Karmelo Anthony were speaking publicly for the first time on Thursday. Video posted by CBS Texas shows officers from the Dallas Police Department arriving about 40 minutes after the scheduled start of the press conference and escorting Metcalf from the venue without incident. Related:

Austin Metcalf’s father targeted by swatting call Thursday, Frisco police confirm (WFAA)

Despite layoffs, NAEP to continue as planned in 2026

(K-12 Dive) Despite massive layoffs that left the U.S. Department of Education with a skeleton crew in charge of administering and analyzing the Nation’s Report Card, the agency said on Thursday the assessment will continue as planned next year.

Friendswood ISD expands policy for interdistrict transfers

(Community Impact) Friendswood ISD’s board of trustees approved a revision to its interdistrict transfer policy that adds grandchildren of residents and removes the geographic restriction on children of active-duty military and peace officers.

Inflation, learning loss linger post-pandemic in Cy-Fair ISD

(Community Impact) The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted education nationwide, and five years later, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD is still grappling with the long-term effects of supply chain disruptions, labor shortages and 20% inflation from 2019 to August 2024, district officials said.

Closing arguments begin in trial of former Houston ISD chief operating officer Brian Busby

(KTRK) After 18 days of testimony, attorneys are presenting closing arguments in the case of the former chief operating officer at HISD and a landscaping contractor accused of conspiring in a bribery scheme.

Houston ISD to end ‘wraparound services’ model for student support

(KHOU) Houston Independent School District announced Thursday it will sunset its Wraparound Services Department. HISD said it would adopt a more targeted approach to providing non-academic support for students and families. The district cited the need to “maximize scarce resources” as a key reason for the change. The previous one-to-one wraparound specialist model was designed to help students academically, emotionally and socially. Related:

Houston ISD to raise per-student budget slightly for non-New Education System campuses (Houston Chronicle)

Mental health experts weigh in on how Killeen ISD educators can navigate trauma from Roy J. Smith stabbing

(KXXV) Austin-based therapists discuss safety concerns, burnout, and solutions for recovery.

6% of students meet grade level at Fort Worth ISD school with unique challenges

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) FWISD’s Clifford Davis Elementary is a traditional elementary school with a unique student population — even by state standards. Its 880 students largely consist of immigrants and refugees who are placed in a nearby apartment complex as newcomers to the community, making them zoned for the campus. As a result, language barriers have become a consistent obstacle for Clifford Davis and its academic performance.

Opinion: She suggested Amber Alerts. Now, this Texas grandmother says they need to change

(Fort Wort Star-Telegram) A mother’s call to a North Texas radio station almost 30 years ago has helped rescue 1,200 children. But her 1996 suggestion for the Amber Alert now often sounds a sour note. From her modest home in Hood County, the mother who pushed for the child abduction alert is now a grandmother calling for changes in the system. “Number one, the sound of the alert itself,” she says in a video posted to Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. “It so jarring and unpleasant that the majority of people have turned it off.”

Houston Community College asked 1,800 people about changing the community college’s name. Here’s what they said

(Houston Landing) Most folks in and around Houston Community College are ready for the school to take on a new persona — Houston College? Bayou City College? — but support for a name change isn’t overwhelming.

Attempt to sextort teen caught by school’s monitoring system, TX officials say

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) A Texas school district’s online monitoring system helped catch a sextortion attempt against a student, officials said. On Wednesday, April 16, Gordon Independent School District’s monitoring software “flagged” a student searching about suicide and sextortion cases online, and concerned faculty spoke to the child and learned they were being threatened, Superintendent Holly Campbell said in a news release. “The sender also threatened to contact the school to further humiliate the student.” Campbell said the school became aware of the student’s online search “within one minute” of them making it and were able to quickly get in touch with them and their family. “While the message appears to be spam originating from Nigeria, the student did not realize that at the time and was understandably very frightened,” Campbell said, adding that “the emotional impact was significant.”

San Antonio Police Department: Judson ISD assistant coach arrested for grooming 2 students for over a year

(KENS) The San Antonio Police Department has arrested Judson ISD assistant coach Christopher Irving for allegedly grooming two students for over a year. Irving faces one count of sexual performance offense and two counts of grooming.

Lawsuit against Perryton ISD for student sexual assault to continue

(KFDA) A case against Perryton ISD and its former athletic director will continue after mediation failed with the father of a girl the former athletic director sexually assaulted.

San Antonio ISD relaunches sexual assault probe after mom speaks at board meeting

(News4SA) The mother of a San Antonio ISD student says the district is re-launching an investigation into a sexual assault allegation only because she threatened to go to the media. The mother claims her 6-year-old daughter was touched inappropriately at the Young Women’s Leadership Academy Primary.

Canyon ISD employee out of job after alleged misconduct, nothing ‘highly inappropriate’

(KVII) A Canyon ISD employee is out of a job after alleged misconduct. According to a statement released Thursday, the district said it was notified Sunday about an allegation involving a West Plains High School staff member “related to an incident that occurred over the weekend.”

Liberty County man sentenced to federal prison for trafficking methamphetamine in school zone

(U.S. Attorney’s Office) A Liberty man has been sentenced to 135 months in federal prison by a federal judge for drug trafficking violations. According to information presented in court, in January 2024, law enforcement authorities received information that Thomas James Lawson was involved in the distribution of methamphetamine and other narcotics. During the investigation, drugs were purchased from Lawson at his Liberty residence. Lawson’s residence is within 1000 feet of the Liberty Elementary School and the school playground. A school zone sign is located on Lawson’s street and children were playing on the school playground while the search warrant was executed at his residence. Lawsom previously pleaded guilty to the charges.

April 17, 2025

Legislative Update:

Texas House preliminarily approves controversial school voucher plan, $7.7B school funding bill

(KUT) After more than 12 hours of debate, the Texas House gave initial approval to two of the most closely-watched bills of the legislative session – a $7.7 billion public school funding package and a hotly contested proposal to create a pathway for families to use state tax dollars to help send their kids to private schools. Before floor debate on SB 2 began Wednesday afternoon, the Texas House first took up — and gave preliminary approval to — House Bill 2, a sweeping school funding proposal.

Reforms for Public University Governance Pass Texas Senate

(Texas Scorecard) The legislation ends the “shared governance” model between faculty senates and boards of regents. The legislation now moves to the Texas House, where, if passed, it would head to the governor’s office.

Bill to transfer University of Houston-Victoria to Texas A&M System moves forward

(Crossroads Today) The proposed transfer of the University of Houston-Victoria to the Texas A&M University System is moving forward after Senate Bill 2361 received unanimous approval today in the Texas Senate.

Also Reported:

Safety concerns raised after unidentified student let alleged shooter into Wilmer-Hutchins High School

(CBS Texas) An unidentified student let the suspected gunman into Wilmer-Hutchins High School through an “unsecured door,” according to arrest records. The 17-year-old suspect then “displayed a firearm and began firing at the students indiscriminately,” the affidavit said. Five students were injured in Tuesday’s shooting. Related:

Driver says Wilmer-Hutchins High School shooting suspect flagged him down for ride (NBC DFW)
What to know about the nonprofit that helped Dallas school shooting suspect turn self in (Dallas Morning News)

Fort Worth ISD recommends closing 2 schools, rebuilding another to reshape Northside campuses

(Fort Worth Report) A new middle school could open by 2029 — but only if Fort Worth ISD shutters Kirkpatrick Elementary and Kirkpatrick Middle School and demolishes part of J.P. Elder Middle School.

Conroe ISD to implement Bluebonnet Learning curriculum in elementary schools

(Community Impact) Conroe ISD will implement the Bluebonnet Learning language arts and reading curriculum in all its elementary campuses for the 2025-26 school year following a 7-0 vote at its April 15 meeting.

Houston ISD sees decline in disciplinary reports, but 133% spike in firearms possession

(Houston Chronicle) While nearly all disciplinary incidents declined, firearm possession reports in the district increased by 133% this year.

Kingsville school board tables decision on returning to five-day week, seeks community input

(KIII) One of the major topics at the Kingsville Independent School District school board meeting was whether or not the district should move back to a five-day school week. The matter was tabled, and a survey will be sent out to staff, students and parents about which of the two proposed calendars they prefer.

Teacher in San Antonio’s North East ISD was told to remove ‘Hate has no home here’ sign

(Texas Public Radio) More than a dozen people attended the North East Independent School District board meeting on Monday evening to protest an order requiring an NEISD teacher to remove a sign from her classroom. The sign in question is a small cloth banner that was attached to the side of algebra teacher April Jones’ desk. The banner said, “Hate has no home here” and showed a white and Black raised fist and hands holding a rainbow heart, a heart in the colors of the trans Pride flag, and a heart striped with different skin tones. Jones said she hung her ‘Hate has no home here’ sign in her classroom for years and never had a problem until this school year.

Here’s how much Arlington ISD receives in funding from the federal government

(Arlington Report) Since 2023, AISD lost nearly $4 million in federal funding. Now, district leaders plan to keep a closer watch on how Washington impacts their bottom line.

Lamar CISD plans for staff raises despite projected $5M shortfall for FY 2025-26

(Community Impact) Chief Financial Officer Jill Ludwig said despite the projected shortfall, district leaders are prioritizing employee pay and recommend the following raises: A $2,000 flat raise for all teachers on the salary schedule, bringing starting teacher pay to $65,700 and a 3% raise at the midpoint for other staff groups.

UT-Rio Grande Valley students caught in nationwide sweep sue Homeland Security over immigration status

(Texas Tribune) The four students were involved in minor criminal cases that have been resolved, which they argue shouldn’t be used to justify ending their higher ed goals in Texas.

UT Austin professors fear Trump administration’s funding cuts will derail life-saving research

(KUT) Since President Trump took office, the National Institutes of Health — the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world — has significantly cut grant funding. More than 80 percent of NIH grants go to researchers in the U.S. — including the labs that Andrea Gore and John Wallingford run at UT Austin. Gore and Wallingford — who spoke on their own behalves and not on behalf of the university — are worried their students will not have the same opportunities to pursue science.

How Trump’s DEI cuts canceled summer literacy camp for 130 kids in Houston

(Houston Chronicle) It took a presidential executive order and one nervous donor just a few months to tear up Brandi Brown’s carefully-laid plans for her summer literacy camp. HYPE Freedom School was set to expand this year, ready to welcome 380 students into a six-week, reading-based program that helps youth in Sunnyside and South Park. One HYPE donor worried that the nonprofit fell into the DEI category and slashed its $200,000 pledge to $50,000. Now, 130 students HYPE had planned to add to the program cannot attend, and 21% of HYPE’s budget is gone.

Clear Creek ISD makes changes to policies regarding AI

(Community Impact) More requirements related to artificial intelligence are making their way into school code at Clear Creek ISD after the board of trustees approved revisions to a pair of policies at its April 14 meeting.

Ector County ISD: Three arrested after Odessa High School lockdown

(KOSA) ECISD police have arrested three Odessa High School students for their part in Wednesday’s lockdown at the school. An 18-year-old senior, and two 16-year-old boys are all charged with Unlawful Carry of Weapons a Class A Misdemeanor. In addition, one of the 16-year-olds is being charged with Unlawful Restraint, a third degree felony, after two other students came forward to police and said the boy grabbed them and forcibly took them to a room. This all happened before the Secure and Lockdown were put into effect. Around 2:25 p.m., a campus officer received a report of a student with a gun in a parking lot at the school. Police found the student in the school, and he did not have a weapon.

San Antonio ISD student shot, killed in fight after school dismissal, police say

(MySA) A San Antonio ISD student was shot and killed during a fight as school dismissal took place on the Westside on April 16. Officials are working to identify the group of teenagers who police said carried out the attack. Chief William McManus said that a group of seven teenagers had an altercation with an eighth teenager about a block and half away from Brewer Academy when one of the teens took out a gun and shot the teenager who was on the ground. Police said the teen died of his injuries.

Frisco police explain source of bullet that shattered elementary school window

(NBC DFW) Frisco police say the investigation into a bullet that struck Hosp Elementary last month is complete, and no charges will be filed. On Wednesday, Frisco police said detectives discovered a female resident in the 1000 block of Gentle Wind Lane believed someone was in her home and, armed with a handgun, searched the second floor of her home. Police say she stumbled, and that’s when the gun accidentally went off. The single shot penetrated an exterior wall of the home and then shattered the school’s window.

Multiple Stratford ISD employees under investigation for engaging inappropriately with students

(KFDA) According to a press release, multiple Stratford ISD employees are under investigation for engaging inappropriately with students. On April 11, the district received a report of a second rumor that another employee may have been involved in a romantic relationship with a student. The administration initiated an internal investigation of each educator and reported these incidents to local law enforcement. Stratford ISD Superintendent Paul Uttley confirmed that one staff member is on paid administrative leave.

What are TCU’s top salaries? Here are the 23 highest-paid university employees

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) TCU’s three highest-paid employees were football coach Sonny Dykes, men’s basketball coach James Dixon and Chancellor Victor Boschini. Dykes’ total compensation was over $6.9 million in 2023. Dixon was paid over $4.2 million in 2023, including a $50,000 performance bonus. Chancellor Boschini received $2.7 million in compensation in 2023, including a $500,000 performance bonus.

‘Did you just stab my brother?’ — Brother of Joe Ramirez recounts days leading up to deadly stabbing at Belton High in 2022

(KWTX) It was another day of palpable emotions inside the 146th District Court in Bell County. The brother of Joe Ramirez, Josh Rios, ended day three of testimony in the trial against Caysen Allison where he recounted the tension building up to the fatal fight on May 3, 2022, and what happened in those fateful moments.

Deer Park HS student tells police he was showing off doing donuts when he hit 2 students on campus

(KTRK) Christian Perez, an 11th-grade student at Deer Park, reportedly told officers he was trying to show off by doing donuts when he hit the two students. Officials say one of the victims was possibly sent as high as 30 feet into the air; the other was sent as high as 20 feet. Perez faces two charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, with a bond set at $50,000. He must wear a court-ordered GPS monitor, and he can no longer drive without permission from a judge. The injured students — a boy and a girl — are both 18 years old. They’ve been released from the hospital and are recovering at home.

WATCH: Teen driver in custody after vehicle speeds across Killeen middle school campus Wednesday

(KXXV) Viewer video shared with 25 News shows a vehicle speeding across the campus of Manor Middle School in Killeen on Wednesday.

Here’s the staggering amount of money UT student athletes have made on NIL since 2021

(KXAN) University of Texas student-athletes have already earned $17.6 million this school year, the highest single-season amount since they became eligible to profit off their name, image and likeness (NIL) in 2021, according to data obtained by the Austin Business Journal through an open-records request.

Have Major League Baseball’s polarizing torpedo bats made their way to Texas high school baseball?

(Dallas Morning News) The torpedo bat has gained attention in baseball circles, but its potential arrival in Texas high school play remains uncertain. While the innovative bat isn’t used in the UIL, some coaches believe it could debut as soon as next season. But, others question its place in a league that has long used aluminum bats.

Five years after COVID disrupted schools, what has changed in high school sports?

(Texas Standard) Texas is all about those Friday night lights, but athletes across all sports experienced pandemic changes.

April 16, 2025

Legislative Update:

The Texas House is set to vote on school vouchers and public school funding. Here’s what you need to know

(Texas Tribune) The Texas House is expected to vote Wednesday on bills to create a $1 billion private school voucher program and give public schools more funding per student, setting up what could be a dramatic floor showdown over the two marquee education proposals of the session. Related:

Texas House Democrats could hold GOP priorities hostage to force statewide school vouchers vote (Texas Tribune)

Bill banning LGBTQ, other advocacy flags in public schools clears Texaas Senate

(Dallas Morning News) A proposal to ban public school displays of unapproved flags is heading to the Texas House after passing the Senate on Tuesday in a 23-8 vote. Public schools would only be allowed to display a dozen specific flags, including those of the United States, Texas, the armed forces, flags representing colleges and universities, a school’s official flag and flags that are temporarily displayed as part of required class curriculum.

Texas House OKs bill that gives schools more latitude to discipline students

(Texas Tribune) The Texas House on Tuesday gave initial approval to a bill that would make it easier for schools to suspend their homeless and youngest students. The proposal included a handful of revisions that seem to respond to calls to incorporate more guidelines so schools don’t unintentionally sweep up a wide range of students. House Bill 6 would allow schools to discipline all students with out-of-school suspensions – requiring them to stay off school grounds – when they engage in “repeated and significant” classroom disruption or threaten the health and safety of other children. The bill would reverse state laws from 2017 and 2019, effectively expanding when homeless students and children in pre-K through second grade can be suspended.

