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June 30, 2025
Legislative Update:
State Lawmakers Ask Abbott To Add Conservative Priorities to Special Session Agenda
(Texas Scorecard) Requested additions include banning taxpayer-funded lobbying and banning in-state tuition for illegal aliens.
Here are the Texas higher ed laws you might have missed
(Houston Chronicle) Higher education advocates are winding down from a busy session in the Texas Capitol, where culture wars again took center stage and institutions competed for funding. Here are some highlights from the 89th Legislature, including the bills you might have missed.
Texas To Become ‘Bitcoin Sanctuary’
(Texas Scorecard) Senate Bill 21, drafted by State Sen. Charles Schwertner (R–Georgetown) and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday, June 20, creates the Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The reserve will be used to diversify the state’s investments, giving the Texas comptroller discretionary power to manage the reserve separately from the general fund.
Also Reported:
Gov. Greg Abbott, AG Ken Paxton do not have to release Uvalde or Jan. 6 emails, Texas Supreme Court rules
(Texas Tribune) The decision, stemming from a 2022 lawsuit, narrows the public’s legal options to challenge Texas officials under the state’s open records law. In a Friday decision that narrows the public’s legal options to challenge Texas officials under the state’s open records law, the Texas Supreme Court sided with Abbott and Paxton, who argued they did not have to release some records due to rules protecting confidential communications with attorneys. The state’s top officials also say they had complied with open records law just by responding to American Oversight’s request.
$580K and 10 years later: Houston family still battling school district over special education case
(Houston Chronicle) Hannah Wier won a lawsuit against Spring Branch ISD filed in 2015, alleging the district hadn’t provided the proper special education services for her son, who has autism. A decade and $580,000 in attorney’s fees later, the case is still ongoing.
Northside ISD launches open enrollment program. Superintendent John Craft explains why now
(San Antonio Report) With the passage of education savings accounts and enrollment decreases in San Antonio’s biggest school districts, it’s no surprise that “school choice” has become more competitive for public and private schools alike. Northside Independent School District, the largest district in San Antonio, recently started “Excellence Without Boundaries,” an open enrollment program allowing any student in the San Antonio area to apply to attend any one of its schools. While the district has long housed magnet schools and in-district charters that enroll students regardless of their address, Superintendent John Craft said it was the “right time” to go ahead with a more competitive strategy.
‘We have to recalibrate’: North East ISD adopts $584M budget, projects $18M deficit
(San Antonio Report) Despite confusion on how public school funding could be impacted by recently passed state legislation, North East Independent School District board of trustees approved a $584 million budget and compensation plan for the upcoming school year. Trustees approved the compensation plan before adopting a budget, expressing frustration with state lawmakers for not releasing more funds to increase pay for non-teacher staff who also support students. “Feels like they want us to fail,” trustee Terri Chidgey said.
Rick Perry’s energy company to bring nuclear, data centers to Texas
(Houston Chronicle) Texas has become awash with both big-money data centers and energy campuses in recent years, as the state has positioned itself as a leader in evolutionary technology and repositioned itself as a leader in generating power. Now, the state will soon be home to what’s being called the largest data energy complex in the world. Related:
El Paso ISD struggles with career readiness; just 16% of seniors earn certifications
(KFOX) They’ve crossed the stage, diploma in hand. But for most seniors in the El Paso Independent School District, something is missing: a career credential that proves they’re ready for work.
Houston ISD is seeing larger enrollment declines at NES schools since the state takeover began
(Houston Chronicle) Most Houston ISD campuses have reported sharper enrollment declines since the controversial state takeover, with New Education System schools reporting some of the largest drops compared to previous years. HISD, like many urban school districts nationwide, has seen a steady decline in enrollment for nearly a decade. However, a Chronicle analysis of Texas Education Agency enrollment data shows that the rate of enrollment declines in HISD has accelerated since the takeover.
Raises included with Harlingen school district’s $223 million budget
(myRGV) A new $222.9 million budget comes with long-awaited employee pay increases after officials pushed through the Harlingen school district’s toughest fiscal year in decades. The next school year’s $193.3 million general fund budget, along with its total $222.9 million budget, comes with a proposed property tax rate of 90 cents per $100 valuation, down from 91 cents the current year. “This is an aggressive budget — it’s a tough budget,” board member Ricky Leal said during a public hearing into the budget Tuesday. “It’s not an easy one for us to keep up with. But we don’t do things that are easy. We do things that are hard, and we want to reward the people.”
Austin ISD considers school consolidation amid budget constraints and equity concerns
(CBS Austin) Facing persistent budget challenges, the Austin Independent School District is weighing school consolidations as a means of reducing costs. No closures would take effect until the 2026–2027 school year, but the district’s board of trustees is already engaged in early discussions about what a consolidation plan might entail—and how it might impact communities across the district. Despite the fiscal reasoning behind the effort, some trustees made clear that financial data alone would not dictate their decisions.
Commentary: Texas AFT 2025 Biennial Convention — All in for Public Schools
(Texas AFT) The Texas AFT 2025 Biennial Convention in Dallas brought members, delegates, and staff together for a weekend of action, awards, learning, and fun! The festivities kicked off with a march to Senator Ted Cruz’s downtown office to oppose his federal voucher legislation.
What’s Next for SHARS? From TASB School Medicaid Services
(ED311) If you’re a Texas school district trying to keep up with SHARS (School Health and Related Services), you’re not alone. After a whirlwind legislative session and new policy proposals from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), many districts are asking: What do we need to know, and what do we need to do right now?
Concordia University Texas enhances computer science program amid Austin’s tech boom
(CBS Austin) Concordia University Texas is leveraging its expanding computer science program to help students secure jobs and excel in the competitive tech industry. The program, which balances foundational theory with hands-on experience, offers concentrations in areas such as cybersecurity, data security, and software engineering.
Girls’ flag football thrives in El Paso despite no UIL sanction
(El Paso Inc Soft Paywall) Despite its surge in popularity, girls’ flag football remains on the outside looking in for University Interscholastic League sanctioning. However, there is some hope that the UIL, the governing body of high school athletics in Texas, will consider girls’ flag football as a sanctioned sport in the near future.
Allen teacher indicted on indecency with a child charges
(Fox 4 KDFW) Austin White, 29, an Allen ISD elementary teacher, was indicted on four charges of indecency with a child involving sexual contact. The alleged incidents occurred in September, and White turned himself in after the indictment.
Fight at Amarillo school gym during men’s basketball game leads to arrests, gun scare
(Amarillo Globe-News) A weekend men’s league basketball game turned violent Sunday afternoon when a fight broke out during a tournament at Rolling Hills Elementary School, leading to two arrests and a gun being drawn, according to the Potter County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said the incident occurred around 2:40 p.m. during the second half of a game. A fight between players escalated when one man was knocked unconscious. An off-duty deputy participating in the tournament intervened, breaking up the altercation and providing medical aid. Two men were arrested at the scene.
United Methodist Church can fight to prevent split with SMU, Texas Supreme Court rules
(Texas Tribune) The school sought to leave the church because of differences over gay marriage and clergy. The court did not decide whether SMU could be prevented from separating.
School bus drivers compete in annual safety competition in Hays County
(Fox 7 Austin) The Hays CISD transportation facility was transformed into the ultimate bus driving course over the weekend. The two-day program put on by the National School Transportation Association (NSTA) provides an opportunity for drivers to showcase their knowledge and skills through different safety tests and obstacles.
Health reason forces Dallas ISD’s “Animal Man” to leave the classroom for good
(CBS Texas) Longtime Dallas ISD science teacher Harry Monroe retires, cherishing career dedicated to students and animals.
Amarillo College official details lease termination with Sharpened Iron Film Studios
(KFDA) The Amarillo College Board of Regents voted this week to terminate the studio’s lease that once promised to bring the film industry to the Panhandle.
June 27, 2025
U.S. Supreme Court upholds Texas law aimed at blocking kids from seeing pornography online
(AP) The U.S. Supreme Court on June 27 upheld a Texas law requiring pornographic websites verify users are at least 18, in a case that pitted concerns about protecting minors against worries about violating the First Amendment rights of adults. Related:
- U.S. Supreme Court says Maryland parents can pull their kids from public school lessons using LGBTQ books (AP)
- U.S. Supreme Court OKs fee that subsidizes phone, internet services in schools, libraries and rural areas (AP)
- U.S. Supreme Court Court limits judges’ power on nationwide injunctions, but fate of Trump birthright citizenship order unclear (PBS)
Proposed Pell Grant cuts threaten college access for nearly 500,000 Texas college students
(Texas Tribune) Proposals in the federal budget bill would cut the maximum Pell Grant award amount by $1,500 and take away eligibility for students enrolled less than half-time.
Texas A&M, university systems in other red states will create their own agency to review schools’ quality standards
(Texas Tribune) The creation of the new accrediting agency comes as Republicans have criticized existing ones for reinforcing a liberal bias in the country’s higher ed institutions.
BREAKING: No charges in Woodville Middle School ‘Bear Crawl TikTok’ case
(KFDM) KFDM/Fox 4 News has learned the Woodville ‘Bear Crawl TikTik’ case has ended with no criminal charges filed. Tyler County District Attorney Lucas Babin assigned an investigator to the case, and he tells KFDM that after gathering evidence and witness statements for several weeks, his office determined “there is insufficient evidence to prove criminal intent beyond a reasonable doubt.” The Woodville Police Department investigated what happened May 19 in the boys 6th grade pre-athletics class at Woodville Middle School. Chief Mike McCulley previously said they determined about 15 students were involved. Parents say a coach told the boys they could take part in a TikTok challenge or work out as usual. They chose the challenge, involving bear crawling on the track. Several suffered burns and were treated at emergency centers while others went to Shriners Burn Hospital in Galveston.
Austin ISD board approves turnaround plans to restart three underperforming middle schools
(Community Impact) Three Austin ISD middle schools will receive new principals, teachers and curriculum next school year as the district works to improve student performance. The AISD board of trustees approved turnaround plans to restart Burnet, Dobie and Webb middle schools at a June 26 meeting. The district has until June 30 to submit these plans to the Texas Education Agency in response to two years of failed state accountability ratings. Related:
Houston ISD parents sue district, Bellaire High School employees for using their child’s preferred pronouns, name
(Houston Chronicle) Two Houston ISD parents sued the state’s largest school district this week, accusing employees at Bellaire High School of violating their religious beliefs and their parental rights for using their child’s preferred name and pronouns for multiple years. Alliance Defending Freedom – a conservative Christian legal advocacy group – filed the suit on behalf of the parents against state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles, Bellaire High School principal Michael Niggli, Sarah Ray, a counselor at Bellaire, and the district Monday.
Houston ISD distinguishes pay between teachers with and without certification in new compensation plan
(Houston Chronicle) Houston ISD will distinguish pay between teachers with and without certification in its new compensation plan for the 2025-26 school year, where teachers without certification, called “certification in progress” teachers, will receive a starting salary $2,500 lower in the New Education System, according to the district’s new compensation plan. Teachers without certification outside of the New Education System, embodying state-appointed reforms, will receive a starting 10-month salary of $63,000, lower than the $64,000 for teachers with no experience but with certification.
Ysleta ISD budget sparks concern over staff pay and cost of living
(KFOX) Teachers and board members within the Ysleta Independent School District are expressing concerns over the newly approved budget and its implications for staff pay and their ability to keep up with the rising cost of living. The budget includes raises of up to $5,000 for some teachers, while other staff members will receive only a $500 stipend. Additionally, healthcare premiums, deductibles, and co-pays are set to increase.
United ISD approves continuing wellness days for employees, notification rules likely to be revised
(Laredo Morning Times) The United Independent School District Board of Trustees approved continuing wellness days for the 2025-26 school year to support employee wellness and mental health during a special called meeting Wednesday. UISD Superintendent Gerardo Cruz said wellness days are taken as discretionary leave and that supervisors know their employees well enough to assess wellness episodes on a case-by-case basis. He added the regulation would likely be revised to provide clearer language.
Brownsville ISD adopts $609.4M budget for next school year
(myRGV) The Brownsville Independent School District on Thursday adopted a $609.4 million operating budget for the 2025-26 school year that was the result of collaboration among departments and was recommended by the administration. The budget process begins each year in January. This year, the 89th Texas Legislature approved additional funds for the state’s school districts for the first time since 2019, but Superintendent Jesus H. Chavez said the funds, while appreciated, were inadequate to meet the district’s needs.
Parents, teachers ask Dallas ISD to bar ICE from any school property
(Dallas Morning News) Dallas ISD officials should ban immigration enforcement officials from all school property — including parking lots — so undocumented families feel safe sending their kids to school, community members told trustees Thursday night. Photos of ICE agents near two Bachman Lake neighborhood schools circulated on social media last week, prompting concerns that the federal agency is targeting Dallas schools for enforcement.
Dallas ISD board approves cell phone ban
(WFAA) The Dallas Independent School District board early Friday approved a new cell phone ban ahead of the statewide policy that’s also set to go into effect this upcoming school year. Dallas ISD experimented with different ways to keep cell phones out of the classroom, but now that it is state law, the school board moved quickly to approve a new district wide policy. The new policy includes escalating levels of punishment for each violation.
A New Path to the Classroom: College of Education Launches UT Austin’s First Teacher Residency Program
(UTexas News) Longhorns in Residence partners with local school districts to provide paid residency opportunities for teacher residents while addressing the teacher shortage.
Texas teacher who built speech program from scratch surprised with $100,000 gift
(CBS News) A West Texas speech and debate coach who has spent her own savings to help rural students compete in national competitions received a surprise $100,000 gift at the National Speech and Debate Tournament. Deb Garoui, who teaches and coaches in Post, Texas, was recognized during the tournament for her dedication to students from low-income families.
Cy-Fair ISD has change of heart about nurse for special needs student
(KHOU) A Houston-area mom says Cypress-Fairbanks ISD has reconsidered its decision to deny a one-on-one nurse for her son, who has a rare congenital condition.
No college needed – Dallas City Council adopts new minimum standards for police recruits
(KRLD) The Dallas City Council unanimously approves new hiring standards requiring all police officer recruits to be at least 21 years old, hold a high school diploma or GED, and demonstrate three years of steady, full-time work experience. Assistant Police Chief Israel Herrera explained the change is meant “to attract more mature and dependable candidates” and that officials are looking for applicants “who have stable working history, who have shown progression, that are mature, responsible.”
Judge says victim’s mom waited too long to join lawsuit against Perryton ISD, former coach
(KVII) A federal judge denied a motion by the victim’s mother to join a lawsuit against Perryton ISD and its former athletic director and football coach who has been convicted of child sex crimes. The victim’s father filed the lawsuit in August 2024, arguing she deserved to be protected from harm by Cole Underwood and the school district. Judge Lee Ann Reno said the mom waited too long to join and that letting her do so now would “unduly delay” the lawsuit.
Prosecutors Seek Cell Phone of Student Solicited for Sex by Elgin ISD Coach
(Texas Scorecard) Coach Devin Anderson was charged last year with having an illicit sexual “relationship” with a female student. Last week Anderson appeared in court for a hearing during which prosecutors told District Judge Alfonso Charles they believe the victim’s cellphone may contain evidence relevant to the case. Judge Charles directed prosecutors to request that the victim turn over the phone to the Kilgore Police Department. Anderson remains free after posting a $55,000 bond.
Fort Worth ISD trustees approved $44M in spending this May. Here’s what they bought
(Fort Worth Report) Among the biggest items trustees approved included more than $28 million for renewal of the district’s food service management contract with Sodexo; $2.16 million for audio-visual classroom upgrades at 23 campuses; and $1.97 million for adoption and purchase of new math instructional materials. Trustees also approved the shifting of funds from Kirkpatrick and Morningside middle schools to J.P. Elder and William James middle schools as part of the district’s consolidation plan, as well as various contracts for technology, infrastructure and facility improvements.
Federal agents detain more than two dozen construction workers at Texas A&M-Kingsville
(KIII) The unexpected presence of multiple law enforcement agencies on campus quickly caught the attention of students—some of whom described the scene as alarming and emotionally jarring.
Texas Tech student-athletes to be paid by universities via PayPal
(KOKH via KVII) Texas Tech University will start paying student-athletes through PayPal. The Big 12 and Big Ten entered a partnership with PayPal to allow for the use of its platform for the new revenue-share model at universities for student-athletes. A recent court decision allows universities to pay student-athletes directly for their skill. Previously, college athletes have only been able to receive payments from third parties for their name, image and likeness.
Texas Tech University System, Fermi America announce AI intelligence, energy campus near Amarillo
(KAMR/KCIT) The Texas Tech University System announced it will partner with Fermi America to build “one of the most significant power campuses in the U.S. and the largest advanced energy, private grid and intelligence development in the world” near Pantex. TTU officials said the Advanced Energy and Intelligence Campus will be established at a 5,800-acre site, with 18 million square feet of artificial intelligence data centers. The campus will generate up to 11 gigawatts of IT capacity using natural gas, solar, wind and nuclear energy.
University of Houston removes iconic campus landmark after 50 years
(Houston Chronicle) A long-standing fixture of the University of Houston campus has been removed. The Cullen Family Plaza fountain, in place since 1972, was recently demolished to make way for the university’s Centennial Construction Project, a sweeping modernization of UH’s historic core in preparation for its 100th anniversary in 2027.
June 26, 2025
Legislative Update:
Why most Texas vouchers could go to homeschoolers, not private schools
(Houston Chronicle) An overlooked group of students may be some of the program’s biggest beneficiaries: homeschoolers, who can receive up to $2,000 a year. “People have walked into this with the idea that this is a program for accredited private school students, and a few homeschoolers might also participate,” said Jeremy Newman, vice president of policy and litigation at the Texas Homeschool Coalition. “There’s a decent probability it will be the opposite.” Related:
- Vouchers could change the homeschool landscape in Texas. Here’s why (Houston Chronicle)
Port San Antonio snubbed: Abbott vetoes $50M for military cyber campus
(San Antonio Express-News) Gov. Greg Abbott has axed a proposed $50 million that was to go toward building a military cyber campus at Port San Antonio. The late line item veto surprised a lawmaker and port officials and could further delay talks with the Air Force about moving its cyber warfighting headquarters to the Southwest Side tech park. In a sudden reversal Abbott crossed out the language, and wrote the “funding is duplicative of other state initiatives including the Texas Cyber Command and would create an additional SCIF where others are currently operational.”