Texas Senate approves bill that could reshape how history, race are taught in universities

(CBS Austin) Texas senators gave initial approval on Tuesday to a bill that would drastically limit how the state”s public universities teach their students about history, race and inequality. Senate Bill 37 passed 20-11 despite Democrats raising concerns it could lead to a faculty brain drain, self-censorship or lawsuits against the state.

New state agency to deal with cyber threats advances in Texas House

(Dallas Morning News) Texas would establish a new state cybersecurity agency to fend off attacks on sensitive public systems and private data under legislation approved Tuesday in the Texas House. House Bill 150 would spend $135 million over the next two years to create the Texas Cyber Command, administered through the University of Texas System and based at the University of Texas-San Antonio. The command’s primary duties would include cybersecurity threat response, management, forensics, and training.

Also Reported:

4 injured in shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in southern Dallas

(KERA) Four people were injured during a shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School in southern Dallas Tuesday afternoon, and one was in serious condition, according to local officials. A 17-year-old was arrested and booked into the Dallas County Jail Tuesday night, according to the Dallas Morning News. Assistant Police Chief Christina Smith said the gun did not come through during “regular intake time,” and that the incident was not a failure of the staff, protocols or machinery used to detect firearms. She did not elaborate further, and both officials only took two questions from reporters. Related:

17-year-old suspect in Wilmer-Hutchins High School shooting taken into custody, Dallas ISD says (CBS Texas)
‘Senseless’: Texas politicians react to shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School (Dallas Morning News)

In the West Texas measles outbreak, a new battle emerges — misinformation

(Texas Tribune) Vaccine critics have downplayed the role of measles in two Texas girls’ deaths, peddled unproven measles treatments and exaggerated the dangers of the vaccine. Related:

RFK Jr.’s mixed message about the measles outbreaks draws criticism from health officials (AP)

UIL to survey superintendents on possibly adding shot clock for high school basketball

(Dallas Morning News) The University Interscholastic League is taking a big step toward possibly adding shot clocks for high school basketball in Texas. The UIL will send out a survey to district superintendents Wednesday to gather feedback on whether there is support for implementing a shot clock for public school games statewide, according to the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, TABC executive director Johnnie Carter said a recent survey of coaches in the state showed overwhelming support for the addition of a shot clock.

Huffman ISD superintendent appears to be leaving the district in vague communication to the community Tuesday

(Houston Chronicle) Huffman ISD Superintendent Benny Soileau appears to be out at the 3,646-student northeast Harris County district, according to a communication about a “new chapter of leadership” posted on the district’s social media pages and sent in an email to staff Tuesday. The announcement came after a special board meeting Monday night, where the board voted unanimously following a four-hour closed session discussion to “proceed with related actions regarding the superintendent’s evaluation.” According to the message sent out by the district, Angeles Perez, the current chief officer of academics and student services, will serve as the “acting administrator.”

Katy ISD reviews self-defense policies after fight between boy and girl in classroom goes viral

(KTRK) A fight video circulating on social media has Katy ISD’s school board considering the district’s self-defense policy.

Facing anti-LGBTQ critics, Deer Park ISD names new superintendent

(Houston Chronicle) Deer Park Independent School District has offered its top superintendent job to an experienced educator after facing a barrage of criticism and protests over the candidate’s sexual orientation. The seven-member board of Deer Park ISD approved a contract for the new superintendent, Tiffany Regan, at a public meeting Monday evening. At the meeting, Pastor Douglas Harris of Central Baptist Church repeated his anti-LGBTQ rhetoric against the board’s approval to hire Regan. However, Regan received support from Deer Park ISD trustees and an area pastor. At least 2,369 people also signed an already circulating online petition calling on Harris to make a “public apology” and issue a statement “disavowing hate speech and affirming dignity for all.”

716,000 meals canceled for Austin-area food bank as federal funding is cut

(KUT) The Central Texas Food Bank is feeling the effects of the Trump administration’s funding cuts after the U.S. Department of Agriculture slashed more than a billion dollars in funding for programs that support food banks and help schools buy goods from local farmers. Within two weeks following the decision, 39 loads of food were canceled, said Beth Corbett, Central Texas Food Bank’s vice president of government affairs and advocacy. “That equates to nearly 913,000 pounds of food. For perspective, that’s the equivalent of about 716,000 meals,” she said.

Beaumont City Council rejects Beaumont ISD’s $9.4M Empowerment Zone project

(KBMT) The Beaumont City Council denied a request from the Beaumont Independent School District (BISD) to establish a Neighborhood Empowerment Zone for the site of a proposed $9.4 million Howard J. Trahan Transportation Facility Tuesday. The facility, which would serve as a hub for school bus parking and maintenance, is a key part of BISD’s infrastructure development. Had the request been approved, the designation would have allowed the city to waive approximately $60,000 in fees associated with the project.

La Joya ISD evaluates storm damage

(Progress Times) The La Joya school district has significant damage from the March 27 storm, and district officials expect additional issues to surface in the coming months. During the after-action debrief from the LJISD safety and security teams, staff said the storm was, in recent memory, the largest-scale emergency event while students were at school.

San Antonio’s Pre-K 4 SA will soon offer child care services for children under 3

(San Antonio Report) Pre-K 4 SA’s South Education Center will move farther south from its City Base location to an 8-acre lot off of South WW White Road in August, and for the first time in its history, Pre-K 4 SA will offer care for toddlers and infants under the age of 3. Pre-K 4 SA is a city-funded child care program approved by San Antonio voters in 2012 that traditionally served children ages 3 and 4. Since opening its first two centers in 2013, the program has served 13,000 children, expanded to four centers and partnered with nearly every school district in the area.

Cell phone video shows fatal stabbing at Belton High School as murder trial continues

(KXXV) The murder trial of Caysen Allison continued for a second day as prosecutors presented evidence in the 2022 fatal stabbing of Joe Ramirez at Belton High School. Detective Joshua Tulloch was the first witness to take the stand Tuesday morning. During his testimony, investigators showed images taken at the school following the stabbing, revealing droplets and trails of blood in the boys’ bathroom and throughout the hallways. Related:

‘He didn’t want to fight’: Students who witnessed deadly Belton High School stabbing testify Caysen Allison did not want to fight Joe Ramirez (KWTX)

University of Houston Professor Says He’s Going Back to South Korea to Resolve Immigration Status

(Houston Press) A University of Houston professor told students Sunday that his math classes would be taken over by another educator through the end of the semester so he could return to South Korea to resolve his immigration status. The news comes in the wake of hundreds of Texas international students losing their immigration status. At least 252 international students at Texas universities have had their visas revoked or immigration status terminated in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database. Related:

Federal government revokes 5 Tarrant County College international students’ visas (Fort Worth Report)
Lamar University on alert after visa revocations for five international students (KFDM)

High school softball brawl under review: Taft vs. Mathis clash caught on camera

(KIII) A brawl at a local high school softball game Tuesday night is under review. It was all caught on camera at the Taft vs. Mathis softball game. Video recorded by the Facebook page Greyhound Network showed what appears to be a runner making it home, but then a fight breaks out among the players. That prompted the coaches to rush the field. 3NEWS has reached out to officials with both school districts about the incident.

Houston ISD school bus rear ended by unlicensed driver on Southwest Freeway

(Fox 26 Houston) School officials stated the school bus was rear-ended by an unlicensed driver who received multiple citations. Officials said there were six students on board from Lanier Middle School and Lamar High School. All the students on board the bus were safe. However, the driver of the school bus was taken to the hospital.

2 Deer Park High School students hit by student driving SUV recklessly in school parking lot

(KPRC) Two students were hospitalized at Deer Park High School after they were hit by a fellow student driving an SUV recklessly in the school’s parking lot. A Deer Park PD source told KPRC 2 that their injuries are not life threatening. The teen driving the SUV was later identified as 17-year-old Christian Perez. He was arrested at the scene and charged with two counts of reckless aggravated assault.

Baylor University and McLennan County Community College to offer new cyber security courses to fill technology skills gap

(KWTX) Baylor University and McLennan County Community College will offer two new cyber security courses this summer. The new courses will give opportunity to people with unconventional schedules.

This new Dallas theater has a ‘Big Heart.’ And all its stars are adults with disabilities

(Texas Standard) Big Heart Theater works with adults who have intellectual and developmental disabilities to create original musical theater productions.

April 15, 2025

Legislative Update:

Texas House expected to vote on school choice bill Wednesday

(Dallas Morning News) In what could portend a sweeping change for education in Texas, the state House is set to vote on a school choice bill Wednesday that would create a $1 billion fund for parents who could then use taxpayer dollars to pay for private school education. The vote is one of the few remaining hurdles for the legislation, which has been a top priority for Gov. Greg Abbott and passed in the Senate on Feb. 5. The proposal, Senate Bill 2, has been at the center of one of the most intense political fights at the Legislature over the past two years.

Do Houston’s private schools have the space to take students on vouchers? Some say yes

(Houston Chronicle) As details are sorted out in the voucher bill expected to go before the Texas House early this week, some of Houston’s estimated 150 private schools say they have been laying the groundwork for expansion for years and are ramping up efforts to be top of mind for Houston families who might use vouchers.

Texas school shooting survivors asking lawmakers to reject some gun bills

(Fox 7 Austin) School shooting survivors are asking Texas lawmakers to reject certain gun bills. Lawmakers discussed HB 259, which legalizes short-barrel firearms, and HB 4201, that allows license-to-carry holders to carry on government property. Both bills were left pending in the House Committee.

Texas Senate Works to Ban Pride Flags From Classrooms But They Can’t Define What a ‘Flag’ Is

(Latin Times) The Texas Senate advanced a bill that would ban Pride flags from public school classrooms but the proposal has stirred confusion and criticism, especially since lawmakers pushing the measure can’t clearly define what constitutes a “flag.”

Texas House gives first approval to bill that would allow universities to pay student athletes

(Texas Tribune) Already able to collect from private entities, athletes for the first time would be able to receive direct payments from universities under the proposal.

What’s at risk for North Texas families as child care deserts expand?

(Dallas Morning News) Child care advocates are urging lawmakers to help North Texas families obtain daycare seats. The stakes are high for North Texas’ young children, as the latest analysis by advocacy nonprofit Children at Risk shows thousands of available openings at child daycare facilities have vanished statewide since last September.

Also Reported:

Frisco track meet stabbing: Teen suspect released after bond reduced significantly, and more conditions added

(WFAA) A Collin County judge on Monday significantly reduced track meet stabbing suspect Karmelo Anthony’s bond from $1 million to $250,000 and also placed him under house arrest. Related:

False Karmelo Anthony claims, fake Austin Metcalf autopsy drive Frisco stabbing misinformation surge (CBS Texas)

Measles Cases in Texas Rise to 561, State Health Department Says

(Reuters) The Texas health department reported 561 cases of measles in the state on Tuesday, an increase of 20 cases from its previous count on April 11, as the United States battles an outbreak of the childhood disease. Related:

El Paso confirms more measles cases; total now 8 (KFOX)
Why did the CDC shelve a warning about measles and the need for vaccination? (Texas Public Radio)

Fort Bend ISD votes for gender policy centered on parental notification

(Fox 26 Houston) The Fort Bend Independent School District has approved a controversial policy regarding how schools handle students’ gender identities. The vote was 5-2 in favor of the policy. The approved policy requires school officials to notify parents if a student asks to be identified by a different name or pronoun than the one assigned at birth.

New Deer Park ISD superintendent responds as pastor wages anti-gay campaign against her

(Houston Chronicle) After being targeted by a local pastor’s discriminatory, anti-gay campaign, Deer Park ISD’s new Superintendent Tiffany Regan said Monday that she hopes families will focus on her vision for the district that she has loved since she was a child.

Cy-Fair’s streak as one of Texas’ fastest-growing districts will end soon as enrollment stabilizes

(Houston Chronicle) Cypress-Fairbanks ISD’s enrollment is expected to decline slightly over the next 10 years, ending its run as one of the fastest-growing districts in Texas, according to a new demographics report.

San Antonio ISD boosts pay for district employees after Board of Trustees votes

(News 4 SA) On Monday, the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) Board of Trustees approved a pay raise for all full-time, permanent district employees for the 2025-2026 school year. The total cost of $14.7 million includes a 4% general pay raise for full-time hourly staff, and a 3% pay raise for teachers and other exempt staff. This measure raises the entry pay rate within the district to $17 an hour, with the entry annual salary for teachers climbing to $60,000 a year.

Frisco ISD to get second opinion on middle school closure

(Fox 4 KDFW) Frisco ISD stopped short of closing an old campus the district says has fallen under disrepair and is too expensive to fix. Trustees say they are still dealing with a budget shortfall.

Black Houston leaders call for Humble ISD leader’s removal at NAACP town hall after lynching remarks

(Houston Chronicle) Multiple Black Houston community leaders called Monday for the school board to remove newly appointed Humble ISD Superintendent Roger Brown from his role after he reportedly said he wanted to “lynch” Centerpoint and the mayor. Brown said he was very sorry for using such an insensitive word and that he did not mean to offend anyone with his comments, which he made during a meeting with other Humble ISD leaders and staff in late March. He said he never meant for his “exaggerated comment” to be taken literally.

More than 170 international students at UT System schools have had visas revoked: officials

(Austin American-Statesman) More than 170 students across University of Texas System educational institutions have had their visas revoked by the federal government, the system’s vice chancellor for external relations confirmed to the American-Statesman on Monday.

POLICE: Video shows former Tyler ISD substitute teacher shoving, tackling, restraining student with disabilities multiple times

(CBS 19) In an interview, the teacher admitted he was “out of character” that day. He didn’t deny anything that was on camera. He simply said, “I was upset.” Joacim Castro-Lacayo, 28, was arrested on a charge of injury to a child or disabled person on Wednesday, April 9. He remains in jail on a $500,000 bond.

Arlington charter school child sex abuse investigation uncovers suspect’s history

(WFAA) While investigating child sex abuse at an Arlington charter school, police say they’ve learned some disturbing history about two of their suspects. Newman International Academy (NIA) police told WFAA that they are getting help from the FBI. Principal Rick Adams faces charges of tampering with evidence, while staff member Gabrielle Little is accused of child grooming. Former educator Ruel Barbee has been charged with an improper relationship with a student. Chief Antkowiak disclosed that Rick Adams had been investigated for inappropriate behavior in two other school districts, including Fort Worth ISD.

Belton ISD terminates 2 employees charged with sex crimes against children

(KXXV) In a special-called board meeting Monday, Belton ISD school board members voted to terminate the contracts of two employees who are accused of sexually assaulting minors. Belton ISD started with the contract of Logan Demeny, an employee at South Belton Middle School, who is accused of sexually assaulting one of his students off school grounds. In another unanimous vote, the Belton ISD school board decided to terminate the contract of Estevan Banda, a Tarver Elementary staff member arrested on indecency with a child charge.

San Antonio mother concerned over open campus during lunch at Stevens HS after student is stabbed off campus

(KENS) Police say a fight with a group of students in a field near the Northside ISD campus escalated to one student being stabbed and another cut.

How a North Texas school is breaking students’ phone habits using “phone lockers”

(CBS Texas) Educators know that capturing students’ attention in the classroom is harder than ever — and they say it’s in part because of phones. One school in Willow Park has seen success through a pilot program that’s getting students to forget about their mobile devices using what they’re calling “phone lockers.” Trinity Christian Academy said it’s on the forefront of a nationwide movement. Students start their mornings with a quick pit stop to phone lockers.

Texas A&M-Kingsville paves college path for rural high school students

(KIII) High school students in five South Texas districts can now earn college credits through a partnership with Texas A&M University-Kingsville.

“In the fight for his life”: Defense says Caysen Allison acted in self-defense when he fatally stabbed Joe Ramirez at Belton High

(KWTX) The highly-anticipated trial of Caysen Allison, 21, charged with murder in the killing of Joe Ramirez at Belton High School back in May 2022, began on April 14, 2025, in a 146th District Court packed with families, friends, witnesses and many others who have been waiting three years to learn Allison’s fate. State prosecutors on Monday told the jury Allison intentionally cut and stabbed Ramirez. The defense, however, implied its client acted in self-defense. Allison “was in the fight for his life when he was jumped by five friends,” Defense Attorney Zachary Boyd told the jury.

College Station ISD busts THC vaping with technology; how it works

(KBTX) A 17-year-old College Station High School student was arrested last week for bringing a THC vape onto campus and using it in the bathroom. A device used to detect vaping alerted school officials to what was going on. In the arrest report, the school resource officer credited the school’s vape sensors for detecting the activity in the bathroom. While College Station ISD did not disclose what sensor company it partnered with, companies like Triton Sensors work with schools to install vape detection systems, often placed in restrooms or other areas where cameras are not allowed.

Crowley ISD school set to reopen Tuesday after probe of nearby shooting that left 2 hurt

(Dallas Morning News) Two people were shot Monday in Crowley during an incident that resulted in the daylong closure of a nearby elementary school where a gun was found in a field on campus, the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office said. The two gunshot victims were both rushed to a local hospital for treatment of what were believed to be non-life-threatening injures, the sheriff’s office said in a written statement. Officials did not immediately say if the gunshot victims were connected to the school or disclose if investigators knew what the motive was for the gunfire.

Bills in Congress detail path to closing the Education Department

(K-12 Dive) More attention in Congress is being directed toward the federal agency’s future as Trump calls for its closure.

‘Waste of taxpayer funds’: Feds pull funding for Texas high-speed rail project

(KBTX) Investors say they’re proud to take the Texas high-speed rail project forward without federal funding, calling the move a win for private-sector leadership.

Judge’s ruling allows UT San Antonio to continue razing of Institute of Texan Cultures

(San Antonio Report) The UTSA Institute of Texas Cultures is coming down. On Monday, a Bexar County judge ruled that demolition of the museum and 1968 World’s Fair building can continue despite opposition by preservationists who had hoped for a pause.

Former Palestinian Authority Prime Minister, UT alumnus speaks at LBJ School

(Daily Texan) After the talk, Salam Fayyad said the University should have responded differently to the pro-Palestine protests in April 2024, where law enforcement arrested at least 100 protestors.

University of Houston at Katy to launch graduate courses from College of Education

(Community Impact) The new education offerings are meant to mirror the Katy area’s leading industries and employers, including neighboring school districts, said Jay Neal, associate vice president and chief operating officer for UH at Sugar Land and Katy.

Texas Wesleyan’s counseling program extends mental health services beyond student body

(Fort Worth Report) The majority of clients at the university counseling center are east Fort Worth residents whose sessions cost between $10 and $50.

Top Trinity Valley private school admin alleges retaliation in third lawsuit tied to teacher misconduct case

(Fort Worth Report) Jeffrey Snyder, a top administrator at Trinity Valley School, filed a federal lawsuit accusing the Fort Worth private school of retaliation and defamation tied to the fallout from a teacher misconduct scandal that has sparked multiple lawsuits. Snyder says the Fort Worth private school ruined his reputation in the wake of child abuse allegations against a former teacher.

Students Showcase Computer Science, Tech Skills at Texas Capitol

(Texas Advanced Computing Center) The Code @ the Capitol event demonstrated the importance of STEM education in Texas.

April 14, 2025

Legislative Update:

The Texas Legislature is having big battles over gender and sexuality. Track them here.

(Texas Tribune) Lawmakers are quietly pushing bills that would limit access to bathrooms and measures preventing trans people from changing government documents.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announces he’s running for fourth term

(Texas Tribune) Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will run for a fourth term of his influential role as lieutenant governor, he announced Friday, touting his first endorsement from President Donald Trump.

Texas Republican lawmakers unwilling to change abortion laws to address doomed pregnancies

(Texas Tribune) For the first time since Texas outlawed nearly all abortions, lawmakers are clarifying the “life of mother” exception. But they don’t plan to address cases where the fetus won’t survive.

Also Reported:

Measles exploded in Texas after stagnant vaccine funding. New cuts threaten the same across the US

(AP) The measles outbreak in West Texas didn’t happen just by chance. The easily preventable disease, declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, ripped through communities sprawling across more than 20 Texas counties in part because health departments were starved of the funding needed to run vaccine programs, officials say. Immunization programs nationwide have been left brittle by years of stagnant funding by federal, state and local governments. In Texas and elsewhere, this helped set the stage for the measles outbreak and fueled its spread. Now cuts to federal funding threaten efforts to prevent more cases and outbreaks. Related:

Long-term measles health risks include immune amnesia, brain swelling and hearing loss (Dallas Morning News)

‘Nobody wants to do our job’: San Antonio special educators say they need more support

(San Antonio Report) Grace Garza said she thinks about leaving her job as a special education teacher “all the time.” Not only are special education certifications more difficult to complete than general education programs, special education teachers risk being injured by their students. “It not only takes a toll on the work at school…but it also takes a toll on your mental health,” said Garza, who works for Northside ISD, adding that she gets injured on the job once a week on average, including bite marks and bruises. Garza is one of 78% of teachers across the state who have seriously considered leaving the teaching profession in 2024, according to a Charles Butt Foundation Poll.

Map: See where international students in Texas had visas revoked

(Dallas Morning News) More than 110 foreign students in Texas had their statuses suddenly terminated by the Trump administration.

Do school closures help students and school districts? Here’s what the research shows

(Houston Landing) Here’s what we know about the results of schools shutting down, which figures to become more common in the Houston area as enrollment declines, budget deficits, charter school growth and other factors heighten the possibility of wider closures.

Trans Sports and Critical Race Theory: Ken Paxton Targets North Texas School Districts

(Dallas Observer) Undercover videos have spurred the Senate hopeful’s recent investigations into local districts.

Busby takes the stand and denies all allegations in Houston ISD bribery trial

(Houston Landing) On Friday, the fifteenth day of the expansive federal trial, former Houston Independent School District Chief Operating Officer Brian Busby firmly denied allegations that he pressured HISD employees to direct contracts toward Hutchison’s companies for landscaping and maintenance services. He also rejected claims that he instructed a district official to encourage subordinates to give Hutchison’s firm a favorable score on a 2017 maintenance and repair contract. Busby did admit to handing $10,000 in cash to former HISD Board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones on Hutchison’s behalf, but he insisted that the money was meant for gift cards to help Hurricane Harvey victims, not in exchange for district-related favors.

7% of Houston ISD teachers recommended for contract nonrenewal

(Houston Chronicle) About 7% of Houston ISD’s teacher workforce was recommended for contract nonrenewal due to performance, the district shared in a Saturday statement. Out of around 10,400 teachers, HISD determined 733 teachers will be recommended for contract nonrenewal. This number takes into account an adjustment following the district’s discovery of a mistake in their teacher rating calculations on Friday. Related:

Commentary: Houston ISD labeled my children as autistic. Neither of them is, and parents can push back (Houston Chronicle)

Austin ISD accuses former principal, executive director of violating school policy, report shows

(KXAN) Austin Independent School District officials recommended terminating a beloved principal and her supervisor days before she turned in her resignation, according to an internal investigation report provided through an open records request.

Austin ISD gets $41 million from the Education Department. What happens if the agency closes?

(KUT) The Trump administration’s effort to close the Department of Education could impact federal funding Austin ISD uses to support its most vulnerable students.

‘Arrests are not enough’: UT leaders call out prosecutors, judicial system in letter about campus safety

(KXAN) The University of Texas at Austin released a statement Friday regarding the safety and security of its students. In the statement, the university said families, students, faculty, staff and visitors were “rightly frustrated.” According to UT, a violent offender who was arrested three times over the past three days continued to be arrested and released. That person then returned to the “Drag,” on Guadalupe Street near campus, to threaten and physically assault UT students.

Here’s Why Karmelo Anthony’s GoFundMe Campaign Was Deleted And Where People Are Sending Money Instead

(International Business Times) Seventeen-year-old Karmelo Anthony is facing charges in connection with the fatal stabbing of fellow teenager Austin Metcalf, also 17, during a track meet in Frisco, Texas. Following Anthony’s arrest, fundraising efforts were launched online — initially via GoFundMe — to support his legal defense. However, GoFundMe removed the campaigns, citing its policy against raising funds for the legal defense of violent crimes. A separate and active fundraising campaign for Anthony and his family has since appeared on GiveSendGo. As of Sunday afternoon, the fundraising effort for Anthony and his family had exceeded $400,000, whereas Metcalf’s GoFundMe campaign stood at approximately $340,000. Related:

Getting a fair trial for teen who fatally stabbed another at track meet might be hard, DA says (KBTX via Gray News)

Highland Park forfeits boys state soccer title

(Fox 4 KDFW) The Dallas-area Highland Park High School Scots had to forfeit after winning the school’s first-ever state title in soccer. An ineligible player was used during the team’s 2-0 win in the championship. Liberty Hill was named 5A Division II state champs.

School district fights lawsuit after student dies from choking on rubber glove

(Southeast Texas Record) A Houston-area school district calls the idea it recklessly left out used rubber gloves “pure speculation” in a lawsuit over a student who died after choking on one.

Two students taken to hospital after car rear-ends Hardin-Jefferson ISD bus

(KFDM) According to Hardin-Jefferson ISD, just before 4 p.m. Friday, Hardin-Jefferson Bus 10 was rear-ended by a white Honda car. The bus was on the way to China Elementary. Only high school and junior high students were on the bus at the time of the accident.

Maud ISD students sign on to play esports at Texas A&M University-Texarkana

(KTAL) A signing day ceremony was held last week for three students at Maud High School who will play esports at the next level. Aiden Fothergill, Justice Reid, and Tristan Beckett will take their gaming talents to Texas A&M University-Texarkana (TAMUT). The three students were among the first members of Maud’s esports program and have played on state and national championship teams. They are happy that what started as a hobby has become much more.

Business booms at Prairie View A&M meat market selling goat, beef and other farm-to-table products

(Houston Chronicle) The university’s meat market is an open secret around Houston, counting students and alumni as frequent buyers but gaining popularity with others who drive across the region for the frozen goods. The shop operates only once a week, from 1 to 5 p.m. on Fridays, and its sales have boomed since opening in late 2022.

Amid higher ed challenges in the Capitol, top lawmakers break ground on University of Houston’s public policy school

(Houston Chronicle) University of Houston leaders broke ground Friday on a long-awaited building to house the Hobby School of Public Affairs – and several of Texas’ highest-ranking lawmakers joined in the celebration.

Former Amarillo, Canyon ISD teacher, accused of child sex crimes, arrested for 6th time

(KVII) A former Amarillo and Canyon ISD teacher, accused of child sex crimes, was arrested for a sixth time. Patrick Kenneth Farmer, 57, was arrested Wednesday on a charge of indecency with a child sexual contact. In 2006, Farmer pleaded guilty in Randall County to four counts of indecency with a child sexual contact and was sentenced to six years probation.

Crowley ISD elementary school closed Monday due to active police investigation, officials say

(CBS Texas) A North Texas elementary school is closed Monday morning due to a police investigation near the campus, officials said. Crowley ISD sent an alert to parents and staff members concerning the closure of J.A. Hargrave Elementary. The district said it’s working with law enforcement and will provide more information when it becomes available.

Bexar County appraisal values are in the mail for 2025, rising an average of roughly 2.1%

(San Antonio Report) Bexar County property owners will soon receive their 2025 valuation notices, with the appraised value of residential properties rising an average of roughly 2.1% from the previous year.

April 11, 2025

Legislative Update:

$337 billion, two-year budget gets Texas House approval

(Texas Tribune) The lower chamber’s plan largely aligns with the Senate’s proposal and puts billions toward teacher pay, border security and property tax cuts.

‘Uvalde Strong Act’ passes unanimously out of Texas House Committee: ‘One step closer’

(Austin American-Statesman) The bill aims to ensure multiple agencies are all working from the same playbook when responding to critical incidents like an active shooting.

Also Reported:

Without measles vaccine, Tarrant County students could miss weeks of class if exposed

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) As the West Texas measles outbreak has found its way to Tarrant County, Fort Worth-area school districts are implementing preparedness plans on what to do if an infected student shows up to school. Exposed students who are unvaccinated could miss at least three weeks of class. Related:

As measles spreads, federal funding cuts force San Antonio Metro Health to halt vaccine clinics (San Antonio Report)

RFK Jr. says HHS will determine the cause of autism by September

(AP) The nation’s top health agency will undertake a “massive testing and research effort” to determine the cause of autism, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Thursday. Kennedy, a longtime vaccine critic who has pushed a discredited theory that routine childhood shots cause the developmental disability, said the effort will be completed by September and involve hundreds of scientists.

Houston ISD vendor allegedly made fake invoices to pay off poker debts, federal trial testimony reveals

(Houston Chronicle) Testimony in federal court this week suggests that the contractor on trial in the federal Houston ISD bribery trial was creating fake invoices to pay off staggering poker debts. A timber company owner and a professional gambler are the latest twists in a three-week federal trial around former HISD vendor Anthony Hutchison and former district Chief Operating Officer Brian Busby that has already featured testimony about strip club visits and cash handoffs in Walmart parking lots.

Spring ISD board declines to approve Bluebonnet Learning math curriculum via 3-3 tie vote

(KHOU) The Spring ISD Board of Trustees declined to approve the Bluebonnet learning math curriculum at its board meeting on April 9. A motion was called more than three hours into the meeting to vote whether to approve the curriculum. The board voted 3-3, and since there was no majority, the motion failed.

Plano ISD considers 3% raise for teachers in 2025-26 school year

(Community Impact) Plano ISD officials are looking at raising teachers salaries by 3% in the 2025-26 school year. Along with teacher pay raises, district officials recommend increasing the salaries for new first-year teachers and auxiliary staff, said Duana Kindle, PISD’s chief of employee services, during an April 8 board meeting. The starting salary for first-year teachers will be $62,200—a $1,200 increase from last year’s starting salary.

Dallas ISD teachers, staff could see pay increases under proposed budget

(Dallas Morning News) Dallas school leaders want to raise the districts minimum wage to $17 an hour and set the starting teacher salary at $64,000. Administrators said they are committed to leading the region on staff compensation even as they confront questions about how much money the Legislature will send their way — and whether the possible dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education could interrupt the flow of federal funds.

Houston ISD parents of disabled students brace for another possible battle to keep “Preparing Students for Independence” program at T.H. Rogers School

(KPRC) Parents of students in Houston ISD’s “Preparing Students for Independence” (PSI) program say they’re gearing up—yet again—for a fight they hoped was behind them. The PSI program, which supports students with severe disabilities, is currently housed at T.H. Rogers School, a specialized campus with the infrastructure and staff tailored to the students’ complex needs. But recent communication from HISD staff has left parents like Julie Beeson on edge, fearing the program may be relocated.

How 3 high-poverty schools in Bexar County became top performers

(San Antonio Report) Texas A&M University-San Antonio used their education symposium to discuss how community and education leaders can partner to support high-needs schools. “Best of Both Worlds” was a panel discussion formed by principals from three schools from different grade levels that were identified as the highest-performing from high-poverty schools in Bexar County, along with leaders from local education nonprofits and District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran.

One Week After Warning of School Consolidations, Austin ISD May Have Its First Target

(Austin Chronicle) Dobie Middle School’s low test scores creates a risk of the TEA taking over the district. Superintendent Matias Segura later told reporters the district will make a decision on Dobie by the end of the month. Related:

Students at Austin ISD’s Ann Richards School walk out in support of principal who resigned (CBS Austin)

Qatar’s Billion-Dollar Influence At Texas A&M Under Scrutiny

(Dallas Express) New revelations in U.S. Senate testimony are casting a spotlight on Qatar’s outsized financial ties to Texas A&M University and the troubling strings attached. Dr. Charles Asher Small, an expert on antisemitism and foreign influence, told lawmakers that Texas A&M received over $1 billion from Qatar – funding none of which was fully disclosed to the U.S. Department of Education, in violation of federal law.

TCU cuts Diversity & Inclusion office amid funding cut threats, higher-ed politicization

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) Texas Christian University has eliminated its Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and several web pages related to DEI and LGBTQ services have been scrubbed from the university’s website.

Gas service repairs at Pflugerville ISD elementary school following series of leaks

(CBS Austin) The gas service at Ruth Barron Elementary School in Pflugerville ISD is currently being inspected after a series of issues with natural gas regulations. These issues have caused multiple gas leaks over the past few weeks, prompting occasional evacuations.