Also Reported:
U.S. Department of Justice coordinated with Texas AG to kill Dream Act, Trump official says
(NBC News) A top Justice Department official boasted at a private Republican gathering that the Trump administration was able to kill a Texas law that gave undocumented immigrants in-state tuition “in six hours” by coordinating with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, according to a recording obtained by NBC News.
Texas Higher Ed Coordinating Board Chairman Farias resigns, assumes new role with University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
(Odessa American) Dr. Fred Farias, chair of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (Coordinating Board), resigned his position effective June 21. Farias has accepted a position at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UT-RGV) as Associate Dean for External Relations, Associate Vice President for Government Relations, and as a clinical professor in UT-RGV’s School of Optometry. He will also continue to operate his private optometry practice.
Texas is getting older, but its child population is growing
(Texas Tribune) Texas remains younger than other states, but the number of older Texans has outpaced that of any other age group.
Fort Worth ISD adopts Bluebonnet phonics program as Supt. Molinar urges literacy urgency
(Fort Worth Report) Superintendent Karen Molinar stood before Fort Worth ISD trustees June 24 with a familiar message: The district’s work on literacy is far from over. That call for action helped fuel the board’s 7-2 vote to adopt a new phonics program aimed at strengthening foundational reading skills across kindergarten through third grade. The decision will bring Bluebonnet Learning’s phonics program into Fort Worth ISD classrooms beginning this fall, a move district leaders said will build on recent gains while addressing gaps that remain. Trustees Wallace Bridges and Camille Rodriguez voted against the curriculum’s adoption.
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD board censures trustee after heated discussion
(myRGV) School board trustees voted Wednesday to adopt a resolution censuring fellow board member Cynthia Gutierrez, which includes exclusion from district property for up to two years and remote participation for board meetings. A document read during the meeting lists seven reasons for the censure including announcing a purported request by other trustees for a special meeting without confirmation, announcing a trustee’s husband sought district business, decrying a rebid of an insurance contract and attempting to instigate conflict between board members.
Houston ISD teachers await word from district on raises up to $5,000 approved by the Texas Legislature
(Houston Chronicle) Teachers are nervously awaiting word from Houston ISD on how and when they will receive their raises from the Legislature after salary letters this past week did not reflect those raises.
Fort Bend ISD approves $906.6M budget, temporary tax hike for teacher pay
(Houston Chronicle) Fort Bend ISD trustees approved a $906.6 million budget for 2025–26 with a temporary 7-cent property tax rate increase to fund raises, despite frustration from some board and community members.
Carroll ISD plans for $5M deficit for 2025-26 school year budget
(Community Impact) Carroll ISD Board President Cameron Bryan said Carroll ISD will have a $5M budget deficit mostly due to declining enrollment, insufficient state funding, and funding that needs to go back to the state.
Ysleta ISD approves budget deficit, employee pay raises, depletes reserves
(El Paso Matters) The Ysleta Independent School District adopted a budget that spends more money than it takes in for a fourth year in a row, which would deplete much of the district’s reserves and leave it at the precipice of financial collapse. The YISD school board voted 4-3 to approve a $420.2 million budget with a $22.2 million deficit for the coming school year. The board also voted unanimously to take out a $49 million loan to cover payroll expenses in August while it waits for scheduled payments to come in from the state. The district expects to pay the loan back in February. The repayment will cost the district $1.5 million in interest fees.
South San Antonio ISD board formally accepts superintendent’s resignation 4 months after TEA takeover
(KSAT) Four months since the Texas Education Agency stepped in to replace the school board members and superintendent at South San Antonio ISD, the former superintendent will be released from his contract. Henry Yzaguirre was hired by the South San ISD board in 2021 as the interim superintendent. He was later hired permanently. The school board voted this month to formally accept Yzaguirre’s resignation, effective June 30. As part of the transition agreement, Yzaguirre will receive a year’s pay of $280,000. The agency selected Saul Hinojosa as the new superintendent of the district.
Laredo ISD, United ISD approve pay raises for employees
(KGNS) Good news comes to employees of both United ISD and Laredo ISD as it was recently announced that they will be receiving pay raises.
Howe head football coach arrested for soliciting a minor caught in sting operation, investigators say
(KXII) Howe head football coach and athletic director Andrew Harvey was arrested Monday as part of an undercover operation by a Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office task force, the agency confirmed Wednesday. They said Harvey arranged to meet with the person he allegedly thought was a child at a public place on Monday. Harvey was arrested by deputies with the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, and he faces charges of online solicitation of a minor, solicitation of prostitution of a person under 18, and sale, distribution, or display of harmful material to a minor.
Killeen ISD investigation reveals new details following student death
(KXXV) The Killeen Independent School District provided an update on Wednesday, sharing findings of an internal investigation into the March 10th death of Serenity Baker. The 14-year-old Roy J. Smith Middle School student who was stabbed on campus. While the full report has not been released due to confidentiality concerns and an ongoing criminal case, the district released key details collected through interviews with two dozen KISD employees, hundreds of student records, communications, and surveillance footage.
Dozens attend Winnsboro community school board meeting in support of police chief
(KLTV) Over 100 people packed into a Winnsboro cafeteria Monday night to express support for a former police chief who some feel was wrongly placed on leave. Six people spoke in support of Winnsboro ISD Police Chief Heath Guy. His wife, Ashley Guy, said he was placed on paid administrative leave after speaking to Texas Rangers about allegations of a former teacher and coach having an improper relationship with a student.
Moneyball: As More Cash Flows Into College Sports, Smaller North Texas Colleges Must Get Creative to Compete
(Dallas Observer) The big-money universities are set to win even bigger now, but the University of North Texas, UT Arlington and others are still ready to compete.
North Texas law enforcement hosts free civilian active shooter training this Saturday
(KRLD) North Texas residents are invited to free Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) training on Saturday, June 28, spearheaded by 30-plus agencies including Dallas and Grand Prairie police. Attendees will learn the proven “Avoid, Deny, Defend” strategy developed by Texas State’s ALERRT program.
Lufkin ISD school board to sell administration, District Education Center buildings
(KTRE) Two Lufkin ISD buildings will soon be on the market after the school board voted Tuesday to start the process of selling them.
U.S. Department of Justice ends civil rights investigation of EPIC City development
(Dallas Morning News) The U.S. Department of Justice has dropped a civil rights investigation into EPIC City, a planned Muslim-centric development in Dallas-Fort Worth. The DOJ launched its probe last month, following a request from U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. The Texas Republican expressed concern that those involved in the planned development could discriminate against Jewish and Christian Texans. The DOJ probe was one of several investigations tied to the project and the mosque. At least five investigations have been launched at the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott.
Majority of US adults support religious chaplains in public schools, a new AP-NORC poll shows
(AP) Few U.S. adults support allowing religious schools to become tax-funded public charter schools, but a majority favors allowing religious chaplains to provide support services for public school students, a new poll finds. The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows the complexity of Americans’ attitudes toward religious expression in schools, which varies depending on the kind of expression and sometimes crosses partisan lines.
New effort targets El Paso’s foster care shortage, seeking homes for teens and siblings
(KFOX) The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, the El Paso County Attorney’s Office, and other child welfare stakeholders announced on Wednesday the launch of a year-long effort aimed at increasing the availability of licensed foster and adoptive parents in El Paso County. The campaign seeks to address the critical gap between the number of children needing out-of-home placement and the limited availability of suitable, licensed foster homes within the region.
Houston music school faces allegations after staff say they go unpaid for months
(Fox 26 Houston) Vivaldi Music Academy, a music school with multiple locations across the Houston area, is under fire as several current and former employees allege they haven’t received paychecks, some for months.
UT San Antonio researchers train first responders on how to better interact with people with autism
(Texas Public Radio) Researchers at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) have created a new training module designed to teach first responders how to better communicate with people with developmental disabilities like autism.
Wells Fargo Bank scheme: School bus driver loses life savings, bank says they won’t give it back
(Fox 26 Houston) Katy ISD bus driver Roberta Thompson said she received a call from a man stating he worked in the Wells Fargo Bank Fraud Department. The man told her to withdraw all her money, then deposit it into what he said was a new account for her. However, the account wasn’t hers, it was the callers. Wells Fargo has denied her claim.
June 25, 2025
Legislative Update:
North Texas faith leaders sue the TEA, local school boards over law requiring Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms
(WFAA) The plaintiffs argue the newly passed law is unconstitutional and violates parents’ and children’s First Amendment freedoms.
ACLU, student group plan to file lawsuit over Texas anti-DEI law
(KVUE) A pair of groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and a student group, are planning to file legal challenges to Senate Bill 12. The bill, which Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law on Sunday, centers on parental rights. It extends the state’s ban on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives to more than 1,200 K-12 public school districts across Texas.
Texas Lottery Commission to be disbanded as state game gets new restrictions
(Texas Tribune) The bill, which took effect immediately, allows the lottery to continue until 2029, but with greater restrictions and without the Texas Lottery Commission, the agency that has run the game for three decades. The bill prohibits online ticket sales and abolishes the commission; starting Sept. 1 the lottery will be run by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Federal Court Vacates Injunction Against Arkansas THC Ban
(Texas Scorecard) A federal court has vacated an injunction against Arkansas’ statewide ban on THC. Gov. Greg Abbott had cited the court challenge to this law as a reason for vetoing a similar proposed ban in Texas.
Proposed tax exemption increase could be ‘game changer’ for small businesses
(KXXV) Texas small businesses could see significant tax relief if the business personal property exemption increases from $2,500 to $250,000.
Also Reported:
Measles Update: Number of active outbreak counties in Texas drops to two
(Texas Public Radio) The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has reported no new confirmed measles cases in the last week and has reduced the number of counties still in an active measles outbreak to two. The two counties still experiencing active measles outbreaks are Lamar County, in northeast Texas on the border with Oklahoma, and Gaines County, where the outbreak began in January. Lubbock County has dropped from the list since last week.The total number of cases linked to the West Texas outbreak since January is 750. Nationwide, the CDC has confirmed a total of 1,214 measles cases so far this year. There were 285 confirmed cases nationally in all of 2024.
Karmelo Anthony indicted for murder in stabbing death of Austin Metcalf at Frisco ISD track meet
(CBS Texas) Karmelo Anthony, the now 18-year-old accused of fatally stabbing another teen during an altercation at a Frisco ISD track meet in early April, was indicted for murder by a Collin County grand jury on Tuesday. The teen, who is facing a first-degree murder charge, has been on house arrest since being released on a reduced bond on April 14. If convicted, Anthony could face a possible sentence of 5-99 years or life in prison.
‘I’m tryna help ya:’ Report reveals text messages from Winnsboro coach accused of hiding sexual abuse of student
(KLTV) Several text messages have been included in the investigation of a Winnsboro coach accused of failing to report a teacher-student relationship involving another coach. Jared Alan Lancaster, 28, of Winnsboro, was arrested Sunday and charged with failing to report child abuse in the case of another coach, Nicholas Gabriele, who was arrested after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a student. An arrest document states the two coaches also partnered on illegal drug deals. The Wood County Sheriff’s Office said more arrests are expected. Related:
Families of victims of school bus crash want a say in plea agreement for Jerry Hernandez
(CBS Austin) The driver of a concrete truck that veered into a school bus in Bastrop County pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges and is now waiting to be sentenced. 44-year-old Jerry Hernandez agreed to a plea deal that is likely to send him to prison for 18 years. On Tuesday, victims and their families are reacting to the expected sentence. Gerardo Rodriguez said his daughter and wife are still struggling emotionally more than a year after the school bus crash. “I feel that I was not given the opportunity by the District Attorney’s Office to just go ahead and share my feelings,” said Rodriguez. Bastrop County District Attorney Bryan Goertz says while Hernandez has pleaded guilty, he has not been found guilty by a court. A hearing is set for September 18 to make the plea deal official and for Hernandez to be sentenced.
The highest-paid superintendents in Texas: Where Houston ISD leader Mike Miles’ new salary ranks
(Houston Chronicle) Houston ISD’s leader will be among the state’s top-earning superintendents after his recent $82,000 raise increased his base pay to $462,000. State-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles had a base pay of $380,000 before his contract was extended five years as the district is expected to transition back to some elected board members. That puts his pay at more than double that of the average superintendent in Texas. A look at 2024-25 salary data as of October indicates Miles is still not Texas’ top-paid superintendent. Barbers Hill ISD’s Gregory Poole made a base pay of $489,143, according to data via the Texas Education Agency.
Beaumont ISD approves new pay scale and raises for 2025-2026 school year
(KBMT) Under the newly adopted pay structure, the starting salary for classroom teachers will rise to $55,500, effective immediately. The district also announced a 4% raise from the salary mid-point for all eligible employees, along with a one-time stipend of up to $1,000 for qualifying staff members. The funding for these raises comes from House Bill 2. Related:
Katy ISD approves raises for teachers and other employees — Here’s how much more they’ll get
(KHOU) The increases go into effect in the upcoming school year.
San Antonio ISD trustees draw from reserve fund to offset deficit in the 2025-2026 budget
(Texas Public Radio) Trustees for the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) approved on Monday a $541 million operating budget for the 2025-2026 school year. That would have put the district’s expenditures nearly $47 million over its expected revenue if the new school funding law House Bill 2 hadn’t passed. District officials asked the board to approve next year’s budget under the old law in order to give them more time to assess how the new funding allotments will impact their bottom line. Depending on which estimate they look at, SAISD officials expect HB 2 will shrink next year’s deficit down to somewhere between $33 million and $25 million.
UT Arlington places staff hiring freeze as new federal directives hit budget
(Fort Worth Report) Prompted by federal directives restricting funding, a staff hiring freeze at the University of Texas at Arlington will take effect July 3. UTA President Jennifer Cowley announced the measure, along with a pause in salary adjustments for staff, in a June 16 message to the campus community. No end date for the freeze has been determined.
Is Texas Shielding Thousands of Illegal Aliens From Deportation With ‘U Visas’?
(Texas Scorecard) A Texas Scorecard investigation reveals troubling patterns in how law enforcement agencies across Texas are certifying thousands of U visa applications for illegal aliens. A visa program, designated as a “U” visa, is intended to grant temporary legal status and work authorization to illegal aliens who are victims of certain serious crimes and agree to cooperate with law enforcement. However, critics claim some agencies may be misusing the program for political purposes.
Experts say Texas needs more money for adult education. Federal funding for it is increasingly uncertain
(Texas Standard) From funding delayed to a proposal that would mean funding denied, adult education providers don’t know what’s coming.
Texas to create its own psychology licensing test amid pushback on national exam
(Texas Tribune) After leading a national pushback against a costly new national certification exam for psychologists, Texas has approved crafting its own cheaper test with hopes that other states will take it. On Tuesday, the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists announced its intention to develop a less expensive state exam, rather than requiring applicants to take the test offered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, also known as ASPPB. Gov. Greg Abbott has approved the test development in the state budget.
Former Eanes ISD teacher faces 17 counts for child exploitation, pornography charges
(CBS Austin) A Travis County grand jury has returned 17 indictments against a former Eanes ISD elementary school teacher on charges related to child exploitation and pornography. Zachary Barnett, 26, was indicted Monday on one count of Sexual Performance by a Child, six counts of Possession of Child Pornography, and 10 counts of Possession of Lewd Visual Material Depicting a Child, according to the Travis County District Attorney’s Office. Authorities alleged Barnett possessed photos and videos of clothed students on his personal device that were taken without the students’ knowledge or consent.
Conroe ISD Students Balk at Cell Phone Ban: “It Risks Doing More Harm Than Good”
(Houston Press) Fifteen-year-old Conroe ISD student Norma Kean started a Change.org petition on June 18 asking school board members to lift a K-12 cell phone ban for students during school hours. The ban, mandated by a new state law, becomes effective for Texas public schools on September 1. Kean’s petition, as of Tuesday, had 3,056 verified signatures. “The law came from the state, but local districts aren’t powerless,” Kean said. “Conroe ISD has the ability to shape how the policy is implemented, by making exceptions, allowing site-based flexibility, and creating guidelines that actually reflect student needs and realities.”
Is it illegal to leave a child home alone in Texas? Here’s what the state law says
(Austin American-Statesman) Texas law doesn’t set a specific age at which a child can be left home alone, according to the Texas State Law Library. Like most U.S. states, the decision is left to the discretion of parents or guardians. However, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services outlines specific laws regarding child abandonment and neglect.
Bexar County Commissioners approve $5M for UT San Antonio athletics facility
(San Antonio Report) The Bexar County Commissioners Court approved a $5 million investment Tuesday for the creation of the University of Texas at San Antonio’s $35 million athletics center slated to open in late 2026. The county’s contribution was part of a partnership between the university, the City of San Antonio and the county. The city approved a $5 million investment for the project in May. As part of the agreement, UTSA will allow for city and county residents to access the volleyball and basketball facilities for youth sports, competitive events and recreational activities. The county will have a total of five days of free access to the facilities for public events.
Laredo College and Texas A&M International University announce new STEM project and scholarship
(KGNS) Laredo College and TAMIU on Tuesday announced a new partnership with the goal to support students in STEM and make higher education more accessible. The project is called LC-TAMIU STEM Connector, and it aims to improve the transfer process for engineering students. Another highlight of the program is a new scholarship that is designed to help underprivileged and first-generation students pay for college.
June 24, 2025
Legislative Update:
Abbott vetoes summer food aid program, forgoing $450M in federal funds
(Houston Chronicle) Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a budget line item late Sunday that would have brought in an estimated $450 million in federal dollars to fund a summer food aid program for low-income children. In a veto statement, the third-term Republican said there’s too much uncertainty at the federal level as Congress looks to slash spending. The program is fully federally funded, but states have to put up half the administration costs. For Texas, it would have been about $60 million over the next two fiscal years.
Lt. Gov. Patrick rips Gov. Abbott for vetoing THC ban, digs in against calls for regulation
(Texas Tribune) The clash marks a rare break between two of the most powerful Republicans in Texas after a legislative session that ushered in a series of conservative victories. Related:
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed 26 bills. Here are the reasons why
(Houston Public Media) Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed 26 bills Sunday — from one that would have banned the sale of virtually all hemp products containing THC, to another that would have created a multistate cosmetology licensing program.