Texas DEI ban leads to NAACP event abruptly moving from Tarrant County College

(Fort Worth Report) A talent competition for Black high school students that has been held at Tarrant County College South Campus for more than 15 years abruptly changed venues last weekend. The reason? The recent state law, Senate Bill 17, which bans diversity, equity and inclusion offices and programs at colleges and universities. The law went into effect at the beginning of last year, and also bans “contracting with third parties to perform duties of a DEI office,” according to TCC’s website.

Kingsville ISD cuts ties with Harrel Elementary Parent Teacher Organization, receives remaining funds for playground

(KIII) There is ongoing controversy in Kingsville regarding the Harrel Elementary PTO’s spending. Community members accused the PTO of misusing money intended for a new playground at the school. Harrel Elementary PTO was to hand over a cashier’s check for the remaining balance of $7,583.64. Kingsville ISD said that happened at about 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. Kingsville Independent School District is now making efforts to dissolve its relationship with the PTO.

U.S. Department of Justice accuses Southwest Airlines of discrimination in suit over Hispanic student program

(KERA) The U.S. Department of Justice filed a brief Thursday supporting a group suing Southwest Airlines over a travel program that gave free flights to some Hispanic students.

Q&A: How San Jacinto College is betting on virtual campuses to boost enrollment

(Houston Landing) Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic forced higher education institutions to pivot to makeshift virtual formats for most classes, San Jacinto College leaders are launching a fully virtual campus for more students to complete their courseloads online.

Texas university first to add women’s flag football as sport grows in Lone Star State

(KXAN) In 2024, Concordia University announced they would be adding a women’s flag football team, making it the first university in Texas to offer the rapidly growing sport on the collegiate level. Since then, more students have joined the team and next year they will have a full schedule, but this is only the beginning.

Tear down of Institute of Texan Cultures goes on as San Antonio Conservation Society pleads for stay

(San Antonio Report) As crews continued to dismantle the massive concrete walls of the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) on Thursday, less than a mile away, the Conservation Society of San Antonio stood before a Bexar County District judge pleading for a pause.

Second body found at UT Austin in past week

(KHOU) This is the second time in less than a week that a deceased person has been discovered on university grounds. The cause of death remains unknown, but UT Media Relations vice president Mike Rosen said there was no foul play suspected. It’s also unclear exactly where on campus the body was discovered. On Saturday, another person died on campus in a separate incident at the Perry-Castañeda Library. UT Austin police responded to a medical emergency at the library just after 5 p.m., and the deceased person reportedly suffered from “noticeable trauma.”

University Tenants Union seeks to end ‘borrowed light’ loophole of windowless housing in Austin

(Daily Texan) In 2023, a UT Austin student-led letter signed by more than 800 people led the Austin City Council to pass a resolution that banned developers from continuing to build windowless housing in Austin. Now, the University Tenants Union is continuing to push for natural lighting in bedrooms by advocating against a “borrowed light” loophole.

April 10, 2025

Legislative Update:

Watch budget day in the House: Texas lawmakers take up $337 billion spending plan

(Texas Tribune) Among hundreds of amendments are ones that focus on school vouchers, the attorney general’s office, and the lottery commission.

Texas Senate to consider bill that could reshape how history and race are taught in state universities

(Texas Tribune) An overhauled version of Senate Bill 37 would also allow anyone to file complaints that could lead schools to lose funds.

Dan Patrick’s Plan To Ax School Taxes

(Dallas Express) Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is pushing to dramatically reduce school property taxes, with a bold vision to eliminate them for most seniors this session. “My goal is to get rid of it, this session, for almost every senior in the state,” he said, referring to school property taxes. “And eventually every homeowner.” In a new video, Patrick argues that increasing the homestead exemption offers bigger, more secure savings than compression, and he’s been in talks with the Speaker of the Texas House to raise the homestead exemption for seniors from $150,000 to $200,000.

Elon Musk’s attorney running to succeed Paxton as Texas attorney general

(KXAN) Tech billionaire Elon Musk’s attorney John Bash is running to succeed Ken Paxton (R) as Texas’ attorney general, becoming the first candidate to throw his hat in the statewide race. Bash, who is a partner at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP, said he is running because the Texas attorney general’s office is at the “forefront of all the critical legal issues facing the country, and that office should be led by the strongest possible attorney – one who is battle-tested and will be ready on Day 1.”

Texas left more children in dangerous homes while cutting services. Tragedy followed

(Texas Public Radio) Despite rising deaths, Texas limited safety services and enshrined laws that made it harder to remove a child.

Also Reported:

Texas measles outbreak hits 500 cases, but expert says it could be 4 times higher

(Austin American-Statesman) The measles outbreak in Texas is likely four times the size of the reported numbers because of a lack of testing and the lack of willingness to come forward to get tested, Dr. Amesh Adalja of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said in a news briefing Tuesday. His estimate is based on the number of measles deaths compared with the number of cases reported. Related:

State offers specific measles guidance for 10 West Texas “outbreak” counties (Texas Tribune)

Family seeks privacy as they lay late Frisco athlete Austin Metcalf to rest

(CBS Texas) The mother and brother of the late Frisco athlete Austin Metcalf are requesting privacy as they focus on laying him to rest, according to a statement released Wednesday. “Thank you for your cooperation and understanding, as we will not field any more interviews with media moving forward,” Meghan and Hunter Metcalf said in the statement. A memorial service for Austin Matthew Metcalf is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Hope Fellowship Frisco East in Frisco. Related:

Karmelo Anthony Defense Fund Raises Over $277K, Increases Goal Again (Dallas Express)

Some Texas families impacted by SNAP cuts; food banks brace for direct hit

(KXAN) Feeding Texas (the state association of food banks) explained that resources are already stretched after the U.S. Department of Agriculture halted millions of dollars worth of deliveries to food banks. The anti-hunger organization shared data from the Texas Department of Agriculture that showed 396 deliveries — including meat, eggs, dairy and canned vegetables — were canceled statewide in March. They estimate these deliveries were equal to around 269 truckloads of food and valued at about $19.2 million. Feeding Texas said that makes it hard for the food banks in its network, including the Central Texas Food Bank, to meet the current demand, especially with higher food prices.

South San Antonio ISD removes dozens of underperforming and uncertified teachers, superintendent says

(KSAT) Nearly 40 teachers will not return to the South San Antonio Independent School District in the fall of 2025. The instructors fall into two categories: 16 who were “underperforming,” according to superintendent Dr. Saul Hinojosa, and another 22 teachers who were not certified. “In order for kids to achieve, they have to have quality teachers in front of them,” Hinojosa said.

‘I know my value:’ Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles says his $126K bonus was ‘well deserved’

(Houston Chronicle) “There is no superintendent in the state of Texas that has raised achievement as much as I did last year,” he said Tuesday. Related:

Houston ISD teachers could be paid based on performance. Critics say teaching ‘is not sales work’ (Houston Public Media)

States, lawmakers push back on ‘abrupt and chaotic’ reversal of COVID funds

(K-12 Dive) The Education Department ended ESSER late liquidation, months after many states had received preapproval from the Biden administration. Democratic leaders in Congress are demanding the U.S. Department of Education immediately reverse the cancelation of billions of dollars in spending extensions for previously approved pandemic emergency aid approved by Congress.

Attack on Afghan Girl at Paul Revere Was Not Due to Her Identity, Houston ISD Says

(Houston Press) The hijab-wearing Afghan girl who was injured in the Paul Revere Middle School cafeteria on March 3 was not targeted because of her identity but because of previous conflict with the group of seven girls who attacked her, a Houston ISD spokesperson said Wednesday.

53 international students’ immigration statuses revoked at four more Texas universities

(Texas Tribune) Fifty-three more international students at four Texas universities have had their legal status changed in a wave of removals from a federal database that have swept across the state and the nation.

Pearland ISD projects $8.6M shortfall for FY 2025-26

(Community Impact) As state funding remains unknown, Pearland ISD is projecting an $8.6 million shortfall for fiscal year 2025-26. Superintendent Larry Berger said this potential shortfall is based on current law, meaning the current funding available at the state level stays the same throughout the remainder of the legislative session.

Spring ISD Superintendent Lupita Hinojosa to retire as school closures loom

(Houston Landing) Spring ISD Superintendent Lupita Hinojosa announced her resignation Tuesday after just over three years in the position, leaving the school board less than three months to find a successor. The first Hispanic woman to lead the majority Hispanic district, Hinojosa led Spring through a tumultuous Covid-19 recovery marked by financial challenges. Last month, the district announced that it would be closing an unknown number of schools ahead of the 2026-2027 school year.

Northwest ISD considers cutting 75 positions amid deficit reduction plans

(Community Impact) Northwest ISD board members heard from Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Pastusek April 7 at their regular board meeting as he presented an update on the district’s efforts to reduce its $16 million deficit. In addition to proposing the elimination of 75 teaching positions, Pastusek said more than $3 million in non-payroll reductions is being targeted.

Choir students express concern as Northside ISD examines cost-saving measures

(News4SA) Voices of concern echoed outside the Northside Independent School District’s activity center on Tuesday as students and alumni gathered to protest potential cuts to school programs, including choir.

Former Plano ISD staffer under investigation for allegedly abusing disabled student

(Fox 4 KDFW) Plano police are investigating after parents say a Plano ISD staff member abused their disabled daughter. Lestia Nelson says she planted an audio device in her daughter’s backpack, which later recorded what she calls screams. A video shows an educator pulling 18-year-old Saniyah Reese by her neck and bending her fingers backward while being rough with her. Plano ISD told FOX 4 the staff member no longer works there and was reported to the state. It did not say if the educator, who has not been charged with a crime, was fired or resigned.

Keller board says lawsuit alleging open meetings violation has no merit, calls to dismiss

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) Attorneys representing the Keller school board have responded to a lawsuit alleging violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act, this time submitting a motion to dismiss. The latest response, filed April 7, the board’s attorneys argue that at no time did any trustee or collection of trustees operate outside legal bounds or violate the Open Meetings Act when considering a plan to split the Keller school district, detaching the schools in the city of Keller from those in Fort Worth.

Texas Teachers’ Retirement System Funded Chinese Firms

(Texas Scorecard) As the Trump administration ramps up its trade war with China, the Teacher Retirement System of Texas continues funding the Communist regime — in apparent defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott’s divestment order.

Brownsville ISD event stresses locally grown, cooked from scratch meals

(MyRGV) The Food and Nutrition Services department at Brownsville ISD showcased its scratch cooking initiative on Tuesday during an annual food show at which locally sourced menu items received good reviews from students at a select group of schools. BISD has been cooking more school meals from scratch ever since receiving a grant from the Colorado-based Chef Ann Foundation in 2023.

United ISD PD: United South HS student threatened to leak ex-GF’s intimate photos

(Laredo Morning Times) A United South High School student has been arrested for threatening to release intimate material showing him and his ex-girlfriend, according to the United ISD Police Department. On April 3, Gerardo Daniel Garcia, 17, was served with an arrest warrant that charged him with publish/threat to publish intimate visual material, a state jail felony.

A US scholar with North Texas ties jailed in Thailand on charges of insulting the monarchy is released on bail

(WFAA) An appeals court granted Paul Chambers’ release on bail after it was twice denied on Tuesday by a lower court.

A breakdown of UT Austin interim President Jim Davis’s legal background, future plans

(Daily Texan) Since he was announced as interim president in February, Jim Davis has participated in a series of public events, introducing himself to students and faculty and laying out his presidential agenda. Here’s what you need to know about Jim Davis:

April 9, 2025

Legislative Update:

Texas lawmakers give initial OK to new agency that would axe ‘unnecessary’ regulations

(Austin American-Statesman) Gov. Greg Abbott could soon control a new regulation-slashing state entity, the “Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office,” after a supermajority of the Texas House on Tuesday gave its initial approval to Senate Bill 14, a priority of the state’s upper chamber. At an expected taxpayer cost of $25 million for five years, the new Regulatory Efficiency Office would identify rules that are “unnecessary, duplicative, expensive or prohibitive.” It also would suggest ways that state agencies can reduce costs and make existing regulations more effective. And it would make information on regulations more accessible to the public.

Tuition at many Fort Worth private schools is higher than proposed voucher amount

(Fort Worth Report) An education savings account won’t go far when searching for a private school in Fort Worth. A Fort Worth Report analysis found 25 private schools, or less than half in the city, charging a tuition rate entirely covered by the Texas Legislature’s priority proposal expanding choice through the use of public dollars.

Texas senators consider $10,000 fine for superintendents who don’t report suspected sexual misconduct

(KXAN) At a Senate committee meeting on Tuesday, lawmakers showed bipartisan support for legislation that would increase penalties for school leaders who fail to report suspected sexual abuse and a bill sparked by a KXAN investigation, which would increase the Texas Education Agency’s authority to investigate school contractors accused of unlawful acts. During the public hearing, where multiple witnesses detailed their personal experiences with sexual misconduct on a school campus, Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, said he planned to introduce a newer version of Senate Bill 571 – which is aimed at increasing the number of personnel TEA can investigate for misconduct to contractors and uncertified personnel.

Texas AG Ken Paxton launches Senate primary challenge against Republican Sen. John Cornyn

(AP) Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is running for the U.S. Senate in a primary challenge against Republican Sen. John Cornyn, setting up what is likely to become one of the GOP’s most contentious and expensive contests of 2026.

Also Reported:

Texas measles cases rise to 505. Here is what you need to know

(Texas Tribune) The number of measles cases has risen to 505, as the historical outbreak continues to spread across West Texas, according to state officials on Tuesday. Of those, 57 patients have been hospitalized. Two more counties – Borden and Randall – have now reported a measles case. Related:

Push for Texas to weaken vaccine mandates persists as measles surge (Texas Tribune)
RFK Jr. claims curve is flattening in Texas measles outbreak. Does the data agree? (ABC News)
Anti-Vaxxers Aren’t Happy With RFK Jr. (The Cut)

‘The disinformation…has to stop.’ — Fatal stabbing of Frisco student athlete sparks community tension

(WFAA) As police investigate the fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf, families face grief, threats, and a wave of misinformation spreading across social media. Related:

Frisco police meet with activist amid fallout over deadly high school stabbing (NBC DFW)
Police Reports Provide Details On Tragic Stabbing Of Frisco High School Student Austin Metcalf (Dallas Express)

Socorro ISD, Canutillo ISD layoffs begin as notices go out

(El Paso Matters) The lives of some Socorro and Canutillo independent school district employees were upended late last week as they received a piece of paper informing them that their contracts would not be renewed after the end of the school year.

Mike Miles: Houston ISD to launch ‘largest pay-for-performance plan in the nation’ in fall 2026

(Houston Landing) Houston ISD teacher salaries could soon range from $64,000 to $101,000 per year depending largely on employees’ performance ratings, ending a long-time practice of paying educators based on years of experience, according to a district document. HISD on Tuesday released long-awaited plans for a “pay-for-performance” system for its 10,000-plus teachers, which would go into effect starting with the 2026-27 school year — becoming the nation’s largest such model, Superintendent Mike Miles said. Related:

Houston ISD has half as many school nurses as last year. The district says that’s not a problem (Houston Public Media)

Three Afghan Girls Wearing Hijabs Were Attacked at Houston ISD’s Paul Revere Middle School, Muslim Group Alleges

(Houston Press) The Houston chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations sent out a statement Tuesday alleging that three Afghan girls were attacked in the Paul Revere Middle School lunchroom by at least 20 students who beat them and stabbed them with pencils. One girl was beaten so badly CAIR said, that she was hospitalized for four days. Video taken by an onlooker shows an absolutely chaotic scene. A man identified as an assistant principal waded into the middle of the attack and broke it up. It was unknown if any other school personnel were on hand.

Uvalde’s new Legacy Elementary School receives full funding

(CBS Austin) The Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation has announced that the new Legacy Elementary School’s costs have been fully funded. Legacy Elementary School will be home to students who attended Robb Elementary. Robb’s doors were shut after 21 innocent people were killed on May 24, 2022.

New $4.2M sports pavilion brings boost to Port Arthur student athletes

(KBMT) Two longtime Port Arthur ISD coaches pitched a $4.2 million athletic pavilion at Memorial High School, enhancing sports training and community pride.

Humble ISD superintendent under investigation over lynching remark at district meeting

(Houston Chronicle) The Humble ISD board is investigating newly appointed Superintendent Roger Brown for allegedly saying he wanted to “lynch the mayor” after being without power during Hurricane Beryl. Brown, who was confirmed for the superintendency in January, said in a public apology during Tuesday’s meeting that he did use that term and that he did not mean to offend anyone.

Alvin ISD to demolish former Walt Disney Elementary site

(Community Impact) Alvin ISD’s board of trustees at its April 8 meeting approved a nearly $200,000 contract to demolish the former Walt Disney Elementary site. The decision to demolish the campus, located at 5000 Mustang Road, Alvin, comes a few months after an EF-2 tornado damaged the school in late December, prompting officials to move students to an alternative campus, Community Impact previously reported.

Does Texas have a teacher retention crisis? Here’s what the state data show

(Houston Landing) While most educators are frustrated with their job, they’re not leaving the classroom at notably higher rates than in years past.

Recently discovered structural issues at Fort Worth elementary building will force the district to close the school

(WFAA) Fort Worth ISD has announced the permanent closure of S.S. Dillow Elementary School due to significant structural issues, leaving parents and students with concerns and questions.

Fort Worth ISD’s new transportation director aims to make bus system more efficient

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) The Fort Worth Independent School District’s new executive director of transportation presented his plans to turn around a department clouded by a poor reputation and recent scrutiny by its workers. Nathan Graf shared his initiatives with school board members to make the district’s bus system more efficient and more engaging for students on their way to and from school. During the Tuesday, April 8 board workshop, he said he wants to consolidate the district’s routes from 216 to 190 and hire and train at least 30 more drivers by the upcoming school year. He’s created a committee to help identify the newly combined bus routes and will host weekly job fairs where current drivers are recruiting new ones.

“It gives kids an opportunity”: More Central Texas school districts switch from a 6 to 9 week grading period

(KWTX) When it comes to tracking student progress and issuing grades, most school districts follow a 6 week grading period. However, in recent years some Central Texas schools have switched to a 9 week grading period.

Former Nacogdoches ISD teacher gets 2 years for relationship with student

(KTRE) A former Nacogdoches ISD middle school teacher is going to prison for a 2023 relationship with a student. Annaleigh Andrews, 26, sexually assaulted the child multiple times, according to a news release issued by the district attorney’s office. On the stand, Andrews asked the court to excuse her behavior, saying her academy schooling left her sheltered and unprepared for the world. She also said her actions should be treated lightly due to a recent autism diagnosis from an expert hired by the defense. The judge found Andrews guilty of seven of her 12 charges in Tuesday’s hearing. He gave her two sentences of two years, which are set to run concurrently. She also received a $5,000 fine and will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of her life.

Former Lewisville ISD teacher sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexual assault of a student

(Fox 4 KDFW) A former Lewisville ISD teacher has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting a ten-year-old student. John Leslie Collett, who taught at Camey Elementary School in The Colony, pleaded guilty to multiple charges in connection to the case, including the aggravated sexual assault of a child and an improper relationship between an educator and a student.

More housing or Juneteenth museum? Galveston ISD trustees face tough dilemma

(Houston Chronicle) The Galveston Independent School District Board of Trustees has a 4.5-acre dilemma: what to do with L.A. Morgan Elementary, one of two elementary schools it closed last year as part of a far-reaching realignment plan. At next week’s meeting, the board must choose between two suitors: a local nonprofit promising to build as many as 30 single-family homes on the site at prices first responders and teachers can afford; and a neighborhood group wanting to turn the school into a Juneteenth museum, which community leaders have argued is long overdue in the city where Juneteenth began.

The Education Department’s approach to civil rights enforcement is changing. Here’s how

(K-12 Dive) Rapid and targeted investigations, outside agency involvement and federal funding cuts may be the new norm for schools. Related:

Trump changes put school districts at financial risk, Moody’s says (K-12 Dive)

LGBTQ+ students in Texas weigh leaving their colleges following DEI ban, researchers find

(Higher Ed Dive) While some students have started the process to transfer to colleges outside of the state, others are mulling leaving once they graduate, a new report by Equality Texas says.

Trump White House now revoking visas of international students at Texas universities

(San Antonio Current) At least 13 students in the UT and Texas A&M systems have lost their visas as part of the crackdown — one reportedly over a speeding ticket.

‘We don’t know’: Future of Texas’ energy market uncertain after oil prices plummet

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) Crude oil prices have continued to fall, after plummeting last week to lows not seen since the pandemic.Though prices are down, experts say Texas’ oil and natural gas industry may manage to weather the storm relatively unscathed — if the entire economy remains strong.

Interim UT Austin President Jim Davis speaks out about his goals for UT developmental scene, affordability

(Daily Texan) Interim UT Austin President Jim Davis intends for the University to evolve in the city’s developmental scene, he said at a breakfast event with the Urban Land Institute March 26. Davis said one of the biggest challenges the University faces is its deferred maintenance due to approximately half of the buildings on campus being about 50 years old. Davis said the University brought in a new landscape architect to preserve the campus grounds. Davis also said his goal is to make housing more accessible to students to get more students on campus.

Texas AG Investigating USA Fencing’s Disqualification of Athlete who Refused to Compete Against Trans Male

(National Review) Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has opened an investigation into USA Fencing after the organization disqualified a female athlete who refused to compete against a transgender-identifying male.

April 8, 2025

Legislative Update:

Senate passes comprehensive special education bill

(TCTA) On April 7th, the Texas Senate passed SB 568 by Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston), a comprehensive special education bill. Among the major changes in the bill is a change in how special education is funded. Other provisions in the bill include the expansion of eligibility for special education services to students under three years of age, grant programs for students with autism, and grant programs for training staff to provide services to students with dyslexia. The bill now heads to the House for further debate.

Texas lawmaker, librarians discuss Senate Bill 13, which would guard against inappropriate books in public schools

(KWTX) This legislative session education has been one of the main focuses of both the Senate and the House, with legislators once again looking to pass a law that will keep quote inappropriate books out of public school libraries. Senate Bill 13, which is authored by Senator Angela Paxton, is now one of Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s top 40 priority bills this session.

In the first week of return-to-office in Austin, TxDOT employees end up parking in fire lanes

(KUT) Just a week into a push to get workers back into the office, employees with Texas’ transportation agency are struggling to find parking. So, they’re parking illegally.

Manipulated video of Coppell ISD ‘political fodder’ in ‘school choice’ fight, filing says

(Dallas Morning News) Coppell ISD officials want Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit against the district thrown out saying it is “political fodder” against public schools based on a manipulated hidden-video recording, according to court filings. Officials allege in their counterclaim that efforts to discredit Coppell and other public schools’ educators are being made to influence debates over school choice. In March, Paxton accused Coppell school officials of breaking state law by teaching students critical race theory and pushing “woke ideology.”

Gov. Greg Abbott silent about vaccinations as second child dies in Texas measles outbreak

(San Antonio Current) Even though state health officials learned of the death Thursday, Abbott spent the weekend tweeting about school vouchers. Related:

First case of measles confirmed in Canyon ISD staff (KFDA)

Gov. Greg Abbott sets Nov. 4 special election to fill U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner’s seat

(Texas Tribune) The decision to wait until November means a narrowly divided Congress will be down a Democratic representative for several more months.

Also Reported:

In shrinking rural towns, Texas schools are teaming up to stay alive

(CBS News) From 2010 to 2020, the population of rural America declined, marking the first decade-long loss in history, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That’s presented a problem for rural schools with limited resources. But a community in south Texas has figured out a solution: five schools across four counties in several different school districts have teamed up to share speciality opportunities among students. Said Michael Gonzales, executive director of Rural Schools Innovation Zone, a nonprofit that runs the initiative: “We looked across the street, we looked at close neighbors and said, ‘What are you guys doing well and what can we take advantage of as a school district?'”

Online fundraiser for Texas track meet stabbing suspect nears $150K

(Fox News) An online fundraiser for Karmelo Anthony, the Texas high school student accused of stabbing fellow 17-year-old student-athlete Austin Metcalf to death at a Frisco, Texas, track meet last week, is nearing $150,000 in total donations. Related:

Frisco ISD resumes track meet after fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf (Dallas Morning News)
17-year-olds are adults in Texas’ legal system. Why? (Dallas Morning News)

Dallas-area school district explores drone technology for enhanced security measures

(CBS Texas) A North Texas school district could be taking its security to new heights with help from above. During a demonstration inside a Highland Park ISD school Monday night, a security company showed off a new tool that promises to help track down and take out active shooters. The drones can navigate stairs and hallways, drop pepper spray or flashbangs and even collide with a gunman if necessary, according to Campus Guardian Angel CEO Justin Marston.

Five former Houston ISD employees said they took bribes. Not all could remember when and where

(Houston Landing) One witness recalled — in the federal bribery trial of a former Houston ISD chief operating officer and a former HISD vendor — being paid on five separate occasions, carefully listing each location and the corresponding amounts. Another confidently described two payments, both made in the same Walmart parking lot. A third person hesitated, struggling to recall specific details. After some effort, he could only remember that he had been paid between $40,000 and $50,000, with individual payments ranging from $2,000 to $9,000.

When could the state takeover of Houston ISD end? Mike Miles teases return of an elected board

(Houston Landing) Speaking at a March 27 annual luncheon for the HISD Foundation, a fundraising nonprofit supporting the district, Miles suggested “we could start at the end of the third year” of the takeover — summer 2026 — to begin bringing elected trustees back onto the district’s school board. HISD Communications Chief Alexandra Elizondo later said in an interview with the Landing to “make very little meaning” of Miles’ comments. The superintendent “just thought out loud” in response to a question and there is “no plan here that anybody’s written down” for the appointed board’s end date, she added. Related:

Houston ISD names new division chiefs in leadership shuffle (Houston Chronicle)

Hungry Texans Lose Access to Millions of Pounds of Food as USDA Cuts Deliveries to Texas Food Banks

(ReportingTexas) Recent cuts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture have forced the cancellation of 396 food deliveries to Texas food banks, putting at risk nearly 12 million pounds of food valued at $19 million and intended for emergency food assistance. Food banks across Texas have been left in the lurch. “The Central Texas Food Bank will lose $5.5 million in funding for the upcoming fiscal year,” said Sari M. Vatske, Central Texas Food Bank president and chief executive officer. Similarly, truckloads of deliveries to the East Texas Food Bank, based in Tyler, were canceled as the food bank’s leadership raised concerns about its ability to feed people who depend on it.

Affidavit: Waco ISD teacher body-slammed, physically abused special needs student in classroom’s safe area

(KWTX) A Waco Independent School District teacher is accused of assaulting and injuring a 7-year-old special needs student in a classroom’s safe space, according to criminal complaint affidavits obtained by KWTX. Randi Lynn Fowler, 45, is charged with three counts of injury to a child.

Fort Bend ISD eyeing gender policy that will notify parents of their students’ pronoun requests

(Houston Chronicle) A controversial policy that would require a school district to notify parents if their child requests to use a different name or pronoun at school will be in the hands of Fort Bend ISD trustees this month. The policy, first adopted in 96,000-student Katy ISD in 2023, was recently passed in Cy-Fair ISD, a 116,000-student district, earlier this year, despite significant community opposition. The move comes after the Fort Bend ISD board ordered a $9,000 pilot of the K-5 Bluebonnet learning materials for the administration to review the state-created curriculum that includes references to the Bible as early as Kindergarten.

TEA clears Canutillo ISD after horse farm purchase investigation, district says

(KVIA) A spokesperson for Canutillo Independent School District says that the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) Compliance Review Unit has cleared the district through an investigation into the purchase of the Bean Horse Farm. The district is planning to build its new $106 million Canutillo Middle School campus on the farm over the next three years.

UIL State Executive Committee Suspends Dallas ISD’s Samuell High School Head Coach for Two Years

(Dave Campbell’s Texas Football) The UIL State Executive Committee voted Monday to suspend Dallas Samuell head coach Danny Cobbin due to multiple UIL violations related to player eligibility, including falsification of Previous Athletic Participation Forms (PAPF), allowing non school employees to coach and submitting false residence documents.

More fine arts, extra STEM classes, an ad blitz: How Alief ISD plans to win back students

(Houston Landing) “It’s almost like we have to rebrand ourselves,” Alief Board President Darlene Breaux said. “It’s not your traditional marketing, but thinking out of the box of how we can reach our families to say, ‘We’ve been here. We’re not going anywhere, but we heard you, and this is the new Alief.’”

Aiming to improve SAT scores and capture funding bonuses, Alief ISD takes a new approach (Houston Chronicle)

Protestors continue battling to reinstate the principal at Austin ISD’s Ann Richards School

(CBS Austin) Austin parents are continuing their fight to have the principal reinstated at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders. Small groups of protestors stood outside Austin ISD Headquarters on Monday so the Superintendent and other district leaders couldn’t miss seeing their messages. Parents want quick action and they’re not getting it.

Baylor is leveling up its Esports game

(Texas Standard) “Nearly every day I talk to someone my age and they say, ‘Oh if this had only been a thing when I was younger.’ And I think that speaks to the importance of this,” says Baylor’s first-ever Esports director and coach, Adam Stanley.

Texas A&M University System’s 25 highest-paid employees: The No. 1 earner may surprise you

(Houston Chronicle) The chancellor is the top executive in the system, but outgoing leader John Sharp is not the highest paid in the Texas A&M System office, which employs roughly 600 people, according to records. That title goes to Roderic Pettigrew, the system’s vice chancellor for health and strategic initiatives.

Texas A&M University President Rejects Inclusion Of LGBT Course In Core Curriculum

(Dallas Express) Texas A&M President Mark Welsh vetoed the faculty senate’s request to include an LGBT class in the university’s core curriculum for social and behavioral sciences.

UT Austin ends Flags courses requirements, including diversity; plans new model. Here’s why

(Austin American-Statesman) The University of Texas will end its Flags program effective immediately, eliminating its graduation requirements for cultural diversity, global cultures, ethics, quantitative reasoning, independent inquiry and writing courses, the university announced Monday. On its website, UT says its Flag program prepares students “to communicate effectively, engage in ethical decision-making and independent problem-solving, and understand the diverse, data-dense world.”

UT Austin reports sudden student visa revocations by Department of Homeland Security

(News4SA) Two more universities say some of their students unexpectedly had their student visas revoked by the Department of Homeland Security. Two students at the University of Texas at Austin and a few students at the University of Cincinnati had their legal status terminated. F-1 visas allow international students to pursue full-time academic studies in the US. Graduates on student visas can typically remain in the US to gain professional experience for up to one year and potentially longer for STEM fields.

‘Too important to fail.’ UT Arlington monitors impact of federal orders on $155M in research

(Fort Worth Report) The effects of executive orders on the Tier 1 research university has been “minimal” so far, but leaders are preparing for cuts.

Nacogdoches High School student accused of bringing loaded Glock to campus

(KTRE) A Nacogdoches High School student has been arrested after ISD police say they noticed a loose round of ammunition in his vehicle. Officers spotted the ammunition at about 11 a.m. Friday during a routine parking lot patrol, according to a release from the Nacogdoches ISD Police Department. The discovery prompted an investigation, and a Glock handgun with a 17-round magazine inserted was found in the glove box, police said. Officers detained the student and also found THC and nicotine vape pens in his possession.

Elsa Police: IDEA student detained for allegedly sending school threat via text

(ValleyCentral) An IDEA student was taken into custody for allegedly sending a school threat through text message, Elsa law enforcement authorities say. At approximately 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, April 5, the Elsa Police Department received a report regarding a school threat directed toward IDEA Public School in Elsa. According to a news release from Elsa PD, the text message received by a minor said, “Shoot up the school.”

Victoria College alum battles against injunction on tell-all book

(Crossroads Today) A Victoria College alumna is battling against a Temporary Restraining Order, preventing her from releasing a book that allegedly holds unflattering details of a national organization.

April 7, 2025

Legislative Update:

House Committee Passes ‘Texas Two Step’ of Vouchers and Public Ed Funding

(Texas Observer) Dems could do little but sound the alarm on vouchers—and warn the $7.7-billion school-finance package is still not enough. Related:

Exclusive: Club for Growth Launches Another Six-Figure Ad Buy Supporting School Choice (Texas Scorecard)

Closing The Charter School Funding Gap

(Dallas Express) In a busy week at the Texas Capitol, lawmakers took key steps toward addressing the long-standing funding gap between public charter schools and traditional independent school districts (ISDs), advancing legislation that could bring much-needed facilities support to charter campuses across the state.

Texas proposals would open more options for college accreditation. Here’s why some oppose

(Austin American-Statesman) In what proponents say is a “simple cleanup” and opponents call an “unnecessary risk,” the Texas House and Senate education committees both are considering bills to expand college accreditation options for all the state’s universities.