What Texas lawmakers did this session to close the state’s workforce gaps
(Texas Tribune) Workforce training played the quiet middle child during this year’s regular legislative session. While louder, more polarizing issues took the spotlight, Texas lawmakers also passed landmark bills that will reshape how students prepare for life after high school.
Texas groups sue over law that bans LGBTQ clubs in schools
(Houston Chronicle) In a challenge to a newly signed law, the ACLU of Texas and Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT) are suing the state over a law that threatens to dismantle LGBTQ clubs in schools and a host of other diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Signed Friday by Gov. Greg Abbott, Senate Bill 12 bans student clubs that are based on sexual orientation or gender identity as well as programming centered on gender identity, sexuality or race. It also prohibits the consideration of race, gender or sexuality in hiring processes and DEI training, unless required by federal law.
New Texas school choice law allows qualified parents access to funds for pre-K education
(KERA) Parents with pre-K students are eligible to receive funds in the new education savings account program, marking an expansion of publicly funded early education. The public funds would be used to pay for pre-K tuition at private or community-based child care centers, if they qualify under Senate Bill 2.
Parents Praise Passage of Protections From Sexual Predators in Schools
(Texas Scorecard) Parent advocates are praising a series of reforms designed to protect Texas children from sexualization and sexual predators in public schools, making education officials live up to their frequent claim that “student safety is our top priority.”
Texas Bill Leaves UT San Antonio’s Role in Cyber Command Unclear
(Government Technology) The University of Texas at San Antonio was supposed to have an administrative role in the new Texas Cyber Command, but it was written out of the final version of the bill signed by Gov. Greg Abbott.
Also Reported:
Texas directs public universities to identify undocumented students
(Texas Tribune) The directive comes after a court rescinded undocumented students’ eligibility for in-state tuition. It’s unclear what information schools might ask from students and how their immigration data will be protected. Related:
Opinion: A grim milestone — U.S. is on the cusp of losing its official measles elimination status
(STAT) It could happen within a year if current outbreaks continue.
Centerville ISD school board agrees to pay for superintendent’s legal defense
(KBTX) The Centerville ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously Monday to pay for the legal expenses of Superintendent Carole Dickey, who is currently under criminal investigation. According to the board, the investigation is regarding alleged misconduct regarding actions or inaction stemming from her employment within the district, but specifics of the allegations have not been shared publicly.
Keller ISD proposes balanced $348 million budget, avoids projected $12.4M shortfall
(Fort Worth Report) Keller ISD officials said they’ve met their goal: proposing a balanced budget for the 2025-26 school year. But with $150,000 to spare — the result of legislative funding mandates, declining enrollment and rising operating costs — spending will be tight. Related:
Katy ISD approves teacher pay raises, invests in staff ahead of 2025-2026 school year
(KPRC) Katy Independent School District teachers and support staff can expect bigger paychecks next school year, following the Board of Trustees’ approval of a new compensation plan during a late-night meeting Monday. The 2025–2026 plan includes salary increases and stipends for teachers at various career stages—funded in part by House Bill 2, signed into law earlier this year by Gov. Greg Abbott.
Cy-Fair ISD board approves 25-26 budget, reinstates bus transportation
(Houston Chronicle) The Cypress-Fairbanks ISD board approved a $1.2 billion budget for the 2025-2026 school year in a near-unanimous vote Monday night. The budget includes the reinstatment of bus transportation for all Cy-Fair ISD students, including late buses, which were eliminated in sweeping budget cuts made last year to quell a massive deficit. Other highlights include staff raises, stipends for special education teachers and increasing starting teacher pay.
Caysen Allison gets maximum sentence of 10 years for deadly stabbing at Belton High School
(KIII) Caysen Allison was sentenced to 10 years in prison Tuesday for the deadly stabbing of Joe Ramirez, marking the conclusion of a high-profile case that has deeply impacted the Belton community. Allison was convicted of criminally negligent homicide by a jury in April following the death of fellow student Joe Ramirez at Belton High School. Related:
Truck driver arrested in deadly Hays CISD bus crash enters guilty plea
(KXAN) The truck driver arrested in connection with a deadly Hays CISD school bus crash in 2024 pleaded guilty Monday just hours after his defense attorney requested additional time for discovery at a hearing in Bastrop County. Jerry Hernandez, charged with two counts of manslaughter and two counts of criminally negligent homicide, entered a guilty plea on all four counts for 18 years, which will run concurrently. The charge won’t include a deadly weapon designation. Five-year-old Ulises Rodriguez Montoya, who was on the bus, and 33-year-old Ryan Wallace, who was traveling in a car behind the bus, died in the crash.
1 person killed in shootout with Texas Tech Police
(KCBD) One person is dead and two Texas Tech police officers are injured after a shooting on Tech’s campus. Investigators say Texas Tech PD responded to a suspicious vehicle parked on the north side of Jones Stadium around 12:45 a.m. Tuesday. Investigators say the person inside the car pulled a gun and started shooting at police. The officers returned fire killing the suspect. Two Texas Tech police officers were shot and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Winnsboro coach accused of failing to report teacher-student relationship
(KLTV) According to the Wood County Sheriff’s Office, on June 23, investigators from the criminal investigations division got a warrant for the arrest of Jared Alan Lancaster for failing to report a relationship between another coach and a student at a Winnsboro school. The sheriff’s office says more arrests expected.
Sugar Land 95 site receives historical marker
(Community Impact) A Texas Historical Marker has been added near the Fort Bend ISD James T. Reese Career and Technical Center to honor the group of incarcerated people who were unearthed during its construction in 2018. Known as the Sugar Land 95, the group consisted of 95 African Americans — many born into slavery and later incarcerated through Reconstruction-era Black Codes — who were forced into Texas’ convict leasing system, a legal form of slavery where African American people were imprisoned for minor or false infractions and leased to private landowners.
Dallas op-ed praising Houston ISD takeover enrages Houston parents
(Houston Chronicle) An op-ed published this weekend in The Dallas Morning News has sparked backlash among parents, educators, and community members in Houston, who argue that the piece presents an overly optimistic—and misleading—view of recent reforms in Houston ISD.
Texas A&M Qatar suspends operations due to security concerns
(KXXV) Texas A&M University at Qatar has announced the closure of its campus and the postponement of all classes for Tuesday, June 24, 2025, following an alert issued by the U.S. Embassy in Qatar. The embassy has recommended that all American citizens shelter in place and await further instructions due to an unspecified security concern.
McAllen rescinds proclamation recognizing autism focused nonprofit over allegations
(Progress Times) Allegations of fraud surrounding the purported organizer of a nonprofit resulted in the McAllen City Commission rescinding last month a proclamation it had previously made recognizing her. On April 28 the McAllen City Commission voted to officially recognize Lizbeth Muriel and her organization, AUsomely AUthentic, for efforts aimed at raising money and awareness for autistic people in town. After the city made its proclamation, locals on social media described Muriel as a fraudster who used a bogus nonprofit to garner unwarranted support and donations from the community.
June 23, 2025
Legislative Update:
Gov. Greg Abbott orders special legislative session after vetoing 26 bills
(Texas Tribune) Gov. Greg Abbott has announced that a special session of the Texas Legislature will begin on Monday, July 21, after he signed 1,155 bills and vetoed 26 others from the 89th Regular Legislative Session.
Abbott vetoes bill banning THC products, but calls special session to revisit the issue
(Austin American-Statesman) Waiting almost until the last minute on the last day to decide, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Sunday vetoed legislation that would have outlawed products containing the intoxicating compound found in cannabis plants, ending weeks of speculation about how he’d handle the controversial measure and opening a fissure between him and his fellow Republican, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
The 2025 Texas Legislature is over. See how far some of the most consequential bills made it
(Texas Tribune) Texas lawmakers filed thousands of bills during the 2025 legislative session. However, most of those bills didn’t become law. Lawmakers spent the final weeks before the session ended on June 2 trying to push through their priorities. They also tried to stop certain bills from going through by delaying votes and letting them miss key deadlines.
Did Texas lawmakers do enough for children with disabilities? These child care advocates say no
(Texas Tribune) Lawmakers added $100 million to a child care scholarship program but failed to expand access to free preschool for children with disabilities.
New Texas law will require Ten Commandments to be posted in every public school classroom
(AP) Texas will require all public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments under a new law that will make the state the nation’s largest to attempt to impose such a mandate. Related:
Texas bill banning students from using cell phones in school signed by Gov. Abbott
(Fox 7 Austin) House Bill 1481 requiring public school districts or open-enrollment charter schools to adopt and implement policies prohibiting students from using a “personal communication device” in the course of school hours. The measure faced some pushback from parents, citing safety concerns related to emergencies. Under the bill, the school would either have to prohibit students from bringing devices on campus, or provide a way for the student to store the device while on school property.
Also Reported:
Here’s How Dallas ISD Teacher Pay Has Changed In The Last 10 Years
(Dallas Observer) Teacher pay in Dallas has increased by thousands, but local teachers’ pay is still well below the national average.
MAP: Which Central Texas districts increased teacher pay for the 2025-26 school year?
(KXAN) There are 58 districts in the KXAN viewing area, from Mason ISD in the west to Fayetteville ISD in the east. As school districts across Central Texas make budget decisions for the 2025-26 school year, KXAN is keeping track of starting teacher salaries area-wide.
Lubbock-Cooper ISD school board OKs $129 million 2026 budget, welcomes new trustee
(Lubbock Avalanche-Journal) Several items were up for discussion and approved by the Lubbock-Cooper Independent School District Board of Trustees, including its $129 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Texas AFT Members Protest Layoffs And School Vouchers at Ted Cruz’s Dallas Office
(Dallas Observer) More than 200 public educators, teachers’ union members and education professionals marched a quarter of a mile under the scorching Texas sun to Sen. Ted Cruz’s Dallas office on Friday to protest recent national and state actions that they say “dismantle” the education system at several levels. The protest, organized by the Texas branch of the American Federation of Teachers (Texas AFT), was the first event on the jam-packed schedule for the 32nd Annual Texas AFT Convention held in Dallas for the first time in 15 years.
Who are the 100 highest-compensated executives at Texas public university systems?
(Houston Chronicle) Peter W.T. Pisters, president of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, has a $3.9 million compensation package in the 2025 fiscal year, the highest of any executive in the state’s public university systems.
Houston Community College changing name to ‘Houston City College’ in rebrand projected to cost $2.8 million
(Houston Public Media) After 54 years of service, the community college will be renamed Houston City College, a change aimed at reflecting the college system’s new educational opportunities. Costs associated with the rebrand are expected to be about $2.8 million.
New insight into Texas family immigrant detention reveals adults fighting kids for clean water
(AP) Adults fighting kids for clean water, despondent toddlers and a child with swollen feet denied a medical exam — these first-hand accounts from immigrant families at detention centers included in a motion filed by advocates Friday night are offering a glimpse of conditions at Texas facilities.
Texas Supreme Court keeps UT Rio Grande injury suit in district court
(Legal Newsline) The Texas Supreme Court has affirmed a ruling that found the Division of Workers’ Compensation’s exclusive jurisdiction “does not extend to all cases that touch on workers’ compensation issues.”
How individualized student instruction helped Somerset ISD exceed pre-COVID performance levels
(San Antonio Report) The Education Recovery Scorecard, a project that measures changes in student achievement, listed Somerset ISD as one of about 100 school districts in the country that’s performing above pre-pandemic levels in both math and reading in their 2024 report.
Family of Houston ISD student Landon Payton still seeks answers after ‘undetermined’ cause of death
(Houston Public Media) An attorney representing the family of Payton, the 14-year-old Marshall Middle School student who collapsed and died last August, said a medical expert is reviewing the autopsy report completed earlier this month by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. The family is still considering a lawsuit against the school district, according to the lawyer.
Big Dreams, No Tuition: West Texas nonprofit gives kids a shot at college for free
(KMID/KPEJ) The Black Chamber of Commerce for the Permian Basin offers a college scholarship each year to high school seniors entering college. The award amount can vary based on partnerships and additional donations, but the base amount is typically $500.
June 20, 2025
Legislative Update:
Texas Senator Kelly Hancock named acting comptroller, focuses on school vouchers
(CBS Austin) State Senator Kelly Hancock of Tarrant County has been officially named the acting state comptroller, following the selection by outgoing Texas State Comptroller Glenn Hegar. Hegar, who is set to become the chancellor of the Texas A&M University System, expressed confidence in his choice. Hancock, who will leave his current role as a state senator, has identified education savings accounts as a top priority in his new position.
Texas lawmakers failed to pass a proof of citizenship law but made other changes to elections
(Texas Tribune) Successful measures include a new early-voting schedule, revised mail-voting procedures and limits on curbside voting.
Also Reported:
Are Texas School Districts Removing DEI To Comply With SB12?
(Dallas Express) With Senate Bill 12 being passed in the Texas House and Senate and possibly being signed by Gov. Abbott, several school districts, such as Dallas ISD, have already taken action.
School finance bill helps Edinburg school district avoid $6M deficit
(MyRGV) Prior to additional funding to public schools by the Texas Legislature, Edinburg CISD was looking at a deficit. With the passage of the school finance bill, the district is now projected to have a balanced 2025-2026 school budget with the board considering pay raises in the district. It also comes just a month after Texas lawmakers passed a billion-dollar school voucher program that will launch in 2026.
More bus routes, staff raises and a $45M deficit, here are the takeaways from Cy-Fair ISD’s proposed 25-26 budget
(Houston Chronicle) More bus routes, staff raises and a $45M deficit, here are the takeaways from Cypress-Fairbanks ISD’s proposed 25-26 budget.
Frisco ISD to see $9M surplus in finalized FY 2025-26 operating budget
(Community Impact) Frisco ISD officials have approved the budget for the 2025-26 school year and the district expects a $9 million revenue surplus after three years of budget deficits.
Northside ISD opens enrollment to students who live outside district’s boundaries
(News4SA) For the first time, Northside Independent School District is opening enrollment to students who live outside of the district’s boundaries. The move by Northside ISD comes after several other school districts, including San Antonio Independent School District, have closed campuses due to declining enrollment. While the impact of school vouchers on public schools remains unclear, they are another major element of the changing educational landscape in Texas.
Texas school districts impacted by budget shortfalls despite passing of HB 2
(Fox 7 Austin) Schools across Central Texas are being impacted by budget shortfalls, despite House Bill 2 being signed earlier this month. The Leander ISD Board of Trustees will soon decide whether it’s best for their district to close three elementary schools. Leander ISD is facing about a $34 million deficit because of reduced funding from the state, inflation, and slowed enrollment in the southern and central parts of the district. Other schools in Central Texas are looking for reductions as well.
Ector County ISD approves pay raises, increases starting teacher pay
(KMID/KPEJ) Ector County ISD Board members approved the 2025-2026 compensation plan at Tuesday night’s meeting in line with House Bill 2, which mandates pay raises across the state. While the state did not provide additional mandates for raises for non-teaching staff, trustees also approved a 2% general pay increase based on the midpoint of the employee’s respective pay grade. Trustees also approved an increase to pay for bus drivers, raising the starting pay to $26/hour – a 22% increase to the current $21.25/hour. All current bus drivers will be assured of earning more than the starting $26/hour.
Texas health care system is among worst in the US. Here’s why only Mississippi is worse
(Houston Chronicle) Texas was worse than Mississippi in terms of the number of low-income people accessing and affording health care, new research from The Commonwealth Fund shows. If it weren’t for slightly lower rankings in some of the other 69 categories, Mississippi might even have pulled ahead.
What we know about ‘razor blade throat’ COVID
(KXAN) A new COVID-19 variant spreading internationally has been dubbed “razor blade throat” COVID after reportedly causing significant throat pain. It’s unclear if that variant has reached Texas.
U.S. Department of Justice Targets In-State Tuition for Noncitizens in Kentucky as Texas Students Fight Back
(Inside Higher Ed) The U.S. Justice Department sued Kentucky politicians over in-state tuition benefits for undocumented students, just as Texas students and advocates are pushing back against a lawsuit that killed a similar state policy. Related:
Lawyer fighting school’s hair-length policy in trouble
(Legal Newsline) A Texas school district has convinced a federal judge its grooming policy isn’t actually sex discrimination, while the judge wonders if a dreadlocked student’s lawyer purposely fabricated her arguments to the contrary.
Police Department: Progreso school board president arrested while drunkenly honking outside ex’s house
(ValleyCentral) Juan Jose Ramos, 38, was arrested Tuesday night on charges of public intoxication and possession of a controlled substance. The police report details that Ramos told police he had approximately eight beers and claimed he was trying to talk to his ex-girlfriend. He was later charged with possession of a controlled substance after a jailer found cocaine inside his wallet. Ramos was issued a criminal trespass warning and transported to the Weslaco City Jail on a public intoxication charge.
Digital play calling is coming to Texas high school football this season
(WFAA) A new era is coming for Texas High School football. Starting in the 2025-26 season, Texas high schools can utilize digital play calling in games through one-way, wearable technology. The University Interscholastic League (UIL) follows NCAA rules for football, and with the annual release of NCAA rule changes, which include in-helmet communication, the UIL Football Rules Committee convened to review those changes and determine what exceptions should be made for UIL football. In lieu of the NCAA’s new in-helmet communication change, the UIL communicated two key rule exceptions to coaches and athletic directors: the approved use of one-way wearable technology for play calling and the allowance of Guardian Caps during games.
Top Texas high schools for athletes? According to one study, these are the top 25
(ListWire) According to one study, which accounts for survey feedback from students and parents and data from the U.S. Department of Education, these are the top 25.
Amarillo ISD files denials in 2 student death cases
(KFDA) Amarillo ISD filed denials Tuesday in two cases of student deaths. Emerson Cole was a student at Lorenzo de Zavala Middle School in 2023 when she died from a reaction to her dairy allergy. In the case of Jaxson Mendoza, who died in 2022 at Amarillo High School, his parents claim the district did not properly address his seizures. AISD denies most claims in this suit as well. Both of the lawsuits say AISD violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.
University of Texas at San Antonio-UT Health merger approved by higher-ed accrediting body
(San Antonio Current) The accrediting body charged with quality assurance in higher education officially approved the previously announced merger of the University of Texas at San Antonio and UT Health San Antonio, Taylor Eighmy, acting president for the conjoined institutions, said Tuesday. The new UT San Antonio will boast more than 17,000 faculty and staff, 40,000 students and 350 academic programs.