Attorney General Ken Paxton’s former aides win $6.6 million in whistleblower case

(Texas Tribune) Paxton vowed to appeal the “bogus ruling” that found he improperly fired the four plaintiffs after they reported him to the FBI on allegations of corruption.

Also Reported:

2nd child with measles dies in Texas, according to state health officials

(ABC News) A second child in Texas has died of measles, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. “The school-aged child who tested positive for measles was hospitalized in Lubbock and passed away on Thursday from what the child’s doctors described as measles pulmonary failure,” the statement said, in part. “The child was not vaccinated and had no reported underlying conditions.” There have been nearly 500 cases of measles in Texas, with over 600 in the U.S. Related:

RFK Jr. consoles Texas family: MMR vaccine ‘most effective’ way to stop measles spread (The Hill)
Trump on measles outbreak: ‘It’s so far a fairly small number of people’ (AP)
Measles vaccinations increase in Texas, but more needed to contain outbreak, experts say (Houston Chronicle)

Frisco police, FBI probing ‘fake’ social posts posing as chief after fatal track stabbing

(Dallas Morning News) Frisco authorities investigating a fatal stabbing at a high school track meet are working with the FBI on a parallel inquiry into social media posts about the incident that falsely claim to be written by the city’s police chief, officials said Friday. Related:

Track meet to be held Monday with enhanced security after Frisco stabbing (Fox 4 KDFW)

Trump wants to dismantle the Education Department. That could hurt students with disabilities in Texas

(Texas Tribune) In a state with a checkered history with federal special education law, advocates say Texas students will see an erosion of their disability rights protections. Related:

What Trump’s anti-diversity, equity and inclusion stance could mean for Texas schools and universities (Houston Chronicle)
U.S. Supreme Court maintains freeze on teacher training grants (K-12 Dive)

Strip clubs, parking lot cash handoffs and other surprises in Houston ISD’s federal bribery trial

(Houston Chronicle) Former HISD vendor Anthony Hutchison and Chief Operating Officer Brian Busby are embroiled in a weeks-long trial. Related:

Drapes, chandeliers and more: Was ex-Houston ISD official’s home remodel a kickback? (Houston Chronicle)

Houston ISD is paying principals $430K for curbing enrollment declines. Here’s which schools earned bonuses

(Houston Chronicle) Houston ISD plans to pay $430,000 to principals and other staff in April as part of an incentive program to improve enrollment this year, recently released district records show. HISD introduced retention and re-engagement stipends before the 2024-25 academic year for eligible principals and staff members who successfully limited thousands of students at early childhood centers, elementary schools or middle schools from leaving for charter schools and other options.

Austin ISD at risk of state takeover amid uncertain future of Dobie Middle School

(KVUE) Austin ISD said if it doesn’t “significantly improve student success” at Dobie by the end of the next school year, the TEA could take over the entire district.

‘Grossly misleading’: Coppell ISD officials deny teaching critical race theory in lawsuit

(KERA) Coppell ISD officials are pushing back against accusations they’re violating laws against teaching critical race theory, saying an undercover video used as the basis for Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuit against the district was misleading and taken out of context.

Whistleblower in Klein ISD sex trafficking case files retaliation lawsuit

(KPRC) A former Klein ISD teacher has filed a lawsuit for retaliation, claiming she was coerced into resigning just a month after reporting a disturbing sex trafficking case involving a student. Desma Darden, a former special education teacher at Klein Cain High School, says she was forced to leave her position after exposing the illegal activities of another teacher’s son.

Harlingen CISD cuts $2 million in software costs; expands teacher incentive program

(myRGV) School district officials are cutting about $2 million in software costs as they plan their new budget expected to come with employee raises and an expanded teacher incentive program.

North Texas private school coach resigns after family said excessive workout forced son’s hospitalization

(Dallas Morning News) Clint Stark thought there might be some consequence when his son, Henry, missed free throw practice after a Jan. 31 basketball game. He didn’t imagine the punishment from Prince of Peace coach Michael Flood would lead to Henry spending five nights in a hospital with acute rhabdomyolysis. Flood has since resigned. Attempts made to reach Flood by phone and at an address associated with his name were unsuccessful.

UIL disqualifies Progreso soccer team from state playoff game

(ValleyCentral) The University Interscholastic League (UIL) announced the Progreso High School soccer team has been disqualified from a state playoff game before they were scheduled to play. The State Executive Committee of the UIL met for an emergency meeting Friday to address rule violations by the soccer team. During the meeting, it was determined the soccer team allowed an ineligible player to participate. In result, the Progreso soccer team has to forefit their spot in the Boys Conference 4A Division I State final game.

Texas State University responds to backlash on Bobcat Shuttles transporting individuals to anti-Trump protest

(University Star) University President Kelly Damphousse posted his own statement on X, stating: “I’ve learned that TXST-branded buses were used for a non-university event Saturday. The buses are not owned by TXST. No state/federal funds were used to purchase them. Our contractor has been allowed to lease their buses to others. The practice ends today.”

‘The district has chosen to scapegoat me’ — Former Roy J. Smith Middle School Principal denies claims made by Killeen ISD

(KCEN) In a message to the KCEN Facebook page, Fred Lilly II said he planned to “address the harm caused” by Killeen ISD’s statements to the media.

Uvalde High School Coach Arrested for ‘Improper Relationship’ With Student

(Texas Scorecard) Alberto “AJ” Martinez is an assistant football coach and head powerlifting coach at Uvalde High School.

THIRD Huntsville ISD Teacher Arrested for Sex Crime in Three Weeks

(Texas Scorecard) Lauren Ashley Rudolph, 33, was arrested Thursday by the Huntsville Police Department and charged with improper relationship between educator and student, a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison. Rudolph was a dyslexia teacher and cheer coach at Huntsville High School.

3 arrested after bringing guns to Fort Worth high school

(Fox 4 KDFW) The Fort Worth Police Department says a school resource officer and two staff members at a Fort Worth ISD high school stopped a potentially deadly situation.

Lamar Institute of Technology in Beaumont opens $37M healthcare training center to combat local nursing shortage

(KBMT) A new $37 million healthcare training facility at Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) is reshaping the future of medical education in Southeast Texas. The state-of-the-art Workforce and Allied Health Training Center officially opened for classes this year, aiming to address the region’s ongoing nursing shortage.

‘Moon tree’ helps San Antonio College boost STEM, urban agriculture

(San Antonio Report) A loblolly pine germinated from a seed that orbited the moon in NASA’s Artemis I uncrewed mission in 2022 grows in the Challenger Holt Memorial Garden near the Scobee Education Center, which honors the seven astronauts who died in the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and the late Bob Kelley, an astronomer who oversaw the SAC planetarium for nearly 40 years.

Can Dallas College’s new aerospace program prepare students for the workforce?

(Dallas Morning News) Dallas College’s new aviation maintenance technology track offers three specialized certificates to students after they complete a 13-month program. Related:

Dallas College Launches 13-Month Airframe and Powerplant Program (AVWeb)

April 4, 2025

Legislative Update:

School finance bill, voucher proposal clear first hurdle in the Texas House

(KERA) Two key pieces of education legislation cleared preliminary hurdles in the Texas House on Thursday, but not before sparking spirited debate among lawmakers, including complaints about a lack of transparency around the process. The Texas House Public Education Committee passed House Bill 2, a sweeping school finance proposal, and Senate Bill 2, a measure that would create a $1 billion Education Savings Account program, which would allow parents to use public funds to pay for private schools. That school voucher initiative has been a key priority for Gov. Greg Abbott and other top Texas Republicans.

Dan Patrick urges Texas House to pass conservative priorities: ‘Time to get into action’

(Austin American-Statesman) Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, in touting the Texas Senate’s quick pace in passing priority bills this legislative session, is urging the Texas House and its speaker to get moving. The House, which has passed 10 bills thus far, typically moves at a more measured tempo with 150 representatives considering and debating proposals compared with the Senate’s 31 members.

‘It’s About Censorship, Erasure, and Control’: the GOP’s Push for Parental Rights

(Texas Observer) It’s part of a new right-wing project to control public schools.

Senate passes bill barring universities from accepting money from ‘foreign adversary’ govs

(Austin American-Statesman) The Texas Senate unanimously passed a bill Thursday that would prohibit public universities and colleges from accepting gifts or donations from foreign adversary governments ― the state’s latest effort to protect itself from potential outside interference.

Bill preventing transgender Texans from updating birth certificates passes Senate

(Dallas Morning News) Transgender Texans would not be allowed to have their birth certificates amended to reflect their gender identity under a bill the Senate passed Thursday despite warnings from constituents of the harm it could cause.

How A Film Incentive Bill Cruised A Senate Committee Vote

(Texas Signal Media) The Texas star power of Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson helped advance a bill meant to increase film and television incentives in the state.

Also Reported:

K-12 schools must sign certification against DEI to receive federal money, administration says

(KHOU) A notice sent Thursday by the Education Department gives states and schools 10 days to sign and return the certification.

‘Touch me and see what happens’ — New details emerge surrounding Frisco track meet stabbing in arrest affidavit

(WFAA) The suspect reportedly told the officer who arrested him that the 17-year-old victim “put his hands on [him]” and that he admitted that “I did it.”

Principal of Killeen ISD’s Roy J. Smith Middle School resigns following fatal stabbing incident

(KCEN) Roy J. Smith Middle School Principal Dr. Fredrick Lilly II announced his resignation following a two-hour closed Killeen ISD Board of Trustees session on Thursday night. The KISD school board had been set to vote on Lilly’s position in the district. District Superintendent Dr. Jo Ann Fey will recommend his contract be terminated.

Klein ISD nurse fired after students’ ADHD medications vanish from clinic

(KPRC) A medication mishap at a Klein ISD elementary school has caused a nurse to lose her job after a mother told KPRC 2 her twin boys’ prescription ADHD medication disappeared just days after she delivered a fresh, 30-day supply. Klein ISD confirmed the nurse is now under a criminal investigation being led by the district police department. KPRC 2 is not identifying the nurse because she has not been criminally charged, but Klein ISD said she was first hired in October 2023 and did not disclose her previous employment at another local school district. KPRC 2 has confirmed she previously worked as a nurse at Magnolia ISD from August 1, 2023, to September 22, 2023 but then resigned under investigation. A Magnolia ISD spokesperson told KPRC 2 the district reported the findings of its investigation to the Texas Board of Nursing, but it’s unclear what the findings entailed.

Katy ISD approved new door locks, but docs show $1M spent on something that could’ve been free

(KTRK) New safety devices coming to Katy ISD next school year also come with a multi-million dollar price tag that some school leaders say could’ve been free.

Houston Community College cancels student trip to London, citing fears of Trump immigration crackdown

(Houston Landing) Houston Community College leaders said they nixed a student trip abroad after seeing people on visas picked up by immigration agents.

Federal funding cuts threaten UT El Paso research programs, students face uncertainty

(KFOX) The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is grappling with significant federal funding cuts that have left students and faculty searching for solutions. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently terminated UTEP’s U-RISE and G-RISE programs, slashing more than $2.7 million in future funding intended for biological sciences and engineering students. These programs were crucial in providing financial support, including stipends, tuition, and training expenses for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Q&A: How Aldine ISD’s new food pantry helps homeless families in need

(Houston Landing) Inside Odom Elementary School, the food pantry spans two classrooms filled with nonperishables available for students in need across the district. District leaders opened the pantry using about $35,000 from a federal grant, which limits food distribution to students in emergency situations.

Texas State Bar warns of data breach after INC ransomware claims attack

(BleepingComputer) The State Bar of Texas is warning it suffered a data breach after the INC ransomware gang claimed to have breached the organization and began leaking samples of stolen data. Related:

DOJ Charges Canadian Man in the 2021 Texas GOP Website Hack (Texas Scorecard)

Update: Four Huntsville ISD employees arrested in separate investigations

(KBTX) A day after the Huntsville ISD school board met to formally terminate the employment of two educators arrested last month, KBTX has confirmed two additional HISD employees are also facing criminal charges. This brings the total number of Huntsville ISD employees arrested and charged with crimes since March to four.

UT Arlington rolls out mobile health lab to train in rural communities

(KERA) A new UT Arlington initiative will bring emergency medical training opportunities to rural Texas communities where health care access is limited. The UTA Mobile Simulation Lab allows the university to bring high-tech training equipment to Texas’ 100-plus rural counties.

UT Arlington West one step closer to 2028 opening as officials break ground on site near Aledo

(Fort Worth Report) Once completed, the new campus could serve over 10,000 students. For now, UTA plans to establish an office in Willow Park this spring.

Arlington ISD owns 168 acres of undeveloped land worth over $15.7M. Here’s why

(Arlington Report) On Arlington’s western border, Arlington ISD owns one of the city’s largest chunks of undeveloped land on the corner of W. Green Oaks Boulevard and E. Lancaster Avenue. The school district is holding the land to potentially develop it into a future elementary school.

Diboll HS teaching life skills to special needs students with new chicken coop

(KTRE) Special need students at Diboll High School are getting the chance to see what it’s like to raise chickens with a brand-new chicken coop right on campus. Megan Baldree, Diboll ISD’s Transition Coordinator, says a $10,000 grant from the Texas A&M work-based learning project is what made their chicken coop possible. The students feed their 10 chickens and collect their eggs every morning. They sell the eggs to staff for $5 a dozen, and the students learn how to run a business in the process. Baldree says students label the cartons, keep up with the money, and manage the over 30 orders they’ve gotten so far.

Judge orders Baylor to pay over $437K in attorneys’ fees in 2023 Lozano Title IX case

(KWTX) A year and a half after a federal jury awarded $270,000 to a former Baylor University student who was physically assaulted by a former Baylor football player in 2014, a judge has ordered Baylor to pay her attorneys more than $400,000 in fees. While U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman significantly reduced the amount three attorneys and a paralegal for Dolores Lozano were seeking after Lozano prevailed in her Title IX and negligence lawsuit against the Baptist university, the judge ordered Baylor to pay $437,917 for Lozano’s attorneys’ fees.

Houston ISD fourth graders make their case to Mike Miles to ban Styrofoam lunch trays from school cafeterias

(Houston Chronicle) For weeks, River Oaks Elementary fourth graders Celine David, Maddie Woods and Dora Cabarcas have led a renewed push to ban single-use polystyrene, or Styrofoam, lunch trays from Houston ISD cafeterias. All told, switching to reusable plastic could eliminate up to 22 million trays from Houston-area landfills each year, the girls recited as they prepared to present their findings to Superintendent Mike Miles.

Laredo ISD student makes breakthrough in cancer research

(KGNS) Texas A&M International University student and Garcia Early College Senior Pablo Guzman is making his mark in biomedical research. At just 17 years old, Guzman and his team are developing a potential treatment for a specific type of cancer, which has already been recognized by the American Chemical Society. After losing three family members to cancer, Guzman dedicated himself to learning more about the disease in hopes of one day helping others diagnosed with it. With extensive research and lab work, Guzman and his team developed a treatment similar to a nicotine patch that may be effective in treating skin cancer.

April 3, 2025

Legislative Update:

Fort Worth clergy members speak out against school vouchers, rally public school support

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) Fort Worth clergy members from various churches gathered together on Wednesday to preach a common message that can’t be found in a Bible verse: “Say no to school vouchers.” Related:

Texas’ $1B voucher plan has a Christian focus. Here’s why Muslim, Jewish schools could also benefit (Houston Chronicle)

Texas Senate narrowly confirms formerly indicted Austin cop to police watchdog agency

(Austin American-Statesman) With one Democrat giving Republicans the margin they needed to advance a controversial nomination, the Texas Senate narrowly confirmed the appointment of a previously indicted Austin law enforcement officer to the state agency that governs police conduct in Texas — the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

Texas Senate passes bill requiring child’s father to pay retroactive child support from conception date

(KBTX) Members of the Texas Senate passed a bill (SB 942, presented by Sen. Bryan Hughes) Wednesday that would require a child’s father to pay retroactive child support beginning from the baby’s conception date.

Texas Senate passes bill requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote

(Houston Public Media) Senate Bill 16 would effectively set up a dual system of balloting in Texas – where those who have not provided proof of citizenship would only be able to vote in federal elections, not state elections. It would also enact criminal penalties for knowingly registering to vote if a noncitizen or knowingly registering a noncitizen to vote.