United ISD shifts clear backpack responsibility to parents
(KGNS) United ISD says parents will now be responsible for making sure students bring clear backpacks to school next year. Last school year, the district gave every student a clear backpack using federal funds. But for the next school year, the district will no longer provide backpacks. If a school-issued backpack breaks, parents can get a replacement thanks to a lifetime warranty.
Bridge Academy helps former United ISD students earn diplomas
(KGNS) The Bridge Academy at United Independent School District (UISD) is helping former students earn their high school diplomas and start a new chapter in their lives. The program is a partnership between UISD, Laredo College, and Workforce Solutions of South Texas. It offers former students, ages 18 to 26, a chance to finish their high school education.
San Antonio police arrest suspect linked to mass shooting threat directed at Jewish community center
(Texas Public Radio) The San Antonio Police Department received information from the San Antonio FBI Office regarding threats to commit a mass shooting at the Barshop Jewish Community Center this week.
Dallas bible college under fire after Minnesota shooting suspect identified as former student
(Fox 4 KDFW) A Dallas-based college, Christ for the Nations Institute, is facing online attacks and increased security after it was revealed the Minnesota lawmaker shooting suspect was a former student. The school’s president states they are not responsible for the suspect’s actions, emphasizing their teachings are not violent and praying for the victims. The school is defending a controversial mission statement about “violent prayer,” explaining it refers to spiritual fervor, not physical aggression.
Biden marks Juneteenth in Galveston, honored for making it a federal holiday
(CBS Texas) Former President Joe Biden visited Galveston for Juneteenth, attending a service at a historic church and receiving a plaque for making the holiday federal in 2021.
Texas Teacher Alleges He Lost His ‘Entire Life Savings’ in ‘Sophisticated’ Banking Scam
(People) Russell Leahy, 28, alleged he was scammed out of $32,000 after sending money to someone who he thought was a representative of Chase Bank. The Texas teacher said he never traveled or went out on weekends, in an effort to save money. “I couldn’t even believe how sophisticated it was,” he said of the alleged scam.
June 19, 2025
Legislative Update:
Northwest ISD calls for Gov. Abbott to abolish STAAR test
(Cross Timbers Gazette) In a press release, Northwest ISD called on Governor Greg Abbott to call a special session to abolish the STAAR test. The district said getting rid of the “high-stakes, standardized testing system” is a necessary step in Abbott’s goal for Texas to become the top-ranking state for education.
Once again targeting higher ed, Texas lawmakers limited faculty influence, campus speech this session
(Texas Tribune) Lawmakers also approved direct pay for student athletes and sought better pathways from college to the workforce.
Also Reported:
Austin ISD cuts more than 20% of staff at headquarters, works to cover $110M deficit
(KXAN) Austin ISD will cut more than 170 positions from its central staff as the district looks to make a dent in a $110 million budget deficit. In a release sent out by Superintendent Matias Segura, this equals a more than 20% reduction of staff at the AISD headquarters, saving roughly $9.6 million.
Harlingen school district cuts 100 jobs based on attrition
(myRGV) The school board is reviewing a proposed budget following officials’ move to slash $3 million in payroll costs while cutting about 100 positions. Based on attrition, officials cut about 100 positions, including 22 positions within the district’s central office, Debbie Scogin, the district’s human services director, said during a budget workshop Tuesday.
East Texas teacher gets probation after video showed her students stapling cat’s incision
(CBS 19) An East Texas agriculture teacher was sentenced to probation after a video showed her students stapling a cat’s incision in August 2024. Emily Marie Benner entered a plea deal on Feb. 28 to the cruelty to non livestock animals in connection with the Aug. 25, 2024 incident in her classroom. She was then sentenced to deferred adjudication (probation), according to Anderson County judicial records. However, the records do not state the length of her probation.
General Mills Will Remove Artificial Dyes After Paxton Investigation
(Texas Scorecard) The company announced this week that it would discontinue use of harmful color additives in school lunches by summer 2026, expanding the ban to all of its products by 2027.
Texas AG Ken Paxton’s North Texas securities fraud charges officially dismissed, attorney says
(WFAA) The dismissal brings about an end to a long-running legal saga involving Paxton, who also faced an impeachment trial on unrelated allegations in 2023.
‘Houston Community College’ no more — HCC just announced a new name
(KHOU) Houston Community College officially will be known as Houston City College. The college’s board of trustees voted 6-3 to authorize the rebranding during the board’s regular meeting June 18.
Mathis ISD reveals 5-year plan for improved student safety and excellence
(KIII) Mathis ISD Superintendent Dr. Todd White said the district’s plan outlines improvements across 11 key focus areas that will be implemented in a five-year period.
Progreso ISD school board president arrested
(ValleyCentral) Progreso Independent School District School Board President Juan Jose Ramos has been arrested on criminal charges, officials confirmed with ValleyCentral. Hidalgo County confirmed Ramos was charged with public intoxication and possession of a controlled substance.
Eagle Pass ISD Appeal Raises Questions After Public Records Show No Board Approval
(Maverick Times) A recent legal battle involving the Eagle Pass Independent School District (EPISD) has drawn public attention—not only for its implications on local elections but also for questions surrounding how legal decisions are made within the district. The case began when local resident Enriqueta Diaz filed an emergency petition in district court, seeking to compel EPISD to open a school board seat to public election following the passing of trustee Lupita Fuentes in April 2024.
Lubbock Condra Charter School celebrates new name, Mike Pritchard Music Program
(Lubbock Avalanche-Journal) A Lubbock school touted as the first of its kind in Texas is now called The Betty M. Condra School for Dyslexia Success and will feature a new program honoring a Hub City music icon. The school, previously known as the Betty M. Condra School for Education Innovation, announced the updated name as well as what its leaders described as a revolutionary new music program named in honor of celebrated area musician Mike Pritchard during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday at the campus located at 1421 9th St. in downtown Lubbock.
U.S. Supreme Court Blocks Texas Lawsuit Over Nuclear Waste Site
(Texas Scorecard) The U.S. Supreme Court has tossed out Texas’ legal fight to stop the federal government from storing nuclear waste in West Texas, dealing a blow to state leaders who say the plan is dangerous and illegal.
American babies may get $1,000 each to invest because of Ted Cruz
(Texas Tribune) Included in Congress’ major tax and spending bill is Cruz’s proposal to give every American baby $1,000 to invest.
Student visas resume in US with new social media requirements
(AP) The U.S. State Department said Wednesday it is restarting the suspended process for foreigners applying for student visas but all applicants will now be required to unlock their social media accounts for government review. The department said consular officers will be on the lookout for posts and messages that could be deemed hostile to the United States, its government, culture, institutions or founding principles.
El Paso students sharpen minds at seventh annual chess camp, building critical life skills
(KFOX) The camp draws students from schools across El Paso, providing a unique opportunity for young minds to develop critical thinking and decision-making skills.
Millions in federal funds awarded to bike, pedestrian trails across North Texas
(KERA) Bike and pedestrian trails in North Texas are getting a boost in funding after regional leaders approved a $74 million investment last week. The Regional Transportation Council recently approved $59.6 million in federal funds for a dozen bike trail and safe school route projects in Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant counties. The council is matching the funds with another $14.4 million.
Texas Southern University, local law firm to study economic impact of delayed Texas freedom
(KIAH) Texas Southern University and the Houston-based law firm, Roberts Markland, announced a new partnership. The partnership will conduct a study of the legal and economic impacts due to the nearly 3-year delay when enslaved people in Texas found out they were actually free. The partnership was initiated by the law firm’s donation of a $100,000 grant to the historically black university.
Texas Christian University prepares for the new era of college athletics as $2.8B NCAA settlement finalized
(Fort Worth Report) Both TCU and UT Arlington will opt in to the settlement that allows them to directly share revenues with college athletes.
PHOTOS: Fort Hood name restored, Fort Cavazos signage removed
(KXAN) The signage of the Bernie Beck Gate has once again changed as the former name of the Texas Army base in Killeen was reinstated. Fort Hood (formerly Fort Cavazos) was renamed for the second time in two years in honor of Colonel Robert B. Hood for his heroism during World War I. It was previously named after Confederate General John Bell Hood.
June 18, 2025
Legislative Update:
Texas GOP: Legislature Must Finish Work on Key Conservative Reforms
(Texas Scorecard) With unfinished Republican priorities still lingering after the close of the regular legislative session, the Republican Party of Texas is calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to immediately convene a special session to address several key issues—including the elimination of property taxes, a ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying, and bail reform. At the top of the list: property tax elimination.
Analysis: The 2025 Texas Senate, from right to left
(Texas Tribune) Here’s a look at senators, ranked from most conservative to most liberal, based on votes cast during the 2025 regular session.
With only 8% built, Texas quietly defunds state border wall program
(Texas Tribune) Texas officials suggested the federal government could pick up construction. However, during President Trump’s first term, his administration built about one-third of what the state was able to put up in the same amount of time.
Also Reported:
Texas students make gains in reading but struggle with math, STAAR scores show
(Texas Tribune) Texas’ students saw some wins in reading but continued to struggle to bounce back from pandemic-related learning losses in math, state testing results released Tuesday showed. Elementary students who took the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness exam this year made the biggest gains in reading across grade levels. Third graders saw a three percentage point increase in reading, a milestone because early literacy is a strong indicator of future academic success. Progress among middle school students in the subject, meanwhile, slowed. Related:
- Texas STAAR scores: Dallas, DeSoto ISDs stand out among districts, experts say (Fox 4 KDFW)
- Tarrant’s 2025 STAAR results show Carroll ISD, charters lead in math, reading (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
- Spring STAAR test scores show gains for Fort Worth ISD as possible state takeover looms (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
- Houston ISD STAAR scores for elementary, middle schools show growth, outpacing most statewide gains (Houston Chronicle)
- STAAR results reveal gains, setbacks for San Antonio’s youngest students (San Antonio Express-News)
Texas measles outbreak reaches 750 cases, nears 100 hospitalizations
(Dallas Morning News) The Texas measles outbreak has reached 750 cases, the state health department reported Tuesday. The current case count is an increase of six from last week’s update. Total hospitalizations since the outbreak first erupted in Gaines County in January also increased by one, from 96 to 97. Of those 750 confirmed cases, fewer than 10 are considered actively infectious. Counties with ongoing measles transmission include Gaines, Lamar and Lubbock. At 413 cases, Gaines County is still home to a vast majority of the outbreak. Terry County follows at 60 cases.
U.S. Supreme Court upholds Tennessee ban on transgender youth medical care
(NBC News) The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a Tennessee law restricting gender transition care for minors, delivering a major blow to transgender rights.
El Paso ISD imposes hiring freeze, trims travel expenses to tackle budget shortfall
(KFOX) The El Paso Independent School District is implementing a hiring freeze at its central office and reducing travel expenses as it grapples with a multi-million-dollar budget deficit. These measures come just one day before the school board is scheduled to adopt a final budget for the upcoming school year.
Katy ISD officials eye staff raises despite projected $26.1M shortfall
(Community Impact) Despite a state legislative investment in staff compensation — trimming what might have otherwise been a $35 million hole — Katy ISD officials still projected a $26.1 million shortfall for the 2025-26 school year. However, Chief Financial Officer Chris Smith said at the June 16 work study meeting that the actual shortfall figure will be smaller, if not a surplus entirely, due to the district’s history of underspending and property value audit recoveries.
North East ISD trustees use HB 2 to give San Antonio teachers raises, shrink deficit
(Texas Public Radio) Trustees for the North East Independent School District approved a compensation package Monday that largely aligns with the new school funding law House Bill 2. The law gives districts a relatively robust allotment to boost the salaries of experienced classroom teachers, and a smaller allotment for support staff. NEISD leaders told trustees the law’s targeted funding limits their ability to give raises to other employees, including counselors, nurses, and librarians.
Boling ISD board president arrested on felony child pornography charge
(Crossroads Today) The president of the Boling Independent School District board is facing a felony charge. Authorities arrested Jerry James Svatek Jr., 59, Tuesday on a charge of possession of child pornography involving a victim under the age of 10. The investigation was led by the Department of Homeland Security, with assistance from the Texas Rangers, Department of Public Safety, and the Wharton County Sheriff’s Office. In a statement, Boling ISD Superintendent Keith Jedlicka said the district is aware of the arrest but will not comment further as the legal process unfolds. He added that no complaints have been filed against Svatek by students or parents within the district.
Killeen ISD Board receives update on March 10 middle school stabbing death
(KXXV) Killeen ISD’s Board of Trustees received a legal update Tuesday on the internal investigation into the March 10 incident at Roy J. Smith Middle School, calling the event both “tragic and shocking.” While board members said they would like to share more about the findings, they noted in a statement that federal privacy laws and an ongoing criminal case prevent them from releasing details at this time.The board is working closely with Superintendent Jo Ann Fey to explore additional safety measures across all KISD campuses. Officials said they’re committed to ongoing conversations with the community to help strengthen campus security.
College Station ISD adopts 2025-26 budget, new employee pay plan
(KBTX) College Station ISD’s Board of Trustees finalized the district’s 2025-26 school year budget during Tuesday night’s meeting, and the updated financial plan reflects both benefits and challenges for the district and staff. The district implemented a $2.1 million deficit budget for the upcoming school year despite increased state funding. During the meeting, the Board approved a compensation plan in line with recently passed House Bill 2, which ties new state funding directly to classroom teachers.
Credit scores decline for millions as US student loan collections restart
(AP) Millions of Americans are seeing their credit scores suffer now that the U.S. government has resumed referring missed student loan payments for debt collection. After 90 days of non-payment, student loan servicers report delinquent, or past-due, accounts to major credit bureaus, which use the information to recalculate the borrower’s score. Falling behind on loan payments therefore can affect an individual’s credit rating as severely as filing for personal bankruptcy.
Human smuggling and cocaine trafficking operation near high school forfeits $600,000
(News4SA) A father and son who operated a small but lucrative drug and human smuggling operation near Harlandale ISD High School in San Antonio were sentenced in federal court last week, marking the conclusion of a case that yielded more than $600,000 in forfeited drug proceeds and exposed the extent to which organized crime had taken root near public schools. The two men worked together to traffic cocaine in Bexar County, court documents show.
Medina ISD teacher charged with improper relationship with a student, police say
(KSAT) Bradley Love worked as a teacher and coach, the district confirms.
Eanes ISD superintendent to retire, return to the National Baseball Hall of Fame
(KVUE) After nearly a decade with the district, Eanes ISD Superintendent Dr. Jeff Arnett is retiring next month. Arnett will return to his previous post at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York.
Border Health Telemedicine Program is a Game Changer for Student Health in Far West Texas
(Access NewsWire) Far West Texas students are spending more time in classrooms thanks to a telehealth program that brings specialized health care directly to school nurses’ offices. The Border Health Outreach Initiative transformed several community health programs, including Campus Care, a school-based program led by Project Vida in partnership with Texas Tech Health El Paso. Campus Care connects K-12 students in remote rural communities to medical specialists using advanced telecommunications technology. Since its launch in February 2023, the program has reduced student absenteeism by up to 35%, with up to 80% of students reporting improved academic performance.
Hereford ISD opens low-cost daycare for staff and students
(KVII) The Hereford Center for Accelerated Learning is set to open the first daycare for staff and students this fall, aiming to address a critical need for affordable childcare and attract more teachers to the district.
June 17, 2025
Legislative Update:
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs property tax relief bills that could save homeowners thousands of dollars
(CBS Texas) Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed three bills on Monday that he says will bring more property tax relief to millions of Texas homeowners and businesses. Abbott signed House Bill 9, Senate Bill 4 and Senate Bill 23 into law during a ceremony at the Robson Ranch, a retirement community in Denton. Now it’s up to residents and business owners to make it final. Voters have to approve this constitutional amendment during the election this November.
What ideas are Texas lawmakers exploring to keep schools safe?
(Texas Tribune) The Texas Tribune partnered with the education publisher Pearson to explain Texas leaders’ approach to guns and school safety to Texas students.
How Texas Is Transforming Education
(Newsweek) The education landscape in Texas is undergoing a massive transformation, with changes set to impact students from K-12 to college.
Also Reported:
Ysleta ISD faces tough decisions amid multi-million dollar deficit
(KFOX) Ysleta ISD Superintendent Xavier De La Torre outlined plans to adjust employee healthcare contributions, proposing a 15-20 percent reduction in benefits. The district’s healthcare deficit is separate from its general budget shortfall, which was initially projected at $44.5 million for the next school year. Through attrition of 145 employees, YISD saved nearly $10 million. Additional departmental reductions of 15 to 20 percent saved over $5 million, while campus cuts, including lawn care, saved just over $1 million. These measures have reduced the deficit to just over $20 million.
Austin ISD eliminating jobs at its central office to reduce budget deficit
(KUT) Austin ISD is trying to slash up to $10 million in spending by restructuring its central administrative office. Staff will learn the future of their positions Wednesday.
La Joya ISD budgets for 4% pay raises
(Progress Times) All signs point toward La Joya ISD employees receiving a 4% pay raise, pending the board of managers’ approval. Chief of Business and Administrative Services Mirgitt Crespo presented the proposed 2025-2026 budget, which included a $1.5 million revenue surplus and a 4% raise for all LJISD employees. If the board approves the budget, it would be the first time in three years that all employees receive a raise in the same year. The total financial impact is $6,647,390.
Fort Bend ISD trustees say potential VATRE could implement permanent tax hike
(Community Impact) Fort Bend ISD officials say a temporary 7-cent tax increase per $100 of taxable property value would enable the district to fund raises excluded from the state’s $8.5 billion public education budget for 2025-27 biennium. Board President Kristin Tassin said the board may have to consider a Voter Approval Tax Rate Election, or VATRE, in 2026 to make the tax increase permanent to remain competitive in services and salary offerings.
Bryan ISD adopts projected $6.7 M deficit budget, considers $397 million bond proposal
(KBTX) Bryan Independent School District trustees adopted a $238.8 million budget Monday night for the 2025–26 school year, which includes a projected $6.7 million deficit across its major operating funds.
Plano ISD employees to receive two more days of bereavement leave
(Community Impact) Plano ISD employees will get an additional two days of bereavement leave for the 2025-26 through 2027-28 school years following unanimous approval from the school board at a June 10 school board meeting. Currently, PISD employees can take up to five days of bereavement leave following the death of a loved one, Chief of Employee Services Dr. Duana Kindle said during the meeting. PISD employees are now eligible for seven days of leave.
West Houston group seeks to create home-rule school district in Houston ISD
(Houston Chronicle) A small West Houston group wants to create its own charter-governed district within the state’s largest school district, Houston ISD, as a way to return autonomy to the community. The group believes it would allow HISD’s Westside High School feeder pattern in the Energy Corridor to choose curriculum and learning methods outside of state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles’ mandates. They also said it would help area schools keep qualified teachers through “alternative, locally determined methods,” according to a statement from the West Houston Independence Movement.
Frisco ISD approves training, licensing agreement for school marshal program
(Community Impact) Frisco ISD officials have approved an agreement with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement—the agency which licenses and regulates all police officers in the state—for its new school marshal program. Through the new program, FISD will be placing an armed officer at each of its elementary school campuses over the next two school years. The district will hire 49 marshals with four lead marshals, said Jon Bodie, FISD’s director of emergency management.
Nacogdoches ISD helps students save on college tuition by expanding college credit courses
(KTRE) Nacogdoches ISD students will have a new option to help them save on college tuition. Started in the 2025-26 school year, courses in some of their Career and Technical Education, CTE programs, will have a dual credit option.
UIL hands out punishments to Progreso soccer program
(myRGV) The UIL state executive committee handed out its ruling in the case against Progreso’s boys soccer team and head coach Damian Magallan during a meeting Monday, issuing a two-year probation period to the program, while also handing out a three-game suspension and a public reprimand to the head coach.
ESPN’s “SportsCenter” program to be on location at Texas high school football scrimmage
(The Sporting News) For the show’s visit to Texas, it will take place on Thursday, August 14 at 1 p.m. CT, and will be broadcast from a football scrimmage between Euless Trinity and North Crowley. It is the only high school football game listed as part of the “SportsCenter: 50 States in 50 Days” series.
Texas university presidents weigh risks as Trump administration mounts pressure on higher ed
(Houston Chronicle) The decision to leave public pronouncements to faculty and outside advocacy groups has frustrated some who say that the independence of their universities is at stake, both in and outside of Texas. But with millions of dollars also at risk and the public’s confidence in the field at an all-time low, experts on academia say that it is less risky and possibly more effective to work behind the scenes to convince lawmakers that higher education is worth it. Related:
- How Trump Is Changing Higher Education: The View from UT-San Antonio (Texas Observer)
Status of Texas’ in-state tuition leaves El Paso colleges, students off balance
(El Paso Matters) Tens of thousands of undocumented college students who live in Texas are uncertain about their academic future after the state’s recent decision to revoke in-state tuition, which could make higher education too expensive for them. Leaders of El Paso’s three main public colleges and universities in statements said that their institutions will do what they can within the law to help their students, but may not have a plan until the situation becomes clearer.
Wrestling with the American Dream
(Texas Observer) Afghan refugees find a home on a San Antonio high school athletics team.
Minnesota shooting suspect has North Texas ties, former student at Dallas school
(NBC DFW) The man suspected in the shooting deaths of a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband has ties to North Texas. NBC 5 learned that 57-year-old Vance Boelter attended Christ For The Nations Institute in Dallas in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The institute is strongly condemning the actions of its former student. Minnesota authorities called it one of the largest manhunts in state history. Related:
North Texas Company To Launch Autonomous Vehicle Apprenticeship
(Dallas Express) North Texas’ On the Road Garage is teaming up with Aurora Innovation to offer an apprenticeship and upskilling program to prepare workers for careers in the autonomous vehicle industry.
Woman who swore, shouted at Tarrant County Commissioners Court found guilty of hindering meeting
(KERA) Carolyn “Carolina” Rodriguez was charged with hindering a proceeding by disorderly conduct when she swore and shouted during a Tarrant County Commissioners Court meeting in January.
June 16, 2025
Legislative Update:
Gov. Greg Abbott to sign property tax relief bill in North Texas Monday
(Dallas Morning News) Gov. Greg Abbott is scheduled to hold a bill signing ceremony Monday in Denton for legislation approved recently by state lawmakers that aims to provide tax relief for property owners. A package of property tax cuts for homeowners was sent to Abbott after two key bills were approved during the recently completed legislative session by state lawmakers that raised the state’s homestead exemption.
Also Reported:
Texas school district backtracks, will let student share Bible verses during non-instructional time
(The Christian Post) A Texas school district has reversed its decision to prohibit a fifth-grade student with special needs from sharing Bible verses with her classmates. The case began last month in the Killeen Independent School District, in Killeen, located about 50 miles north of Austin, when the girl started sharing Bible verses printed on small, fortune cookie-sized slips of paper during recess, lunch and after school. Attorneys with the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) say the girl’s principal and teacher confiscated the girl’s Bible verses after first allowing her to distribute them. On the final day of the deadline [set by ACLJ for the district to address the issue], the district relented, issuing a written response that affirmed the student’s constitutional right to share her Bible verses.
‘Really sorry’: Midland woman accused of stealing property tax payments
(KMID/KPEJ) Former Midland Central Appraisal District employee Crystal Ontiveros, 29, was arrested on a warrant Thursday after a lengthy investigation into stolen property tax payments that had been made in cash. Investigators said that tax office employees reviewed Ontiveros’ transactions as far back as September of 2024 but believed she had been skimming tax payments for much longer. In all, a forensic accountant determined that Ontiveros had stolen more than $50,000 worth of tax payments. On June 5, 2025, detectives finally made contact with Ontiveros who ultimately admitted to taking the money because her ex-husband stated, “he would kill her if she didn’t provide”. Ontiveros offered to make payments and said she was “really sorry”. She remained in the Midland County Detention Center as of Friday afternoon on a $50,000 bond.
Comal ISD could actually lose money under ‘historic’ $8.5B public school funding bill
(San Antonio Report) Comal Independent School District, serving around 28,000 students on the far northeast side of Bexar County, could potentially lose about $1 million from the recently passed state school funding bill.
Three Districts Took the Long View with Federal Relief Funds. Their Bets Are Paying Off
(The 74) Districts used federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds in myriad ways and with varying outcomes. EdSurge talked to three districts — in Donna, Texas, Fulton County, Georgia and Guilford Country, North Carolina — that are seeing gains despite the emergency funds’ expiration. They made educated, data-driven bets on how to best support their students and teachers by investing in educational infrastructure and support systems, from high-dosage tutoring to teacher coaching and professional development on new, streamlined literacy and math curricula.
Clear Creek ISD discusses strategy amid enrollment projections showing 6% decline in coming years
(Community Impact) While Clear Creek ISD is anticipating a projected enrollment decline of nearly 6%, or about 2,300 students, by 2029, district officials shared plans for out-of-district transfers and housing development projects that may help fill more seats in classrooms.
Plano ISD compensation plan includes teacher raises, starting salary increase
(Community Impact) Plano ISD has approved a new compensation that includes the largest pay increase for teachers in the district’s history, according to a news release from the district. The plan for the 2025-26 school year includes teacher salary increases ranging from 4%-8.5% depending on experience, as well as a minimum 3% range for all staff.
North East ISD considers non-teacher raises, increasing school meal prices ahead of budget adoption
(San Antonio Report) On the heels of a state legislative session that passed an $8.5 billion public school funding bill, North East Independent School District is considering raises for all staff and increasing school meal prices by 25 cents. At a regular board meeting June 9, the district’s executive director of finance and accounting Susan Lackorn presented trustees with a compensation package that includes teacher raises required under House Bill 2 and 1% raises for the rest of staff.
La Joya ISD turning $10 million deficit into balanced budget
(myRGV) In La Joya ISD’s first year under a Texas Education Agency takeover, the district faced multiple problems, with the biggest issue being a $20 million deficit. The deficit was cut by half through different ways such as laying off employees and implementing a new budget protocol. Fast-forward a year and the district is proposing a balanced budget for the 2025-26 school year, closing the $10.4 million deficit and also investing in district priorities such as a 4% across-the-board salary increase for eligible employees, academics and operational improvements.
Alvin ISD sees decrease in property insurance, increase in total insured values for FY 2025-26
(Community Impact) Alvin ISD’s board of trustees approved nearly $5.9 million for property insurance for fiscal year 2025-26 at its June 10 meeting. While the property insurance will mean a decrease of about $220,000 compared to FY 2024-25, the district’s total insured values, or TIV, will increase by about $278 million, bringing the total value of the district’s property to $2.2 billion, according to district agenda documents.
Austin’s Powerful Education Union Celebrates 25 Years of Fighting for Teachers’ Voices
(Austin Chronicle) Education Austin leader Ken Zarifis talks “hard-work magic” of public education.
Juneteenth celebrations adapt after corporate sponsors pull support
(AP) Juneteenth celebrations have been scaled back this year due to funding shortfalls as companies and municipalities across the country reconsider their support for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Canceled federal grants and businesses moving away from so-called brand activism have hit the bottom line of parades and other events heading into Thursday’s federal holiday, which celebrates the end of slavery in the United States.
How Dallas ISD’s Chess Program Is Transforming Early Education
(Dallas Express) The Dallas Independent School District’s chess program has exploded to 6,000 students across 200 campuses, with participation among kindergarten through second-grade students doubling since last year. The district hosted 10 competitive tournaments this year to meet surging demand. The rapid growth signals chess’s emerging role in early education, and young players are discovering unexpected benefits beyond the game itself.
Remember the 21: The Alton bus crash, 35 years later
(ValleyCentral) September 21, 1989, is a day that changed the Alton community after 21 students lost their lives in the deadliest school bus crash in Texas history. Ambitions and joys entering the new school year were cut short when a Dr Pepper truck ran a stop sign and crashed into a bus en route to drop off students to campus. The impact of the crash caused the school bus to fall into a caliche pit filled with nearly 10 feet of water, kicking in survival instincts for 81 middle school and high school students onboard.
UNT-Dallas Partners With City For New Police Training Academy
(Dallas Express) The Dallas City Council approved a lease agreement with the University of North Texas Dallas campus for a new law enforcement training center. The deal clears the path for a 20-acre police academy and criminal justice facility on the university campus.
Undocumented students rethink their college dreams after Texas cuts their access to cheaper tuition
(Texas Tribune) Thousands of undocumented students who grew up in Texas now face college tuition costs that are more than twice what other state residents pay.
Robinson ISD implements AI security system to enhance campus safety
(KCEN) Robinson ISD is enhancing campus security by implementing Volt AI, an AI-powered system to help detect threats and medical emergencies.
Eagle Pass ISD Appeal Raises Questions After Public Records Show No Board Approval
(Maverick Times) A recent legal battle involving the Eagle Pass Independent School District (EPISD) has drawn public attention — not only for its implications on local elections but also for questions surrounding how legal decisions are made within the district.
Houston ISD takes first steps in overhauling transportation system for 2025-26 school year
(Houston Chronicle) In an agreement approved in the consent agenda, the board authorized Superintendent Mike Miles or a designee to execute an agreement with Houston’ public transit authority. Under the proposed agreement, Metro will provide transportation services to eligible HISD students through its existing transit system at a negotiated rate per participating student.
Autopsy report reveals clues in Houston ISD middle school student’s ‘undetermined’ death
(Houston Chronicle) The former Houston ISD middle school student who died on campus in August may have been genetically predisposed to some conditions linked to sudden death, but no cause of death could be found with certainty, according to an autopsy report obtained by the Chronicle. Landon Payton’s death was officially ruled “undetermined” in May, more than nine months after the 14-year-old died after suffering from a medical emergency in the Marshall Middle School gym Aug. 14. His death has caused grief, potential lawsuits and Houston ISD reforms after some alleged that the gym’s automated external defibrillator, or AED, was not working at the time of his death.
UT Rio Grande Valley to fund nanotech cancer research with $3 million grant
(myRGV) There are now nearly three million reasons to be more hopeful of bettering cancer treatment. The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, or CPRIT, has awarded a $2.8 million grant to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to help launch the Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine Core.
Jury clears man accused of running over student at Amarillo ISD’s Palo Duro High School
(KVII) A man accused of running over a student at Palo Duro High School was acquitted of all charges. On Thursday, a Potter County jury found Robert Scifres not guilty of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, and accident involving serious bodily injury. According to police, two parties met at the school to fight on April 1, 2024. Police said video shows Scifres run over Tallyn Kearns with his Chevy Tahoe during the fight and then speed away. According to police, Kearns suffered multiple broken ribs, and a lacerated liver, kidney, and spleen.
June 13, 2025
Legislative Update:
Gov. Greg Abbott already plotting out how he’ll get his next legislative victory
(Houston Chronicle) Gov. Greg Abbott said he’s learned an important lesson over the last four years about the power of his office and how he can successfully will big issues over the finish line.
Texas public health departments brace for another $119 million in federal cuts
(Texas Tribune) Texas officials have notified local public health departments to brace for another $119 million in federal cuts at the end of the month that could impact the state’s disease detection and prevention efforts, including for HIV, diabetes, vaccine outreach and emergency preparedness. With the state’s regular biennial legislative session ending less than two weeks ago, the Texas Department of State Health Services has lost its opportunity to ask the state for more money.
Top Texas donor slams Speaker Burrows, House members after legislative setback
(Texas Tribune) Texans for Lawsuit Reform is threatening to primary House members who helped kill their major legislative priorities.
Also Reported:
Houston ISD’s Board of Managers approves 5-year extension to Superintendent Mike Miles’ contract
(Houston Chronicle) With no public discussion, Houston ISD’s Board of Managers on Thursday approved a five-year contract extension for Superintendent Mike Miles. This contract decision comes after the replacement of nearly half of the nine-member board by TEA Commissioner Mike Morath. Related:
Unanimous U.S. Supreme Court ruling raises schools’ liability in disability cases
(K-12 Dive) Schools in some areas of the U.S. (Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South and North Dakota) will face increased financial liability for free and appropriate education violations — bringing them in line with jurisdictions in the rest of the nation — as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous decision Thursday in a key special education case.
Here’s how much Keller school board lawyer charged taxpayers during split talks
(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) While the Keller school board attempted to pull off a largely unpopular move to split the district earlier this year, lawyers were charging hundreds of hours for work to represent trustees. And the nature of that work is not available to the public. An invoice submitted by the law firm Jackson Walker in late May comes out to $172,000.
Texas House Bill 2 brings relief and challenges to El Paso schools
(KFOX) The El Paso Independent School District is set to benefit from this funding, but challenges remain. Jack Loveridge, vice president of the board of trustees of EPISD, expressed appreciation for the funding but noted that more is needed. “It’s not where we need it to be. In terms of public education. We would always appreciate greater funding because that’s, quite frankly, what we’ve committed to do is to deliver on that promise of an education for every single Texan,” he said.
McAllen ISD to consider $290M bond election in 2026 after Texas bills fail
(myRGV) McAllen ISD is now considering a proposed $290 million bond election for May 2026 instead of November after bills limiting when districts could have elections died in the Texas Legislature.
Fort Worth ISD school closures among the highest in the state, TEA data shows
(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) The Fort Worth Independent School District recently approved school closures for 18 campuses over the next four years, among the highest numbers seen statewide in recent years. But it’s not the only Texas school district contending with a loss of enrollment and other obstacles that have forced tough decisions like this one to be made. Related:
- Greg Abbott on possible Fort Worth ISD takeover: ‘I would expect good results’ (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)
- Fort Worth ISD’s $43.6M deficit budget triggers worry from trustees over future finances (Fort Worth Report)
‘We’re not retreating’: Facing Texas DEI ban, Dallas ISD leaders to change equity policy
(Dallas Morning News) As Texas lawmakers and President Donald Trump decry DEI work, the state’s second-largest school district is proposing revisions to its educational equity policy — and suggesting it eliminate the word “equity.” Pam Lear, a deputy superintendent, said the changes do not represent the district backing away from its values. Rather, she said, it is about ensuring the district remains in legal compliance. Trustees discussed the changes at their Thursday board briefing. They are expected to vote on the policy at their June 26 meeting.
Georgetown ISD state-of-the-art campus helps students of all ages learn
(Fox 7 Austin) The Future Ready Complex provides a state-of-the-art campus that brings together students of all ages for learning. The space will be home to advanced career and technical education (CTE) programs for all GISD high school students, Richarte High School, the Bridges program, early learning center and the GISD Health & Wellness Center in partnership with Lone Star Circle of Care. The complex was made possible with funds from 2021 bond.
UT El Paso Launches Master’s in Education with Artificial Intelligence Focus
(UTEP NEWS) The new degree will equip teachers with the skills to leverage AI in the classroom.
Dallas County reports first measles case of 2025
(KERA) Dallas County Health and Human Services officials said Thursday the case involves a woman in her mid-twenties who was fully vaccinated and was contagious between May 30 through June 7. She has received treatment.
Navigating Cybersecurity Education in Texas: Programs, Skills, Costs, and Careers
(TechBullion) Texas offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in cybersecurity in a variety of formats: online, hybrid, and campus-based. A cybersecurity education from Texas opens doors to roles like security analyst, penetration tester, risk assessor, and security architect. These professionals find opportunities across finance, healthcare, technology, and government.
Socorro ISD Police Department adds new $135K dispatch system
(KTSM) The Socorro Independent School District’s Department of Police Services implemented a new 911 dispatch system, the school district announced on Thursday, June 12. According to the news release by Socorro ISD, the new computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system “ensures a quicker, more efficient response to emergencies, prioritizing the safety and well-being of students and staff.”
Former Judson ISD teacher receives 60-year sentence for sexually abusing first-grade students
(KENS) The Bexar County DA said Ryan England was found guilty of inappropriately touching his first-grade students during class and after school.
Former DeSoto ISD substitute teacher arrested for having improper relationship with student, records show
(WFAA) A former substitute teacher at DeSoto ISD was arrested for having an improper relationship with a student and sexual assault, jail records show. Bryson Newton, 23, turned himself in for warrants on improper student relationships and sexual assault, records show. Jail records show that Newton was arrested on two warrants for an improper relationship between educator/student and sexual assault of a child.