As Texas measles outbreak grows, some Republican leaders remain silent on vaccination

(Dallas Morning News) A Dallas Morning News examination found that while some lawmakers are seizing on the moment to encourage vaccinations, others — particularly Republicans, up to and including the governor — have largely remained silent on the outbreak or on measles vaccination itself. Rekha Lakshmanan, the chief strategy officer at the pro-vaccine organization The Immunization Partnership, estimated more than 80% of the dozens of immunization-related bills filed this legislative session would roll back vaccine policy, as opposed to strengthening it. Michelle Evans, the political director for the advocacy group Texans for Vaccine Choice, applauded a number of bills this session that would roll back the state’s existing vaccine policy. Related:

Measles spreads to central Texas; 5 states have active outbreaks (AP)
Texas health experts want a study of the state’s COVID-19 response before the next crisis (Texas Tribune)
Lessons from the last major measles outbreak in 1989; How San Antonio became a national model for vaccination programs (Texas Public Radio)

Also Reported:

Frisco track meet stabbing: 1 student killed, another charged with murder

(Fox 4 KDFW) The Frisco police said one student was killed, and another student is in custody after two students got into a fight on Wednesday at the UIL District 11-5A Championship track meet. The 17-year-old victim, Austin Metcalf, was taken to the hospital. He was later pronounced dead. The 17-year-old suspect, Karmelo Anthony of Frisco, was placed in custody. He was charged with murder and is being held without bond. The track meet was canceled following the incident. Related:

Man says son was stabbed in the heart at Texas track meet, died in twin’s arms (NBC News)

Brownsville superintendent keeps job following board meeting

(ValleyCentral) The Brownsville Independent School District’s superintendent still has a job after a school board meeting Tuesday night. Without an explanation, there was a failed attempt to terminate Jesus H. Chavez.

Justice Department declined to prosecute Texas AG Paxton in final weeks of Biden’s term: AP sources

(AP) The Justice Department quietly decided in the final weeks of the Biden administration not to prosecute Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, effectively ending the corruption investigation that cast a long shadow over the political career of a close ally of President Donald Trump, The Associated Press has learned.

Attorney General Alleges Houston ISD Engaged in Electioneering

(Texas Scorecard) Paxton’s office accused the school district of illegally using public funds to promote its failed 2024 bond measure. The legal opinion reported by KPRC 2 highlights concerns over the district’s use of taxpayer dollars to promote its $4 billion bond measure, which voters rejected in November 2024. Other Houston ISD news:

Much to do about grass: Prosecutors say Hutchinson inflated mowing bills to Houston ISD by $6 million (Houston Landing)
Houston ISD teacher fired after ‘profanity-laced’ altercation with parent (Houston Chronicle)
Dozens protest Houston ISD middle school’s ‘punitive and bullying’ culture, staff turnover after state takeover (Houston Chronicle)
‘Coach in the moment’: Houston ISD tasks more assistant principals with teaching the teachers (Houston Landing)

‘Costs are rising & funding is not’: Waco ISD explains how inflation outpaces school funding

(KXXV) Waco ISD faces significant budgetary challenges as transportation costs, particularly fuel prices, have surged (49.5% increase in the last five years), while state funding has remained stagnant since 2019, leading to a projected budget deficit. Without an increase in funding, there’s no capacity to hire additional personnel, which is especially critical for routes serving special education students. “Costs are rising and funding is not, so the spending is outpacing the funding, so we are asking legislators to increase that basic allotment,” said Executive Director of Waco ISD communications, Wendy Sledd.

Crisis in the Classroom: Beaumont ISD struggles replacing CTE instructor

(KFDM) Johann Flores Regino is passionate about cars and trucks. And many times you’ll find him with a toy truck near him, even at school, and it’s at school, specifically Beaumont ISD’s Career and Technical Education Center where Johann has gotten the chance to gain experience on real vehicles. Johann takes collision repair, one of several technical dual credit courses students can take at BISD’s CTE Center while being dually enrolled at Lamar Institute of Technology. But all that hands-on learning came to an abrupt end for Johann and his classmates, when their instructor suddenly died on April 22, 2024. Almost a year later, his position remains unfilled. And that’s because finding an instructor with the qualifications to teach this CTE course at the dual credit level is not easy.

Celina ISD proposes GPA system change to better reflect student’s course load

(Community Impact) Celina ISD is looking to revise its grade point average system to account for all courses students take. The current GPA system accounts for some but not all classes taken by students. The proposed GPA changes would look at using all courses to calculate averages. If approved by the board, the change would go into effect for incoming freshman.

Keller ISD looks to potential school consolidation for 2025-26 school year

(Community Impact) As part of his update during the March 31 school board meeting, Keller ISD Interim Superintendent Cory Wilson said as enrollment continues to decline and school funding remains an issue, potentially closing schools and “budgeting effectively” will be key items for the 2025-26 school year.

Fort Bend ISD considering rezoning, school closures in response to population changes

(KTRK) This summer, FBISD leaders will evaluate campuses, and soon meet with parents early next year about possible closures.

Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD to form Student Safety Task Force after violent fight caught on camera

(CBS Texas) Video of the graphic fight between two students from HEB ISD’s Harwood Junior High School shows what some have deemed an assault on school safety: Adult staffers — teachers — from the school not immediately jumping in to stop the fight. The superintendent for HEB ISD has called the fight response “unacceptable,” saying, “If the processes in place for the school district did not prevent this fight from occurring, then we must examine and be prepared to change that process that allowed these events to unfold.” For HEB ISD, that means a School Safety Task Force to respond and act on fights is being established and the district is looking for community members to serve on that task force.

‘She got punished for getting hurt’: Son says Northside ISD failed educator after career-ending fall at school

(KSAT) A fall in a school hallway ended a longtime Northside ISD educator’s career and life. Her son believes the district failed to support her during her recovery. Evangeline Riojas’ calling was working with children. The 80-year-old dedicated her life to working as a teacher and counselor for NISD. She had worked for the district for over 50 years.

2025 Science and Engineering Fair: Texas youth drive innovation

(Battalion) Over the weekend, the annual Texas Science and Engineering Fair, or TXSEF, took place at Texas A&M’s Zachry Engineering Complex and the Student Recreation Center. Texas A&M faculty, staff and students had the opportunity to judge college-level research projects created by sixth to twelfth grade students from across the state. With over 350 judges and 1,200 students competing, the fair included 21 categories spanning across the engineering and physical sciences. This year, the competition was sponsored by the Texas Workforce Commission and ExxonMobil, who, combined, donated a total of $30,000 in scholarship awards to winning finalists.

Huntsville ISD Board of Trustees unanimously support termination of two recently arrested teachers

(KBTX) Following the arrests of two teachers last month, the Huntsville ISD Board of Trustees met Wednesday to officially terminate both men. Eric Buchek, 42, was a Huntsville High School teacher. Buchek was arrested in March after reports that he was having an inappropriate relationship with a student. Demondrae Murray, 34, was a middle school teacher in the district and was also arrested in March on completely unrelated charges. Murray was one of six men arrested in what was a larger operation by Huntsville Police and DPS to target human trafficking. Murray was charged with soliciting a prostitute after Huntsville Police say he left campus in the middle of the day to meet with a sex worker at a hotel on I-45.

Austin ISD considering options after principal rescinds resignation at Ann Richards School for Young Women

(CBS Austin) A principal’s resignation, that was reportedly rescinded, had hundreds of Austin parents demanding answers on Wednesday. Principal Nicole Griffith is the fifth principal at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders over the past four years. Austin ISD turned down a request from CBS Austin on Wednesday for an interview with Superintendent Matias Segura.

Ex-Beaumont ISD electrician Calvin Walker loses appeal over ‘ineffective counsel’ claims

(KBMT) A Texas appeals court has affirmed a lower court’s decision to deny post-conviction relief to a former Beaumont Independent School District contractor who was convicted of securing execution of a document by deception in 2019. In an opinion delivered on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, the Texas Ninth Court of Appeals, upheld the trial court’s denial of Calvin Gary Walker’s application for writ of habeas corpus, which claimed ineffective assistance of counsel. His case stems from a long legal battle that began in 2011 when he was charged in federal court with 37 counts related to work he performed for BISD.

Districts encouraged to use Title I flexibility for school choice

(K-12 Dive) The Trump administration is encouraging states and districts to expand school choice options by using already existing avenues under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, including Title I funds earmarked for low-income school populations. In a March 31 letter to chief state school officers, the U.S. Education Department flagged flexibilities currently available under ESEA Section 1003A and Title I, Part A that could be used to help parents choose such things as advanced coursework and career and technical education courses not available at the student’s school. Public school supporters, however, are concerned that diverting any taxpayer-supported K-12 money could hurt public schools. Related:

U.S. Supreme Court sides with the FDA in its dispute over sweet-flavored vaping products

(AP) The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled for the Food and Drug Administration in its crackdown on sweet-flavored vaping products following a surge in teen electronic cigarette use. But the justices’ unanimous decision throwing out a U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling is not the final word in the case, and the FDA could change its approach now that President Donald Trump has promised to “save” vaping.

More than 40 people arrested in Dripping Springs over alleged connection to Venezuelan gang

(KUT) The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Hays County Sheriff’s Office said they arrested more than 40 people, including minors, who they believe are connected to the Venezuelan transnational gang Tren de Aragua (TdA). The sheriff’s office said the arrests happened early Tuesday morning in Dripping Springs, off of Nutty Brown Road. DPS obtained a search warrant for a Hays County residence where the FBI learned of a potential gathering. DPS said it had been investigating the gang for more than a year.

Sid Miller running for fourth term as Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner

(KCEN) Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Commissioner Sid Miller announced his campaign for a fourth term on Wednesday. If he wins, the incumbent representative would hold the position for a third consecutive term, fourth overall. Miller was previously elected as the 12th TDA Commissioner in 2014.

San Antonio Conservation Society files lawsuit to halt Institute of Texan Cultures demolition

(KSAT) The San Antonio Conservation Society has filed a lawsuit to prevent the demolition of the former Institute of Texan Cultures building. The society is asking for demolition to cease until the city and the University of Texas San Antonio have completed the requirements of the Texas Antiquities Code and National Historic Preservation Act.

April 2, 2025

Legislative Update:

Texas House education committee to take up revised Senate voucher bill. Here’s what changed

(Austin American-Statesman) A proposed Texas House committee’s revision to the Senate’s school voucher bill would give higher priority to students receiving special education and those from low-income backgrounds, according to the panel’s recommended amendments. Under the proposed revisions, the school voucher program created under the proposed House version of Senate Bill 2 would be capped at $1 billion annually until Sept. 1, 2027, and would prohibit students who aren’t U.S. citizens or lawful residents from participating in a voucher program. Related:

House Public Education Committee school choice and school finance meeting postponed to Thursday; will not be streamed (KXAN)
Cash for tests? Texas homeschoolers weigh requirements under school choice proposal (Dallas Morning News)

Texas Senate passes bill allowing teacher prayer

(Fox 4 KDFW) The Texas Senate passed SB 965 on Tuesday that will allow teachers to pray while on duty. While proponents say the bill clarifies what is already within teachers’ rights, opponents fear it could lead to students being forced to pray. It now goes to the Texas House for consideration.

A transfer portal for high schools? Texas coaches against a proposed state bill to loosen UIL rules

(Houston Chronicle) HB 619, authored by Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins of San Antonio, proposes that any public high school student in Texas be granted a one-time, penalty-free transfer to another district for athletic purposes. The bill also proposes that the University Interscholastic League — which oversees public school extracurricular activities across the state — may not penalize students for making a transfer under those circumstances. Leaders at both the Texas High School Coaches Association and the Texas High School Athletic Directors Association are opposed to HB 619. One of their most pertinent concerns is that it undermines the concept of high school sports being community-based.

Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles testifies in Austin in favor of A-F accountability reform legislation

(Houston Chronicle) Houston ISD state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles testified Tuesday in Austin in favor of a state Senate bill proposing multiple reforms to the state’s A-F school accountability rating system. Senate Bill 1962, if passed, would amend the Texas Education Code to prevent school districts from challenging the state’s annual accountability ratings in court. Districts also would be prohibited under the legislation from using public funds to sue state agencies except when explicitly authorized in state law. Miles said he supported the legislation because the state has to have “high expectations” and an accountability rating system that is rigorous, focuses on data and helps school districts take corrective action if needed.

New Bill Would Remove DEI Programs From K-12 Schools

(Dallas Observer) Last week, the Texas Senate passed a bill to remove diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from K-12 public schools. The measure is one of a series of hotly debated education bills filed by Sen. Brandon Creighton. Senate Bill 12 relates to “certain public school requirements and prohibitions regarding instruction and diversity, equity, and inclusion duties, and to student clubs at public schools.” The bill sets guidelines for hiring and employment for school faculty, prohibits DEI programs and training, eliminates classroom instruction on gender identity and sexuality and bans LGBTQ+ student organizations from public schools. Youth LGBTQ+ associations and clubs focused on race and ethnicity are all under the gun in this legislation. Related:

Report shows impact of anti-DEI law on Texas’ LGBTQ+ college students (KERA)

Austin drone company promotes school security system to lawmakers

(Fox 7 Austin) State lawmakers were told a new security drone system, based in Austin, could help school districts comply with a new campus security law. The small aircraft are armed, but the committee was told, with less than lethal devices. “To be clear, our drones are not flying around all the time. They will not be used to break up school fights, and they are not flown by artificial intelligence,” said Bill King with Campus Guardian Angel. The committee was told the system isn’t designed to replace human personnel, but can reduce the cost of coverage. The Campus Guardian Angel system is currently being tested by the Boerne ISD security team. Lawmakers were also told a demonstration is scheduled soon at a private school in Austin.

Effort to End Taxpayer-Funded Junk Food Moves Forward

(Texas Scorecard) The Texas Senate has passed legislation to prohibit the purchase of certain foods—including soda, candy, and chips—using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Senate Bill 379, authored by Sen. Mayes Middleton (R–Galveston), would prohibit the use of SNAP benefits to purchase junk food items such as soda, candy, cookies, potato chips, corn chips, and energy drinks. SNAP is a federally funded program administered at the state level by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which is responsible for determining eligibility and distributing benefits.

Texas Lottery Commission fines vendor $180,000 for political donations

(KXAN) The Texas Lottery Commission is sanctioning International Game Technology (IGT), the vendor that provides lottery machines and technology, $180,000 because the agency claims the company violated its contract by making political contributions. However, IGT filed a lawsuit against TLC saying it did not violate the contract because its contributions were not made directly to any individual state officer or legislator.

Also Reported:

A Texas School Board Cut State-Approved Textbook Chapters About Diversity. A Board Member Says Material Violated the Law

(ProPublica) The decision [by the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD school board] to strip chapters from books that had already won the approval of the state’s Republican-controlled state board of education represents an escalation in how local school boards run by ideological conservatives influence what children learn. (A similar version of this article appeared in the Texas Tribune)

Texas measles outbreak hits 422 cases with 22 new infections confirmed over last 5 days

(ABC) According to Texas Department of State Health Services data, 22 new cases since Friday have raised the total number of measles cases in the state to 422. Cases have been discovered in two new counties: Erath and Brown, which are east of the source of the outbreak in Gaines County. Related:

Possible measles exposure confirmed on Trinity Valley Community College’s Terrell campus (KLTV)

Houston ISD contractor paid for phone that ex-official used in connection to alleged bribery scheme

(Houston Chronicle) A Houston ISD contractor paid for an extra phone for the district’s former chief operating officer that was used in connection to an alleged bribery scheme that included stacks of cash being exchanged in a Walmart parking lot and trips to Las Vegas. The ex-official, Brian Busby, faces a 33-count indictment alongside former HISD vendor Anthony Hutchison, who operated two businesses that worked with the district. The indictment includes charges of conspiracy, bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, wire fraud, witness tampering and willfully filing false tax returns. The two are only a week into what is expected to be a trial lasting two to three weeks.

Killeen ISD Board to weigh termination of Smith Middle School principal’s contract following fatal stabbing

(KCEN) The Killeen ISD Board of Trustees will meet to consider the proposed termination of the principal of Roy J. Smith Middle School following a deadly stabbing at the school in March. The special called meeting is set for April 3 at 6 p.m. at the KISD administrative building. Principal Fredrick Lilly II and another administrative staff member from Roy J. Smith Middle School have been on administrative leave pending the internal investigation by KISD. The KISD Board of Trustees weighing in on Lilly’s contract follows a recommendation by the district’s superintendent, Dr. Jo Ann Fey. Related:

‘Dads on Duty’: Local community facilitator proposes safety initiatives to Killeen ISD following tragedy (KXXV)

More Central Texas school districts making cuts due to funding issues

(KXAN) As legislators discuss changes to private and public education in Texas during the 89th Legislative Session, there’s a growing challenge for many Central Texas districts financially struggling.