Ex-Amarillo ISD coach accused of having sex with student will be remain locked up until trial
(KVII) A former star wrestler and coach at Amarillo ISD’s Tascosa High School will stay in jail pending trial. Judge Lee Ann Reno ruled Nicholas Herrmann proved during his detention hearing on May 21 that he was not a flight risk. But he failed to “rebut the presumption” that he is a danger to the community. Herrmann will be held in the Randall County Jail pending trial which is currently scheduled for Sept. 9. Herrmann is accused of having sex with a 17-year-old student at his home on multiple occasions.
June 12, 2025
Legislative Update:
Texas parents and teachers worry bills to root out liberal sway from public schools pave the way for conservative bias
(Texas Tribune) Advocates say the bills will give parents more power over their children’s schools. Critics say they don’t give parents anything they didn’t already have and will only strain their relationship with teachers.
Also Reported:
Judge rules Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD school board can censure trustee with proper notice
(myRGV) A judge on Tuesday ruled that the PSJA ISD school board can censure a trustee as long as that person is provided three-day notice and a proper resolution for the action. The judge also extended a temporary restraining order prohibiting the censure until June 16.
Fort Davis ISD buys out Hicks’ contract, fires his wife
(Big Bend Sentinel) The Fort Davis ISD School Board agreed last week to pay former Superintendent Graydon Hicks $67,000 to buy out his 2025-26 contract, which would have started on July 1, according to Interim Superintendent Ralph Traynham. Since being put on leave in March, Hicks continued to be paid according to his $126,500-a-year 2024-25 contract, which was set to expire on June 30. In January, the board had extended his contract for another school year (2025-26) starting July 1 — before the conflict with him began — prompting the need for a buyout. Tammy Hicks, Graydon’s wife, was terminated from her administrative position with the district last week, according to Graydon Hicks, who said he would not be commenting on the reason at this time. Traynham did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ysleta ISD considers school closures amid budget deficit concerns
(KFOX) The Ysleta Independent School District is exploring several options to address its significant budget deficit, including the potential closure of two elementary schools. Superintendent Xavier De La Torre said that the district’s projected $35.2 million deficit might necessitate the closure of schools with low enrollment, such as Presa Elementary in the Lower Valley.
Frisco ISD adjusts transfer rules to boost enrollment amid budget concerns
(Fox 4 KDFW) Frisco ISD is introducing new transfer options to increase enrollment and prevent further budget cuts, facing declining student numbers and competition from school vouchers. New programs include allowing grandchildren of Frisco residents to transfer into K-9th grade and enabling former students, and those who moved within the district, to return to or stay at their current campus.
Lewisville ISD approves nearly $32M for construction, renovation projects districtwide
(Community Impact) Lewisville ISD trustees approved approximately $31.67 million on various projects including building a new transportation center, constructing a black box theater in Lewisville High School and relocating park equipment from schools that are permanently closing. Most of the projects were funded through the 2023 bond.
‘The state gave districts very little flexibility’: Clear Creek ISD projects $12.1M shortfall for FY 2025-26
(Community Impact) While the state will provide teachers with salary increases during its 2025 legislative session, it gave “very little” flexibility for funding within school districts, CCISD’s Chief Financial Officer Alice Benzaia said at the board of trustees’ June 10 work session. “The projections provided are not what I had hoped for,” Benzaia said. “The state gave districts very little flexibility within the funding provided. We’re grateful that our classroom teachers will receive a well-deserved salary increase, but the remaining funding will not get us to a balanced budget.”
Pearland ISD trustees approve nearly $8.7M in staff pay raises, stipends
(Community Impact) The compensation package includes nearly $8.4 million in salary increases and about $310,000 in stipends, district agenda documents show.
Lone Star College officials forecast $21M in unallocated funds for 2025-26 budget
(Community Impact) Lone Star College System officials said at a June 5 workshop meeting it will have $21 million in funds remaining to allocate for its priorities in the 2025-26 fiscal year after other revenue and expenses are accounted for. Officials said that will help to account for uncertainties such as the status of undocumented staff and students, and how that could affect the college financially.
Fifteen-time state champion Kevin Murphy reinstated as Southlake Carroll boys swim coach
(Dallas Morning News) Kevin Murphy, who led the Southlake Carroll swimming and diving program to 15 state titles, has been reinstated as boys head swim coach, Carroll ISD announced. Murphy had been reassigned within the district after the Carroll girls finished second as a team at the UIL state meet in February and the boys placed 12th. Murphy was not fired and did not resign, and he had signed a 2025-26 teachers contract in Carroll ISD, but the school district has not said why he was reassigned. Under a new arrangement, Justin Pudwill will assume the role of head coach for the girls swim program.
Have questions about school vouchers? San Antonio Charter Moms wants to answer them
(San Antonio Report) San Antonio Charter Moms, a nonprofit organization that promotes school choice for local parents, will host a series of town halls to field questions about how families could take advantage of the education saving account (ESA) program. “Right now we have the bill, but we don’t know the rules,” Inga Cotton, founder of SA Charter Moms, said. “The idea is to address the basics so people will be more ready when the time comes.”
Ex-East Texas teacher already accused of bestiality, child porn re-arrested for indecency with child
(CBS 19) Hillary Danielle Williams, a former math teacher at Wells ISD, was booked into the Angelina County Jail on Tuesday on a $200,000 bond. She is charged with indecency with a child (sexual contact), according to jail records. Back in February, she was charged with bestiality and possession with the intent to promote child pornography along with her boyfriend.
Family of Gen. Richard Cavazos, Army’s first Hispanic four-star general, saddened by President Trump’s plan to rename Fort Cavazos
(CBS Texas) The family of Gen. Richard Cavazos, the U.S. Army’s first Hispanic four-star general, expressed sadness Wednesday over President Donald Trump’s plan to restore the original names of several military installations, including renaming Fort Cavazos in Killeen back to Fort Hood.
Undocumented students ask judge to let them challenge sudden loss of in-state tuition
(Texas Tribune) Their filing says the lawsuit that struck down in-state tuition for undocumented students was “contrived” to keep their voices out.
UT Southwestern Medical Center Study Reveals Disparities in Mental Health Care for Texas Youth
(NewsWise) Young patients from lower-income households in Texas may not be getting the most effective treatment for severe depression. According to the study conducted as part of the Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Network (TX-YDSRN) initiative, these patients are much less likely to receive a combination of psychotherapy and medication, which prior research has shown to be more effective than either treatment alone in improving outcomes for youth with moderate to severe depression. The findings were published in Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice.
DeSoto ISD adds ‘Zen Dens’ to each campus to support student, staff well-being
(NBC DFW) The district says these aren’t just quiet rooms, but immersive, thoughtfully curated environments that honor the need for stillness and reflection.
June 11, 2025
Legislative Update:
Trump aides want Texas to redraw its congressional maps to boost the GOP. What would that mean?
(Texas Tribune) The plan would shift voters from safely red districts into blue ones. Members of the state’s Republican delegation aren’t sold on the idea.
Why Fort Worth-area school districts say new Texas education funding law isn’t enough
(Fort Worth Report) Districts welcome teacher pay boosts from HB 2, but say restrictions and underfunded basics leave key financial gaps in place.
In Texas, University Presidents May Soon Control Faculty Senates
(Inside Higher Ed) A bill awaiting Gov. Abbott’s signature would require college administrators to set procedures for faculty governing bodies and appoint their leaders, part of an effort to address “liberal faculty control over universities.” “Shared governance structures may not be used to obstruct, delay, or undermine necessary institutional reforms or serve as a mechanism for advancing ideological or political agendas,” says Senate Bill 37, which the Republican-dominated State Legislature passed May 31.
The Texas Legislative Session Is Over. Here’s the Elephant in the Room
(Austin Chronicle) The state didn’t fill all our federal funding gaps.
Here are the new Texas laws that will affect trans and LGBTQ+ people
(Texas Tribune) Of the more than 100 bills aimed at LGBTQ+ people in the state, less than 10 were approved by lawmakers this session.
Also Reported:
Texas measles outbreak 2025: 2 new cases reported as state reduces number of ‘outbreak counties’
(Fox 4 KDFW) Texas health officials are reporting two new cases of measles Tuesday tied to an outbreak in West Texas. The Department of State Health Services on Tuesday also reduced the number of counties it has designated as “outbreak counties.” A total of 744 cases have been identified as tied to the outbreak. Fewer than 10 cases are believed to be actively infectious. Moving forward, the agency said they would move to weekly updates on Tuesdays.
North Texas teen sentenced to 5 years for 2024 Wilmer-Hutchins High School shooting
(CBS Texas) A teenager has been sentenced to five years in prison for a targeted classroom shooting at Wilmer-Hutchins High School last year that stemmed from a dispute, according to court records. Ja’kerian Rhodes-Ewing, 18, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the April 12, 2024, shooting at the southeast Dallas campus. The Rhodes-Ewing shooting occurred one year before another gunman allegedly opened fire inside the same school, injuring four students and a teacher.
Texas high school students’ STAAR scores show gains in STEM fields, struggles in reading and literacy
(Texas Tribune) Education policy experts say the results align with Texas’ workforce goals but note that students still need help.
Dallas ISD to consider policy changes to comply with anti-DEI bill
(KERA) Dallas ISD trustees will consider policy changes Thursday to comply with Senate Bill 12, which bans Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Texas’ public K-12 schools. SB12 requires districts to eliminate DEI policies and programs in aspects like hiring and training. The bill is currently on Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk; if signed, it would go into effect Sept. 1.
Friendswood ISD projects nearly $1.9M shortfall in new budget update
(Community Impact) Friendswood ISD officials are anticipating a projected shortfall of nearly $1.9 million for its fiscal year 2025-26 budget. This updated projection dropped its projected shortfall by over $355,000 compared to what the district projected in April for FY 2025-26.
Fort Worth Independent School District board approves $43.6 million deficit budget
(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) The Fort Worth Independent School District’s board approved a budget on Tuesday evening that leaves the district in a financial hole — but one that district leaders expect to be able to climb part way out of in the next few months. Related:
What happens to Texas A&M athletes who objected, opted out of House settlement?
(KBTX) Seven former A&M athletes opted out of the House settlement and joined onto a different lawsuit and one former A&M football player objected to the settlement. Related:
- $55 million payout could put Texas Tech on top of college athletics (Sports Illustrated)
Nothing but praise’: Houston ISD’s Mike Miles comments on ousted board members, extended state takeover
(Houston Chronicle) State-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles offered “nothing but praise” for Houston ISD’s four recently ousted board members on a Hello Houston radio episode with Houston Public Media Tuesday morning. Miles offered his first comments on Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath’s unexpected decision to remove and replace four appointed board members as well as the two-year extension of the takeover to June 1, 2027.
Families sue Millsap ISD over alleged abuse of special needs students
(CBS Texas) The lawsuit, filed Tuesday by three families, names the district along with four individuals, including special education teacher Jennifer Dale, paraprofessional Paxton Bean, former superintendent Edie Martin, and elementary school principal Roxie Carter. The legal action stems from a February incident captured on video, which appears to show Dale striking 10-year-old Alex Cornelius, a student with autism. In the same footage, Bean is seen throwing an object at Alex and yelling at him. In March, Dale was arrested on a charge of official oppression. Bean and Martin were arrested on felony charges. Carter, who is Bean’s mother, is not facing criminal charges but is named in the lawsuit. According to an email sent to parents, Carter has resigned as principal effective June 30.
Residents demand answers amid Port Arthur tax office shutdown
(KBMT) The 90-day closure, announced by Jefferson County Tax Assessor Collector Kate Carroll, sparked concerns among residents and leaders.
Checkmate: McAllen ISD chess team takes home national championship
(myRGV) After more than a decade of building and strengthening the chess club at McAllen ISD’s Achieve Early College High School, the chess students achieved the ultimate prize by bringing home a U.S. Chess SuperNationals first place championship.
It’s official: Jones resigns from Fort Bend ISD board
(Fort Bend Star) Embattled Fort Bend ISD Position 5 Trustee Sonya Jones, who immediately after the May 3 election announced she was resigning from the board – only to later rescind that resignation – has now officially resigned after Monday’s agenda review workshop meeting. The board will discuss appointing a replacement on June 23. In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, the district said Jones continues to act as a “holdover trustee.”
A Texas law made college more affordable for undocumented students. What happens now that it’s gone?
(KUT) Current and former students say being able to pay in-state tuition rates made college more accessible. The state ended the law last week.
Trump uses loophole to bring back the name Fort Hood, other Army bases originally named after Confederate figures
(Texas Public Radio) President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that his administration is restoring the names of several U.S. Army bases that were changed in 2023 — including Fort Cavazos, the Texas installation originally named after Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood.
Texas A&M now offering ‘Artificial Intelligence and Business’ minor
(KBTX) As artificial intelligence continues to become more popular and part of our everyday lives, Texas A&M is launching a new minor called Artificial Intelligence and Business. The new minor is going to be available this Fall through a pilot program with limited enrollment. More seats will be available in Spring 2026. Related:
Channelview private school parents outraged after discovering administrator’s past sex crime
(KPRC) Parents at Family Christian Academy in Channelview are speaking out after learning that an elementary school administrator and girls’ volleyball coach has a troubling criminal history. The administrator, also a graduate of the school, and current associate pastor of the affiliated church, was convicted in 2009 for committing a lewd act in public. Documents obtained by KPRC 2 from a Massachusetts district court confirm that the administrator was found guilty of a sex-related crime involving a jogger. The court sentenced him to three years of probation and mandatory sex offender treatment, which ended in 2012.
Police are solving cold cases of ‘Baby Does’ thanks to an investigative DNA technique
(Texas Standard) In recent years, improvements in genetic genealogy have allowed investigators to find the women who gave birth to “Baby Does” – babies who have been abandoned. This has led to solving cold cases and sometimes, decades later, significant jail time for the mothers, which some say is controversial. Isabelle Taft wrote about the technology for The New York Times and her reporting centers on a case in Medina County, Texas.
Retired Texas Teacher Caught in Child Sex Solicitation Sting Faces New Charges
(Texas Scorecard) A retired high school athletic trainer arrested last year for soliciting sex from a child online has now been charged with sexually assaulting a disabled student while working for Bridgeport Independent School District. William Lawrence “Billy” Newsom, 61, was caught in an online sting in March 2024 sending sexually explicit messages to someone he thought was a 12-year-old girl and arranging to meet her for sex. Newsom remained free on a $25,000 bond.
244 charged with child sex crimes in North Texas operation
(Fox 4 KDFW) A 2025 FBI operation ended with more than 200 people arrested and more than 100 children rescued, according to FBI Dallas and the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
Brownsville ISD’s Sams Stadium being converted to football/soccer complex
(MyRGV) The $3.1 million project will see Sams converted from a football/track and field configuration into a football/soccer complex to host boys and girls soccer matches from December through April, a full fall schedule of boys varsity football games, and eventually, UT Rio Grande Valley Division I football games.
Transforming Fatherhood: Dallas School’s Mentorship Revolution
(Dallas Express) Dallas school security officer Joseph Thomas launched an All Pro Dad chapter at Wilmer-Hutchins Elementary School, providing a model for engaging fathers in their children’s education. All Pro Dad, launched nationally in 1997, uses a sports draft model to encourage father engagement. The program sends daily one-minute parenting emails and hosts monthly breakfast meetings before school.
June 10, 2025
Legislative Update:
Opinion: Why the Ten Commandments in Texas classrooms could become a dozen
(The Hill) There is no universally accepted set of Ten Commandments, because different religious traditions use different renderings. The Texas legislature evidently attempted to avoid this difficulty by expanding the Ten Commandments to please everyone.
A Texas bill restricting college protests could soon become law. Here’s what to know
(Houston Chronicle) A Texas bill restricting protests on public college campuses – including a ban on “expressive activities” in the overnight hours – could become law starting in the fall semester. The bill passed through the Texas House and Senate in May, before the end of the 89th Legislative Session. It now sits on Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk, though free speech advocates have questioned the legality of a potential law.
Texas teens worry as lawmakers ban LGBTQ clubs in public schools
(Dallas Morning News) A Texas lawmaker said his bill targeted “sex clubs.” That’s not what high school Gender and Sexuality Alliances are about, teens say.
Texas Monthly: Why We’re Blowing Up Our 52-Year Tradition of Naming Best and Worst Texas Lawmakers
(Texas Monthly) Since our founding, we’ve wrapped each legislative session with two lists. In 2025, we decided we couldn’t anymore.
Texas school voucher forum to be held in Missouri City by conservative nonprofit
(Houston Public Media) The Monday night event is being hosted by the Frederick Douglass Freedom Alliance, a national nonprofit for Black conservatives that emphasizes biblical and conservative principles. The school voucher-like program passed by Texas lawmakers this year will allow families to use public dollars for private school tuition.
Texas’ GOP congressional delegation meets to discuss redrawing districts ahead of midterms
(Texas Tribune) Republicans from Texas’ congressional delegation met at the U.S. Capitol Monday night to discuss a proposal to redraw the lines of their House districts, GOP Rep. Pete Sessions said. The meeting came shortly after The New York Times first reported that Trump’s political team has been urging Texas political leaders to examine how they could redraw some of the state’s 38 U.S. House districts to help preserve the GOP’s narrow majority in the lower chamber in the 2026 midterms.
Also Reported:
Houston charter school Reve Prep closed by Texas Education Agency due to special education concerns
(Houston Chronicle) Southeast Houston’s Reve Prep charter school had one year to turn around its special education department, shortly after the death of the school’s founder and on the eve of opening its $13 million building. But one year wasn’t enough. The school, one of the Houston area’s youngest charter schools, will cease operations this year, after the Texas Education Agency revoked the charter, citing two years of special education noncompliance. The school also faced years of poor performance, most recently earning an F rating from the TEA, not unlike other young Houston area charters. Related:
Frisco ISD releases video by viewing only of fatal track meet stabbing
(WFAA) Frisco ISD has granted restricted access to surveillance footage of the April 2 incident at Kuykendall Stadium that resulted in the death of Memorial High School student Austin Metcalf and the arrest of student Karmelo Anthony. The district did not provide a copy of the video but allowed reporters to view it, citing student privacy and school security. WFAA was not allowed to take pictures or video of the footage.
Simmering tension continues at Judson ISD as new trustees face budget deficit
(Texas Public Radio) The trustees of the Judson Independent School District are no stranger to contentious board meetings. Superintendent Milton Fields went so far as to call one meeting in April “disgusting.” But even after a shift in the board’s make up following the May election, simmering tensions remain. Those tensions were on full display during a five-hour board meeting June 5, which featured long and tense discussions over the budget deficit. Although dialogue was mostly polite, it was at times pointed.
Humble ISD officials propose 3% on-average raises for most staff members in FY 2025-26
(Community Impact) Humble ISD officials are proposing 3% on-average raises for most staff members in the district’s 2025-26 fiscal year budget. However, when factoring in legislation recently approved by state lawmakers, officials said the raises for some returning teachers could equate to a 7% increase.
See which Houston-area school districts have the highest property tax rates
(Houston Chronicle) Based on data provided by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, here’s the rates and levies for school districts in the Houston area for 2024-25.
San Angelo ISD and Wall ISD agree on property line boundaries
(Concho Valley Homepage) The San Angelo Independent School District held a board meeting on June 9 where they discussed how they are planning to use the new bond money and the boundary changes between SAISD and Wall ISD. The board approved a Memorandum of Understanding between SAISD and Wall ISD to keep the current property tax boundaries and amend district maps to correct a clerical error on the district’s boundaries with Wall.
Midway Panthers’ hidden ball trick stuns everyone in 6A Texas state championship game
(KWTX) Third baseman Dru Ohmstede and pitcher Brody Potts pulled off a crucial hidden ball trick that helped propel the Panthers to a state title.
OFFICIALS: Second election will cost Winona ISD nearly $6,000 after tied May race
(CBS 19) Smith County Election Administrator Michelle Alcon said Winona ISD will pay $5,948.78 for the district’s Place 3 trustee seat second election. During the May general election, both candidates received 137 votes. After that tie, the candidates had a chance to withdraw, but neither wanted to. A recount led to another tie. Challenger Luis Hernandez defeated Winona ISD Board President Randy Hawkins in the second election on June 7. Hernandez received 244 votes to Hawkins’ 181 votes during Saturday’s election.
Trophy Club town council member indicted, accused of stealing thousands from children’s football program
(Fox 4 KDFW) A Trophy Club town council member is accused of stealing thousands from a children’s football program over a span of two years. Court documents for Stacey Bauer say she’s believed to have taken between $30,000 and $150,000 worth of money and equipment between 2021 and 2023. Bauer pleaded not guilty to the theft charges.
Central Texas Teacher, Coach Sentenced to 4 Years for Sex With Student
(Texas Scorecard) While teaching at Comfort High School, Tye Rexrode had sex with a 17-year-old girl and groomed underage students via Snapchat.
‘I Will Continue to Rise’: Dallas Student Abused by Coach Finds Justice, Voice
(Dallas Observer) After becoming a coach herself, Jamilet Almaras came to terms with abuse she experienced at the hands of Kaylen Cottongame. Cottongame, a former women’s basketball coach in Dallas ISD, was sentenced to 10 years of deferred probation after pleading guilty to one count of sexual assault of a child.
U.S. Army recruiter arrested for alleged inappropriate relations with New Braunfels High School student
(News4SA) Authorities allege Marcel Ian Moreno, 25, in his role as a U.S. Army recruiter, engaged in an intimate relationship with a 17-year-old female he met at a recruiting event at New Braunfels High School. The investigation uncovered two additional female victims who also encountered Moreno on high school campuses during his recruitment activities.
UT Austin releases proposed guidelines for artificial intelligence in teaching, learning, open to community feedback
(Daily Texan) The University’s proposed Responsible Adoption of Artificial Intelligence Tools for Teaching and Learning is open for feedback online for the upcoming academic year. The framework proposes guidelines for both professors and students on how to responsibly use AI in the classroom. The working group, which researched and wrote the guidelines for the framework, is accepting comments and responses before finalizing the guidelines in the fall semester. Related:
Russian hacker group may be connected to Mission ransomware attack
(Progress Times) A Russian-speaking group of cybercriminals may be connected to a ransomware attack that crippled the city of Mission in February. The group also took credit for a ransomware attack on the city of Abilene in April, an attack that doesn’t appear to be dissimilar from the one Mission faced in February. Abilene declined to pay the group the ransom it demanded and as of Tuesday was essentially waiting to see whether sensitive data stolen from the city made its way onto the internet.
Opinion: I Was an Undocumented Texas College Student. I’m Not Going Anywhere—and Neither Is Our Movement
(Texas Observer) Lawmakers lacked the political courage to force a floor vote at the Capitol on the Texas Dream Act, so state leaders took a coward’s path.
UTHealth Houston to offer tuition-free program for aspiring nurses
(KHOU) Good news for future Texas nurses! Announced Monday by UTHealth Houston, the Future Nurses Fund will offer free in-state tuition for eligible students enrolled in its accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at the Cizik School of Nursing.
New veterinary hospital being built at Texas A&M University set to benefit industry
(KRHD) The Linda and Dennis Clark ’68 Small Animal Teaching Hospital is expected to be opened by Summer 2027. The new facility will benefit students, staff, and patients with increased space and resources.
June 9, 2025
Legislative Update:
Republicans Urge Abbott to Veto ‘Biden-Style’ Loan Repayments for School Counselors
(Texas Scorecard) A coalition of 34 Republican lawmakers is urging Gov. Greg Abbott to veto a Democrat-authored bill that would expand state-funded student loan repayment programs—this time, specifically for school counselors and mental health professionals. Senate Bill 646, authored by Democrat State Sen. Royce West, would broaden eligibility for Texas’ loan repayment assistance program to include school counselors, marriage and family therapists, and other behavioral health professionals. The effort is being led by State Rep. Brent Money (R–Greenville), who criticized the growing reliance on taxpayer-funded programs to forgive personal debt — especially for public sector jobs.
Will Texas’ ‘monumental’ investment in the teacher pipeline pay off?
(Dalals Morning News) Billions of dollars will flow toward teacher recruitment and retention efforts.
Texas lawmakers mourn the bills that died this session
(KUT) Despite the jubilation that comes with the end of the session, some lawmakers are now mourning what could have been with their dead bills. Dead? Yes. But forgotten? Never. The death of a bill is just an occupational hazard for lawmakers.
Also Reported:
The West Texas measles outbreak has started to slow for the first time since January
(Texas Standard) The measles outbreak in West Texas has slowed down, according to state health officials. The Texas department of Health and Human Services has been reporting case numbers every Tuesday and Friday since the outbreak started in January of this year. Last Tuesday, the department listed 742 confirmed cases. For the first time since the outbreak started, no new cases were recorded for the Friday update.
Texas will begin a summer lunch program in 2027, but only if feds don’t raise costs
(Texas Tribune) The program would give low income families an extra $120 per child for summer lunches, but federal debate about food benefits could endanger the program.
Texas’ swift surrender to DOJ on undocumented student tuition raises questions about state-federal collusion
(Texas Tribune) Experts say Wednesday’s action to eliminate the long-standing policy could be a “collusive lawsuit,” where the state and feds worked the courts to get a desired outcome. At least one immigrant rights group, Immigrant Families and Students in the Fight, said in an interview that it is considering bringing legal action to try and restore the program. Dallas appellate attorney David Coale said they might be able to be added to the suit as the affected parties, even though the judge has already granted a final judgment, and appeal the whole ruling to a higher court.
UT El Paso grads hopeful on teacher job search as districts face tough times
(El Paso Matters) Between layoffs, school closures and financial deficits, El Paso-area school districts are expected to hire fewer teachers for the 2025-26 academic year than in the past. That has left some recent UTEP graduates concerned about their futures as educators. Concerned, but not discouraged.
Houston ISD teacher pay rose 11% post-state takeover, mostly at schools with strict reforms, data shows
(Houston Chronicle) New Education System teachers saw greater gains in compensation than teachers outside those reforms. Related:
Texas attorney general denies public access to El Paso ISD’s Franklin High football team hazing investigation done by outside law firm
(KVIA) Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says a report by an Austin law firm hired by El Paso ISD to investigate hazing allegations in Franklin High School’s football program can be withheld from the public under the state’s open records law. The ruling stems from an ABC-7 open records request in March that sought all investigative reports related to allegations of misconduct and hazing involving members of the Franklin High School varsity football team. Some information, such as the school’s investigative report, was made public.
Pause on visa interviews incites uncertainty for some foreign students hoping to study in Texas
(Houston Chronicle) Houston-area universities are awaiting the resumption of student visa interviews as a federal pause threatens the enrollment of a large international population. International students make up a significant portion of enrollment at many Texas universities, particularly in graduate programs. Higher education administrators have often hailed foreign exchange as a tool for diplomacy and as a way to expose students to diverse perspectives. The practice is also known to bolster schools’ revenue, with international students receiving less financial aid and paying amounts closer to the full price of tuition.
ICE on campus: San Antonio colleges seek to balance compliance and safety
(San Antonio Report) Officials of universities in San Antonio overseeing some of the largest campuses in the region said there have been no reports of immigration enforcement targeting students, faculty or staff on their grounds.
UT Medical Branch researcher says National Institutes of Health cuts have cost university millions
(Galveston County Daily News) The cuts have caused the medical branch to lose tens of millions of dollars in research funding and affected dozens of jobs. No one has been laid off, but the medical branch left positions unfilled and funded some from other sources. University officials are appealing many of the grant cuts and hope to see funding restored, but in the meantime they are losing highly trained researchers while also seeing some next-generation researchers pursue alternate career paths.
International students at UT Austin cancel travel plans over fears they won’t be able to return
(KUT) Rose, a PhD student from China who attends UT Austin, said she feels unsafe after the Trump administration began revoking student visas. The State Department said it would “aggressively” target Chinese students.
Rice to support Harvard in lawsuit against research funding freeze
(Rice Thresher) Rice, alongside 17 other research universities, requested a federal judge for permission to file an amicus curiae brief in support of Harvard University’s lawsuit against the Trump administration over more than $2 billion in frozen research grants.
El Paso Job Corps Uncertainty: students fear losing vital community, life-changing skills
(KFOX) A federal job training program that has helped thousands of young people is at risk of suspension due to a significant budget shortfall. “It’s just one day at a time,” said Cheyenne Nolte, a 19-year-old resident at the Job Corps center in El Paso. “I feel like it’s the best way to take it, especially now with like all the uncertainty going on right now.”
Texas school finds valuable classroom inside a food truck
(PBS) At this time of year, there’s a question on the minds of parents and teachers: what did you learn this year? Students at a school in Austin, Texas had a chance to hone their financial and leadership skills by running a food truck. Bryan Gordon, the teacher who worked with the students on this project, joins Ali Rogin to discuss.
Empowering Girls: Dallas ISD Launches Flag Football League
(Dallas Express) Dallas ISD launched its first girls’ flag football league this spring, partnering with the Dallas Cowboys. All 22 district high schools fielded teams in the inaugural season. The program marks a significant expansion of opportunities for female athletes in Texas. Two players have already secured college scholarships, signaling the sport’s growing legitimacy.
North Texas rowing club credits scholarships for building success on and off water
(NBC DFW) The Dallas Rowing Club will send nine athletes to compete at the U.S. Rowing Youth National Championships in Florida starting June 12.
June 6, 2025
Legislative Update:
‘A historic one for public education:’ Texas nonprofit reflects on what legislative session means for schools
(KERA) Although Texas Republicans are celebrating the bills as a win, some consider it a loss for the state’s public school system. “Public education has become a central battleground where deep divisions within the Texas GOP and growing public frustration have collided in real time,” Max Rombado, legislative director at nonprofit Raise Your Hand Texas, said during a news conference Wednesday.
Texas school boards could remove library books under bill on governor’s desk
(Houston Public Media) Texas’ Senate Bill 13 empowers school boards to decide which books are permitted in their school libraries. It also allows parents to submit a list of books their children are prohibited from checking out. The controversial measure is now sitting on Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.
Speaker Dustin Burrows, once tagged as “liberal,” kept skeptics at bay by leaning into a conservative agenda
(Texas Tribune) At the same time, some Democrats acknowledged the Lubbock Republican let them leave their mark on some of the GOP bills they disagreed with.
Texas lawmakers pull funding for child identification kits again after newsrooms report they don’t work
(Texas Tribune) For the second time, lawmakers cut funding for kits meant to help find missing kids after ProPublica and The Texas Tribune documented the lack of evidence that the kits work.
Texas won’t force private companies to use E-Verify to check workers’ immigration status, despite leaders’ tough talk
(Texas Tribune) Texas’ conservative Legislature has again and again refused to mandate that most private businesses use E-Verify. Experts say that Republican resistance is rooted in how the system could impact the state’s labor supply and economy.
Also Reported:
Texas colleges face uncertainty after ruling ends in-state tuition for students without legal status
(KERA) Colleges across Texas are bracing for the fallout, and uncertainty, of a court decision that could price thousands of students without legal status out of higher education. Immigration advocates expect the ruling will be challenged in court.
Trump pause on visa appointments worries districts relying on foreign teachers
(K-12 Dive) Though the disruption is expected to be temporary, one rural leader fears it will delay her new hires from arriving in the U.S. in time for the new school year. Related:
Trump White House taps inexperienced 22-year-old UT San Antonio grad to top role fighting violent extremism
(San Antonio Current) Thomas Fugate’s previous work experience includes working at H-E-B and owning his own landscaping business, ProPublica reports. Fugate’s selection for the role appears to be the latest example of the Trump White House placing loyalty over experience.
A new COVID variant is spreading across the US. Is a summer spike ahead for Texas?
(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) The variant is named NB.1.8.1. As of May 29, it has infected fewer than 20 people in the U.S., reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) database shares that the variant has popped up in 11 different states – but so far, not in Texas. However, cases are expected to increase.
Texas led the nation in active shooter incidents in 2024, FBI report says
(KERA) Texas saw more active shooter incidents than any other state in 2024, according to a new report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The annual FBI report found that four active shooter incidents occurred in Texas last year — more than any other state. The shootings left 11 people either dead or wounded. California and North Carolina followed with two incidents each.
Texas secretary of state refers 33 potential noncitizen voters for criminal investigation
(Texas Tribune) Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson on Thursday said she has referred the names of 33 “potential noncitizens” who voted in the November 2024 general election to the state Attorney General’s Office for investigation. Texas officials used newly obtained access to a federal database, managed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service, to check the citizenship status of people on the state’s voter rolls, Nelson said, adding that the data also helped Texas officials “confirm naturalization of dozens more.”
Amid New McCarthyism, the Alliance for Texas History Embraces Diverse Scholarship
(Texas Observer) The Alliance for Texas History is “taking the broadest possible approach to the Texas past,” said Lauren Gutterman, a University of Texas at Austin American Studies professor. “It’s particularly important at a moment when our state leaders have demonstrated that they don’t want students to have a really full, inclusive accounting of our state or national past,” she added.
Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD board member sues fellow trustees over attempt to censure her
(myRGV) A PSJA board member has filed a lawsuit against her colleagues to stop them from an effort to censure her. Cynthia Gutierrez filed the petition against Diana Serna, Carlos Villegas and Yolanda Castillo on May 27 and on Monday a judge signed a temporary restraining order preventing them from doing just that only hours before a specially called meeting to censure Gutierrez that same day. The meeting was canceled and a hearing on the matter is scheduled for June 10.
School closures expected as Austin ISD launches plan to address $100M deficit
(CBS Austin) Austin ISD is beginning early planning for a school consolidation process that could result in campus closures starting in the 2026–27 school year. District officials say the move is driven by long-term budget pressures, declining enrollment, and the need to ensure schools are better staffed and resourced. While no specific schools have been confirmed yet, leaders confirmed during a virtual meeting Wednesday that closures are expected.
San Antonio teen accused of terrorism on law enforcement’s radar since he was 10
(News4SA) A Rhodes Middle School student — known to law enforcement since the age of 10 — appeared Tuesday in juvenile court. The teen is accused of plotting a mass shooting at the San Antonio ISD school. A judge ordered he remain in custody while prosecutors weigh a possible terrorism charge. The teen’s mother, Ashley Pardo, is also charged. She’s accused of helping him stockpile ammo and tactical gear. Just last year, the teen was in court, charged with arson in a 2023 apartment building fire that displaced several families. That trial ended in a mistrial and is currently being appealed by the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office. Sources tell FOX SA that the teen has been on the radar of the Bexar County Fire Marshal since he was 10 years old.
Laredo youth face uncertainty as Trump administration shuts down Job Corps
(Laredo Morning Times) The Trump-Vance administration has paused operations at all 121 Job Corps locations across the nation in an effort to meet budget proposals — leaving low-income students, such as those in Laredo, at risk of losing their education or job training. Related:
Teens supplied THC gummies linked to hospitalizations and overdose-like symptoms after Prosper graduation party, warrants reveal
(CBS Texas) Newly obtained arrest warrants reveal that two teens, arrested on drug-related charges, purchased and distributed THC-infused edible gummies from a Plano smoke shop, leading to overdose-like symptoms and hospital visits for at least seven attendees at a Prosper graduation party. Kyle Muchineuta, 17, of Prosper, and Cesar Omana, 18, of Frisco, face second-degree felony charges for the manufacture and delivery of a controlled substance, according to Prosper police.
High School NIL in All 50 States: Permitted, Prohibited or Under Consideration?
(Sports Illustrated) Despite new NIL (name, image, likeness) allowances for 17-year-olds, Texas remains one of just seven states still prohibiting high school athletes from profiting off NIL.
A new play for Farrington Field? Fort Worth ISD hopes city scores with tax district
(Fort Worth Report) Fort Worth ISD still plays football games at Farrington Field — though the stadium’s future has remained uncertain for years. Now, school leaders see a new path forward. With a proposed city-led tax financing district on the table, school officials say the century-old stadium might finally get the modernization it needs — without pulling funds from the classroom.
Mystery man posts videos leaving money around Texas A&M University
(KBTX) A good Samaritan has built anticipation across the Texas A&M University campus and has students waiting to see where his next money drop is going to be. The Instagram account @FindTheCashAggie has gained popularity, gathering nearly 20,000 followers in less than two weeks. The account will post money being taped to buildings and monuments across campus, like the giant Aggie ring at Haynes Ring Plaza, or a fire hydrant in front of Kyle Field.