Texas Student Journalists Are Being Censored, but That Won’t Stop the Presses

(The Nation) On University of Texas campuses, students have found other ways of newsmaking that free their publications from editorial control by their schools and state. A number of districts have already cut programs that some students and families depend on. Now, there’s a continued forced shift, further impacting the community.

Katy ISD to install secure locks in 11K classrooms

(Community Impact) Before the 2025-26 school year, 11,000 classrooms in Katy ISD will gain fliplocks to provide further safety to teachers and students in case of a campus lockdown. The KISD board of trustees approved a $3.8 million contract with Flip Lok LLC at the March 31 meeting. While the district already employs several safety protocols — even some implemented prior to state mandates from the 2023 Texas Legislature — the locks would act as further reassurance, KISD Police Chief David Rider said.

Clear Creek ISD trustees approve $1.7M budget amendment

(Community Impact) Clear Creek ISD has added $1.7 million to its general fund for the fiscal year 2024-25 budget to address the rising need for speech therapy services for students, as well as higher rates for nonpublic day schools. District agenda documents show the rates for both nonpublic day school tuition, which provides special education services for students through an outside firm, and speech therapy services have risen.

Carroll ISD board contemplates staffing recommendations for 2025-26 school year

(Community Impact) The recommendations, based on lower student enrollment and budget constraints, include increased teacher-to-student staffing ratios.

Q&A: Steven Snell talks transition from Liberty Hill ISD superintendent to Williamson County judge

(Community Impact) On March 27, Williamson County commissioners selected Steven Snell to serve as the next county judge following Bill Gravell’s March 11 resignation. Community Impact sat down with Snell to discuss his plans before leaving LHISD and goals as the next county judge.

Klein ISD opens investigation after students take over-the-counter pills instead of ADHD medication

(KPRC) A medication mix-up at a Klein ISD elementary school has raised serious questions after a mother tells KPRC 2 her twin boys’ prescription ADHD medication disappeared just days after she delivered a fresh, 30-day supply. During a routine audit on Monday, the pill bottles were found to contain similar-looking over-the-counter medications instead, according to a letter to families shared with KPRC 2.

Laid-off Dallas employees of the Department of Education leave office for the last time

(Dallas Morning News) Civil rights attorney Melissa Malonson emptied her desk at the downtown Dallas office of the U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday morning, stuffing her life’s work into cardboard boxes. She walked out of the office at 1201 Elm St. for the last time with about two dozen supporters — mostly other federal employees — cheering for her. Malonson, 51, burst into tears. Malonson was one of more than 4,000 federal employees laid off in March when the Education Department eliminated six of its regional offices, including Dallas. Related:

Former education secretary in San Antonio: Despite challenges, it’s a ‘great time to be a leader’ (San Antonio Report)

Austin ISD’s Ann Richards School for Young Women principal abruptly resigns; students, families seeking answers

(FOX 7 Austin) The resignation of a beloved and long-time principal shocked much of the Ann Richards School for Young Women community. The staff held a meeting on Tuesday to address the situation. The school district remained tight-lipped. They did not allow any news outlets to attend the meeting and made the Facebook livestream private. Nicole Griffith was the principal at the Ann Richards School for Young Women since 2022, until last week when the district notified families in an email on Thursday that Principal Griffith resigned from AISD, the day before.

10 students on board Hermleigh ISD activity bus crash, driver cited for unsafe speed

(KTAB/KRBC) 10 students were on board a Hermleigh ISD activity bus that crashed in Scurry County early Tuesday morning, and the driver was cited for unsafe speed. None of the students, all ages 14 to 17, were injured during the crash, which happened on a county road just before 6:00 a.m., according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. DPS reports the driver was traveling east down the road when he could not make a left turn due to his speed, as well as the road being gravel and unlit. The bus then traveled into the intersection then off the road. The driver was cited for unsafe speed, and DPS explained that, “unsafe speed is not alleging the driver was speeding, only that the bus was being operated at a speed greater than was prudent for the conditions of the roadway, lighting, etc.”

North Texas teacher resigns after backlash over TikTok pronoun video

(WFAA) Red Oak ISD confirmed with WFAA that Rosalyn Sandri resigned effective immediately March 31. Related:

Red Oak ISD Teacher Says He Experiences ‘Gender Euphoria’ Around Students (Texas Scorecard)

San Antonio Police Department identifies Jubilee San Antonio charter teacher accused of inappropriate relationship with student

(KSAT) San Antonio police identified 23-year-old Caleb Nelson as the teacher accused of having an improper relationship with a 17-year-old student. Nelson was a third-grade teacher at the Jubilee San Antonio charter school.

University of Austin to offer automatic admissions based on test scores, citing ‘unjust’ national model

(Austin American-Statesman) Denouncing the U.S. college admissions system as biased, broken and “unjust,” Austin’s newest higher education institution — a private startup-inspired university serving its first class of undergraduates this year — will now automatically admit candidates based on test scores. The University of Austin ― made famous for its rejection of current “illiberalism and censoriousness” in higher education and promising to lead an institution focused on academics, pursuit of truth and civic values — said in a post on X that the system of admissions under which other colleges operate “rewards manipulation, not merit.”

University of Houston responds to concerns over Hinduism course after misprepresentation claims

(Times of India) The University of Houston defended its content of a course on the Hindu religion, and said that the course is grounded in the academic discipline of religious studies, which uses specific terminology, such as “fundamentalism.” The university further stated that studying fundamentalism is not an act of judgment or bias but a way to understand how religions evolve. The statement came in response to a student complaint about a course titled “Lived Hindu Religion.”

University of St. Thomas’ interim chief operating officer steps down after short tenure

(Houston Chronicle) University of St. Thomas’ interim chief operating officer stepped down this week after less than four months on the job, making her the latest in a handful of top-level departures at the private institution.

Help wanted: Many Houston Community College international students scramble for work, but few get it

(Houston Landing) Houston Community College enrolls thousands of students from abroad. Only a few dozen of them can get jobs. Here’s why.

Rice University launches AI venture accelerator to fuel industry innovation in collaboration with Google Public Sector

(PR Newswire) Rice University on Tuesday announced the launch of the Rice AI Venture Accelerator (RAVA), designed to drive early stage artificial intelligence (AI) innovation and commercialization. In collaboration with Google Public Sector, RAVA is powered by Google Cloud technology and services and aims to connect AI-focused startups with large companies and public sector organizations to solve critical business and industry challenges through AI.

April 1, 2025

Legislative Update:

House committee considering a cap on school voucher spending, increases to public school funding

(Texas Tribune) The House Public Education Committee released new proposals for creating education savings accounts and determining how much state funds public districts get. But a scheduled meeting about the bills was canceled.

Teacher pay, women’s health, tax relief: 7 takeaways on the Texas House’s budget plan

(Dallas Morning News) Texas House budget writers on Monday endorsed a $337.4 billion state spending plan for the next two years, sending it to the floor for a vote expected next week. Here are some key takeaways from the House version of the bill, known as CSSB1.

Texas school libraries could have tighter oversight if Republicans get their way

(Dallas Morning News) Texas school libraries could see an overhaul in how books are placed on shelves as conservative lawmakers aim to have a more in-depth review of what students read. Proposals aim to give elected district trustees or members of the State Board of Education the power to remove titles from campuses.

Texas Legislature eyes proposals to give state AG more power

(Dallas Morning News) Attorney General Ken Paxton and his office could have expanded authority under a quartet of bills the Texas Senate could pass as soon as this week.

Texas Senate panel approves $500 million infusion for film incentives

(Texas Tribune) The bill would more than double the amount of money Texas spends to lure film and television projects and has the backing of Texas movie stars including Matthew McConaughey.

Also Reported:

Former Houston ISD board president testifies that she accepted $17K in bribes at Walmart parking lot

(Houston Chronicle) A former Houston ISD board president testified in federal court that she accepted $17,000 in cash in a Walmart parking lot in connection to school bond projects in 2016 and 2017. Rhonda Skillern-Jones, who entered a guilty plea to a conspiracy charge in 2021, said Friday she accepted $5,000 and later $12,000 in cash after a district vendor, Anthony Hutchison, completed campus projects with leftover school bond money allocated to Skillern-Jones’ trustee area in HISD. The money was HISD District II’s remainder from a nearly $1.9 billion bond that repaired or replaced 40 schools.

Ken Paxton wants Dallas school officials under oath on transgender athlete policy

(Texas Tribune) Paxton’s office launched an investigation into the district’s policy after an administrator was caught on tape discussing a possible loophole in the state’s ban.

AG Ken Paxton gets unprecedented access to urban-area prosecutors’ files with new rules

(Dallas Morning News) Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will have access to files kept by district attorneys in urban counties under newly adopted rules, including correspondence with federal authorities and other internal information, his office announced Monday. The expansive reporting requirements give Paxton unprecedented insight into district attorneys’ prosecutorial decisions — like indictments against police officers and poll workers and cases where criminal charges were not pursued — and office policies. The rules also impose penalties like lawsuits, misconduct allegations and removal from office if so-called “rogue” DAs do not comply.

University of North Texas System To ‘Pause’ Drag Shows on Campus

(Texas Scorecard) UNT is now the third system to end on-campus drag shows following Texas A&M and the University of Texas. Related:

Paxton Fights Back Against Federal Judge’s Block of Texas A&M Drag Ban (Texas Scorecard)

Why Are The Majority Of Texas School Districts Facing Budget Deficits?

(Dallas Express) The majority of Texas school districts are bracing for more financial troubles, with many anticipating that they will close out 2025 in a budget deficit. But why? While rising costs and stagnant funding have contributed to the deficits, as previously reported by The Dallas Express, experts now suggest that mismanagement at the local level has also contributed to the issue.

Spring ISD weighs closing some schools amid $13 million budget deficit, enrollment drop

(Houston Landing) The northern Harris County district considers shuttering campuses as it faces a shortfall, financial uncertainty and fewer students in classrooms.

‘I don’t see it ever going away’: Teachers praise La Vernia ISD’s transition to four-day school week

(KSAT) La Vernia Independent School District transitioned to a four-day school week in 2023.

Would Houston ISD’s West Briar Middle School Be Better if its Teachers Were Left Alone?

(Houston Press) Belief that a “toxic culture” exists and is encouraged at West Briar Middle School has prompted a local education group to call for a protest rally at the school at 7:45 Wednesday morning.

Fort Worth ISD looks to strengthen phonics lessons for a reading rate boost

(Fort Worth Report) As part of a district restructuring plan, FWISD leaders plan to add a dedicated phonics program for the 2025-26 school year.

School shooting database slashed in Trump downsizing

(K-12 Dive) Amid an overall increase in school shootings, experts have lamented the lack of a federal database and rely on such research projects for information.

Texas kids treated for vitamin A toxicity after RFK Jr. said the supplement fights measles

(San Antonio Current) Some children sickened in the West Texas measles outbreak are now facing another health issue — toxic levels of vitamin A. Last week, Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock told Texas Public Radio that its staff was treating 10 children suffering from complications caused by measles and exacerbated by abnormal liver function caused by elevated levels of Vitamin A. The incidents follow Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. requiring the Centers for Disease Control to update its measles guidance to promote the use of vitamin A, according to both TPR and Texas news site the Barbed Wire. Kennedy, a high-profile vaccine skeptic, earlier this month ordered the CDC to recommend the vitamin supplement as a means to manage measles symptoms. Related:

Layoffs begin at US health agencies responsible for research, tracking disease and regulating food (AP)

NASA deletes graphic novels about female astronauts from its website

(Houston Chronicle) Nothing is off-limits in NASA’s ongoing purge of all things related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) under the direction of the Trump administration. In its latest move, the space agency has reportedly deleted two graphic novels about fictional female astronauts from its website.

Robstown family demands accountability after alleged bullying at Seale Junior High

(KIII) Rosemary Mendoza shared a video with 3NEWS that allegedly shows her nephew getting hit multiple times by another student.

More early childhood educators needed. A proposed Tarrant County College program may fill the need

(Fort Worth Report) If approved, the community college system may offer its first bachelor’s degree. It will be in early childhood education and teaching.

2 Huntsville ISD educators arrested in separate investigations

(Fox 26 Houston) Investigations are underway following the arrests of two Huntsville ISD educators in the past two weeks. Officials said Demondrae Murray, a teacher at Mance Park Middle School, was picked up during a prostitution/human trafficking operation in Huntsville on March 19. The second person, Eric Buchek, a teacher at Huntsville High School, was arrested on March 27 for improper relationship between an educator and student.

‘It was tedious’: China Spring students install engine as they near end of plane build

(KWTX) The China Spring High School advanced engineering class have just installed the engine to the plane they have been building for almost two years. What started as shelves filled with random parts has become a full blown plane after students who started this project as juniors are now seniors and nearing the end of the project.

Longview ISD FFA students, instructors discuss becoming largest chapter in U.S.

(KETK) In early March, Longview ISD announced the school’s FFA chapter has now become the largest in the state and the U.S. According to the district, the chapter now has 1,319 members. Members we spoke to said they don’t know everyone involved but added it’s always exciting to meet new people.

College Station ISD student hit after driver ignores school bus stop

(KBTX) A 13-year-old College Station ISD student was injured after getting hit by a vehicle while exiting her school bus Monday afternoon in a rural area of Brazos County. The school bus was traveling north on Drake Drive when it stopped with its stop signs out and red lights activated. The teen exited the bus and attempted to cross the street when she was hit by the driver of a Lexus passenger car traveling south on Drake Drive. The student was transported to St. Joseph Health in College Station with suspected minor injuries. No information has been released about the driver of the Lexus at this time.

Harlingen CISD school bus transformed to community closet, food pantry

(ValleyCentral) A school bus in Harlingen has been transformed to serve the community, one stop at a time. The Mobile Relief Unit is a new and transformed resource stocked with clothing, food and essential supplies for the community. “We just went through this flood and bad weather, so we went ahead and put this together. We have the mobile here ready to assist families,” said Sylvia Gonzalez, Director for Family and Community Engagement for Harlingen CISD. The mobile bus will soon make its way to different locations throughout Harlingen and nearby cities.

Texas A&M Joins Legal Battle Over Georgetown’s $1 Billion Water Pipeline Project

(UniversityCube) A $1 billion water pipeline project in Central Texas has ignited a fierce debate over the future of water management in a rapidly urbanizing state. Georgetown, the fastest-growing city in the United States, plans to siphon up to 89 million gallons per day from the Simsboro Formation of the Carrizo Wilcox Aquifer—an underground reservoir located 80 miles away—to support its booming population. Yet, this ambitious undertaking has drawn sharp opposition from neighboring cities like Bryan and College Station, as well as Texas A&M University, all of which depend heavily on the aquifer for their own water needs.

UT Austin collaborates with Mexico research university to launch Latino health research center

(Daily Texan) The University of Texas and private research university Tec de Monterrey are launching a new research center on UT’s campus to further research around health issues impacting Latino communities, according to a March 21 press release.

Arrest made; victim of hit-and-run drags himself to school in Texarkana

(KSLA) Texarkana Texas police say a man who was hit by a car Sunday night while he was walking across a church’s parking lot managed to drag himself across the street to the parking lot of Highland Park Elementary School, where an employee found him around 6 a.m. Monday. Detectives used surveillance video to determine that a Kia drove off the road, accelerated, hit the victim, and then sped away. The suspect was arrested after his heavily damaged car was found parked in the driveway of his nearby residence. The victim remains in critical condition.

El Paso Zoo loses accreditation, plans to appeal

(El Paso Matters) The El Paso Zoo has lost its accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. AZA accreditation signifies the zoo meets high standards, but it is not required for a zoo to operate. The city plans to appeal the decision, or reapply if necessary.

Allen boys basketball falls just short of national title in Throne national championship

(Dallas Morning News) After Allen’s quest for a UIL state championship came to an end in the 6A Division I state semifinals earlier this month, the nationally ranked boys basketball program set its sights on something greater: a national title. Allen fell just short of that on Saturday, losing 71-68 to national powerhouse Long Island Lutheran (NY) in The Throne National Championship final at American Dream in East Rutherford, N.J. Down 14 at halftime, Allen went on a late surge to come within three late.

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