San Antonio Police Department investigates sexual hazing at Central Catholic High School
(San Antonio Report) The San Antonio Police Department is investigating Central Catholic High School, an elite all-boys institution, after several students came forward with allegations of bullying and sexual hazing. At least five students have come forward in recent months to report incidents of bullying and sexual hazing at the school. Related:
Former Winnsboro ISD employee arrested for student relationship
(CBS 19) Winnsboro ISD said Thursday they were notified a former employee with the district was arrested in another county. The individual resigned from WISD prior to the accusations coming to light and is no longer affiliated with the district in any capacity, a spokesperson from WISD said. The Wood County Sheriff’s Office identified the man as Nicholas Gabriele, who previously served as an assistant football coach and taught economics. In his year teaching, Gabriele allegedly began a sexual relationship with a high school student.
SEE YOU LATER, GATOR! 13-foot alligator removed from Broaddus ISD campus
(CBS 19) “We appreciate her coming to school but she is not allowed back,” a spokesperson for Broaddus ISD said.
Temple College set to undergo major demolition project
(KWTX) Temple College is about to embark on its most ambitious transformation in a century. This summer, five iconic buildings across campus will be coming down. Among them? A building that has stood since the very beginning.
Two teachers awarded brand-new cars at United ISD’s Teachers of the Year Banquet
(KGNS) Two lucky educators from United Independent School District are now driving in style—and they didn’t spend a dime. The generous gifts were made possible through a continued partnership between UISD and Charlie Clark Hyundai, which honors outstanding educators by awarding them with new cars each year.
June 5, 2025
Legislative Update:
Gov. Greg Abbott signs $8.5 billion public education funding plan into law. Here’s how it works
(Texas Tribune) The spending package will give schools more money for staff pay raises, operational expenses, special education and more. Related:
Also Reported:
Texas’ undocumented college students no longer qualify for in-state tuition
(Texas Tribune) Undocumented students in Texas are no longer eligible for in-state tuition after Texas agreed Wednesday with the federal government’s demand to stop the practice. The abrupt end to Texas’ 24-year-old law came hours after the U.S. Department of Justice announced it was suing Texas over its policy of letting undocumented students qualify for lower tuition rates at public universities. Texas quickly asked the court to side with the feds and find that the law was unconstitutional and should be blocked, which U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor did. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton claimed credit for the outcome, saying in a statement Wednesday evening that “ending this discriminatory and un-American provision is a major victory for Texas,” echoing the argument made by Trump administration officials.
Measles Is Scary, Says Lubbock’s Top Health Official. So Is Government Upheaval
(Texas Monthly) Katherine Wells’s view from inside the West Texas medical crisis.
El Paso ISD Superintendent Diana Sayavedra to retire under separation agreement; to receive $348,000 in salary, benefits
(El Paso Matters) Sayavedra will remain on the job through June 15, after which she’ll be placed on emeritus status – an honorary designation awarded after retirement – through January 2026. The outgoing superintendent will receive just under $348,000, or 11 months’ worth of salary and benefits, that will be split into two payments as part of her separation agreement, which was published by the district Wednesday evening. This includes $148,000 to be paid by her resignation date and $200,000 toward her retirement plan.
Teacher shot in Wilmer Hutchins High School attack speaks out on trauma and future in education
(Fox 4 KDFW) A math teacher, Columbia Renix, was shot as the bullet barely grazed her face, instead damaging her glasses during the April 15 shooting at Wilmer Hutchins High School. Renix, a new mother, was cleaning a breast pump in a neighboring classroom when a bullet pierced the wall and struck her. The alleged gunman, 17-year-old Tracy Haynes, is jailed on a $3.1 million bond, with prosecutors claiming the attack was planned and his defense citing self-defense.
Houston ISD’s top 100 earners make at least $182,500. Who are they?
(Houston Chronicle) Houston ISD’s top 100 earners make at least $182,500 and largely hold director roles, an analysis of district records shows. These top earners occupy roles across the district and in the central office, including in finance, special education and benefits administration. Related:
Lewisville ISD projects nearly $10M budget shortfall for fiscal year 2025-26
(Community Impact) Lewisville ISD is now expecting a $9.99 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year 2025-26, taking into account potential state funding from the 89th Texas legislative session.
AI ‘Teachers’ Take Over in Texas — Could This Be the Future of Learning?
(International Business Times) In a unique innovative intervention that could shape the future of education in US, a school in Texas has swapped the traditional classroom for a system entirely powered by artificial intelligence, and the results are both startling and thought-provoking as this experiment is raising questions about the role of teachers in a world increasingly driven by technology.
How Bexar County’s Somerset ISD improved student learning outcomes during the pandemic
(Texas Standard) Somerset ISD in South Bexar County is one of the rare school districts that has recovered from the pandemic in both reading and math. Barely 100 districts across the country are on that list, according to researchers, and just 11 in Texas.
Calvin Walker begins job, will send pay to Beaumont ISD restitution
(KBMT) A new court memo confirms Calvin Walker has started part-time employment and will send his entire paycheck directly to the probation office to help repay more than $1.17 million owed to the Beaumont Independent School District. Walker, the former BISD electrician now appealing a 9.5-year prison sentence, began work this week on June 2, according to a memo filed by Community Supervision Officer Denise Hunter. His reported salary is $1,000 per month, and he has requested that his employer send payments directly to the probation office to be applied to his court-ordered restitution.
Houston ISD teacher recommended for termination after locking special needs students in cabinet
(Fox 26 Houston) An investigation alleges that a Moreno Elementary School teacher locked several special needs students in a cabinet. The mother of an autistic first-grader involved expressed shock and anger, stating that the school did not provide detailed information about the incident. The district has placed the teacher on leave, and the mother is considering legal action against the teacher.
Arlington teen injured during ‘Senior Assassin’ dies, officials say
(WFAA) Seventeen-year-old Isaac Leal was killed after falling off the back of a Jeep in a “Senior Assassin” game.
2 Central Catholic High School students in San Antonio expelled after allegations of hazing, sexual harassment
(KENS) One of the expelled students was a senior and will now not be allowed to graduate from the school. The announcement comes a day after reports came out about SAPD investigating allegations of a student being bullied and sexually harassed by soccer team members.
Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics at Texas Southern University on administrative leave amid sexual assault allegations
(Fox 26 Houston) The Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics at Texas Southern University, Kevin Granger, is on administrative leave following allegations of sexual assault and harassment. A female employee says she was sexually assaulted in his office on April 30.
Texas Wesleyan still requires COVID-19 vaccine of nursing students
(College Fix) Texas Wesleyan University still appears to be requiring students in its nursing program to get COVID-19 vaccines, prompting criticism from a doctor and healthcare advocate.
Viral social media post falsely claims Barbers Hill ISD high school graduate was arrested after ceremony causing mental anguish
(KPRC) Spencer Foster’s graduation photo showed him preparing to fist-bump a police officer while walking across the stage to receive his diploma. However, the image took an unexpected turn when a social media user, claiming to be a comedian with over 150,000 followers, repurposed it with a fabricated caption suggesting Foster had outstanding warrants and was arrested after the ceremony. “It’s disgusting; it’s a disgrace,” Spencer’s mother said.
June 4, 2025
Legislative Update:
How will Texas schools change after this legislative session?
(Dallas Morning News) When Texas students head back to class in the fall, school could feel different. The Legislature approved a bevy of education-focused bills that target everything from cellphones to DEI work.
Voters will have final say on billions of tax cuts for Texas homeowners, businesses
(Texas Tribune) Texas is slated to spend $51 billion on property tax cuts over the next two years. Some worry that’s unsustainable.
Texas legislators sought to pass laws limiting minors’ social media use, legal experts say they may not hold up
(KENS) Texas lawmakers passed digital child safety laws last session, but free speech advocates predict court challenges over First Amendment concerns.
Also Reported:
El Paso ISD accepts Superintendent’s voluntary separation agreement; CFO appointed interim
(KFOX) The El Paso Independent School District Board of Trustees voted to accept Superintendent Diana Sayavedra’s voluntary separation agreement with a 4-2-1 vote. EPISD Board President Leah Hanany stated that Sayavedra will remain as a resource for the district until January 30th, 2026. Trustees also voted to appoint the district’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Martha Aguirre, as interim superintendent.
Texas allows state agency investment in BlackRock after firm steps away from climate initiatives
(Texas Tribune) The firm’s removal from a state list of companies “boycotting” the fossil fuel industry was lauded by Comptroller Glenn Hegar as a “meaningful victory” for Texas’ energy economy.
Humble ISD board election recount confirms initial vote totals, as challenges persist
(Houston Chronicle) A two-day recount of the Humble ISD board election results confirmed the initial results of the election and cost the challenger more than $25,000. Natalie Carter was billed $25,375 for the salaries for election judges and the cost of print ballots for the recount on May 27-28. While the board will canvass the results Tuesday evening at the district’s budget workshop, Carter has said she may file an official election contest, citing concerns about witnessing ballots without signatures in a number greater, in her view, than the difference in the vote totals. Meanwhile, former trustee-elect Brittnai Brown has challenged the notion stipulated in a lawsuit against her that she did not reside in Humble ISD for the required six months before the filing deadline to run for office.
Marlin ISD approves voluntary resignation, separation agreement with Superintendent
(KXXV) The Marlin ISD school board voted 6-1 to approve the voluntary resignation and separation agreement with Superintendent Dr. Darryl Henson.
Houston ISD previews new district logo, ‘refreshed visual identity’ as part of rebrand planned for summer
(Houston Chronicle) Houston ISD shared a “refreshed visual identity” and new district logo Tuesday that will launch this summer as part of the district’s rebrand and “ongoing effort” to enhance communication with families.
Texarkana police officer, Hubbard ISD school board member arrested for alleged sexual assault of a child
(KLTV) The Texarkana Texas Police Department has arrested one of its own officers for alleged sexual assault of a child. Zackary Gilley, 32, has been a police officer with the department since 2018, officials say. He was put on administrative leave just before his arrest Monday night (June 2). The department says it immediately started an internal and criminal investigation after the allegations involving a 15-year-old girl surfaced. After investigating and gathering evidence, the police department consulted with the Bowie County District Attorney’s Office and an arrest warrant was issued. Officials with Hubbard ISD say Gilley was a trustee for the school district.
‘Why would God let this happen to me’ — San Antonio Police Department investigating reports of hazing and sexual harassment at Central Catholic High School
(KENS) San Antonio police are investigating multiple reports of hazing and sexual harassment allegations at Central Catholic High School. Local attorney Jesse Guerra is representing a family who claims their 15-year-old son, who just finished his freshman year, was bullied and sexually harassed by fellow soccer team members.
Carrollton officer retires during probe into alleged 2008 relationship with teen student
(Dallas Morning News) A longtime Carrollton police officer retired Friday after being accused last month of having an “improper relationship” with a 17-year-old student in 2008 while he was assigned to schools in Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, according to records obtained by The Dallas Morning News.
Latest developments in case of San Antonio mom accused in mass school violence plot
(MySA) Ashley Pardo, the mother accused of helping her son plan “acts of mass violence” at a San Antonio school, had her bond conditions slightly modified, according to court records. Pardo was arrested for allegedly buying ammunition, magazines and tactical gear for her son’s desire to carry out a reported school shooting at Rhodes Middle School within the San Antonio Independent School District. Pardo posted a bond of $75,000 after being arrested. She was placed under full house arrest before being granted partial arrest on Friday. The judge said she’s allowed to leave home for work if she provides proof of her schedule, according to court records.
Round Rock High School students create AI detecting app to help teachers
(KXAN) While reaction to the use of AI varies by person and circumstance, two Central Texas high school students are developing an app that detects if generative AI was used to complete handwritten assignments. Arush Satasia and Akshat Dev, both juniors at Round Rock High School, created Argus-AI to “help educators maintain academic integrity in a practical and accessible way,” Satasia said via email.
High school graduates could apply for Dallas Police Academy under a proposal
(NBC DFW) Applicants without college experience would have a pathway to become a Dallas police officer through a pilot program under consideration by the city. A City Council committee on Tuesday recommended advancing what officials called a “new pathway” for applicants who are at least 21 years old and can demonstrate three years of stable employment. Cities like Houston, Austin and San Antonio offer applicants without college experience a path to enter the policing profession.
Texas 4-H Roundup gathers in College Station, setting up the next generation for the future
(KBTX) Texas 4-H Roundup gathers young entrepreneurs and agriculture students in Reed Arena for more than just competition. With more than 1,600 students competing in 50 categories, the Texas 4-H Roundup is bringing together around 3,000 people, but roundup officials and competitors said the trophies from those competitions aren’t the most important takeaway. Instead, it’s the life lessons and skills the students learn while they’re in the program.
June 3, 2025
Legislative Update:
From vouchers to a cellphone ban, this year’s lawmaking session brought transformative changes to Texas schools
(Texas Tribune) An agenda driven by conservative priorities, schools’ financial duress and teacher needs led to an $8.5 billion boost, new discipline rules, more Christianity in classrooms and a DEI ban.
The 2025 regular Texas legislative session is over. Here’s what lawmakers did
(Texas Tribune) The Legislature wrapped up without the same drama that defined the end of the last two sessions, with state GOP leaders checking off nearly everything on their to-do lists.
Texas Relaxes Punishment for Student Vaping, Cracks Down on Other Behaviors
(Dallas Observer) Schools will now be able to handle students who bring e-cigarette devices to campus on a case-by-case basis.
Bill giving Texas parents, school boards more control over library books heads to Gov. Greg Abbott
(KERA) Senate Bill 13 would require school boards or advisory councils to approve new books and review complaints. In most cases only 50 parents’ approval would be needed to create the oversight councils.
Vouchers, property taxes and abortion: Here’s what the Texas Legislature did in 2025
(KUT) The Texas Legislature has passed more than 3,400 bills and resolutions this year. Gov. Greg Abbott has already signed close to 400 bills into law.
Texas House passes raft of Dan Patrick priorities imposing conservative mandates on public ed
(Texas Observer) In the final days of session, the lower chamber voted to further advance the classroom culture wars.
Also Reported:
Case dismissed against Utah man accused of threatening McLennan County school
(KCEN) The case against a Utah man who was accused of threatening a McLennan County school in an attempt to exploit a minor has been dropped due to lack of evidence. In the motion for dismissal, Attorney of the State Ryan Calvert says investigators initially linked an IP address used by the perpetrator to Kyle Joseph Nielsen of Utah, but a “subsequent investigation” revealed the link was made in error, and Nielsen was not the perpetrator. Nielsen’s attorney claims one of the victims told investigators on two occasions that Nielsen was not the perpetrator. Nielsen’s attorney also argues that investigators pursued Nielsen after misreading a sticky note that listed names and account names. Nielsen, 31, was as senior project manager in the renewable energy field for 10 years but was fired after his arrest. He now works as a server in a restaurant. Nielsen plans to pursue civil rights violation lawsuit against McLennan County Sheriff’s Office.
Department of Education upheaval leaves discrimination cases ‘in a lurch’
(KERA) The Trump administration closed several Office for Civil Rights hubs as part of its effort to dismantle the Department of Education. The loss of staff and funding left many discrimination cases — and a possible road to justice — at a stand-still.
Education Department pausing plan to garnish Social Security checks over defaulted loans
(The Hill) The Department of Education has not gone through with a plan to garnish Social Security checks over defaulted loans, a department spokesperson told The Hill. “The Department has not offset any social security benefits since restarting collections on May 5, and has put a pause on any future social security offsets,” Ellen Keast, the spokesperson, said.
‘We’re all at war with each other’ — Leander ISD considers consolidating some schools, drawing backlash from parents
(KVUE) A proposal to consolidate some Leander ISD schools is drawing backlash from parents who said they feel blindsided.
Lufkin ISD approves pay increase for new hire teachers, staff
(KLTV) The Lufkin ISD school board unanimously approved a new pay scale for selected employees for the upcoming school year at Monday’s special board meeting. The starting salary for new teachers, librarians, and registered nurses begins at $50,000. The previous starting pay was $47,000, an increase of about six percent.
Sharyland ISD school board approves pay raises under current law
(Progress Times) The Sharyland ISD Board of Trustees unanimously approved a 2% pay increase for employees based on budget projections under current Texas law. A 2% pay raise means the starting salary for new teachers at SISD will be $55,570 for the 2025-26 school year, which is still just under the market value of $56,000. Auxiliary staff, paraprofessionals and non-teaching professionals will also get a 2% pay grade midpoint increase. The total fiscal impact is more than $1.4 million. Although all signs point toward the legislators providing more school funding, Gov. Greg Abbott has not signed the leading bill (House Bill 2) into law yet. And until he does, Sharyland ISD and the school board do not want to make presumptuous budgetary decisions.
Planning periods back at McAllen ISD
(Progress Times) McAllen Independent School District Superintendent René Gutiérrez directed staff to bring back planning periods for teachers at a school board meeting Wednesday in a reversal of one of the district’s most controversial cost savings measures from last year.
Union backs Northside ISD trustee majority
(San Antonio Express-News via pressreader) The May 3 election put union backed trustees in control of the Northside School District Board. On Tuesday, they locked down all three officer positions.
‘It was chaos’: Former Job Corps employee speaks out after program suspension
(KGNS) The U.S. Department of Labor plans to gradually pause operations at Job Corps centers nationwide by June 30, including the Laredo Job Corps center, officials confirmed. The department said the move follows the Trump administration’s proposed 2026 budget and points to reports showing the program has not met its goals. The pause will affect the Laredo Job Corps Center, raising worries for some locals.
Students face ‘summer slide’ learning loss as school break begins
(KBMT) Southeast Texas educators and librarians are working to combat “summer slide,” the learning loss of academic skills that occurs during summer break, as students begin their vacation from school.
Three adult high schools to open across South Texas
(ValleyCentral) There will soon be a new option for adults to get their high school diplomas. The PossAble Dream Foundation will open three campuses across South Texas to help residents fulfill their educational dreams. The schools will serve community members aged 18 to 50 years old.
Life often gets in the way of adults going back to school. This Texarkana nonprofit has a solution
(Texas Standard) In searching for a way to improve literacy outcomes in their city, the Literacy Council in Texarkana partnered with other groups providing social services to help people get on their feet.
Investigation into Keller swim program ends with public reprimand, oversight changes
(Dallas Morning News) The investigation into Keller’s state championship swimming and diving program for alleged rule violations ended with the 4-6A UIL district executive committee issuing a reprimand and unanimously accepting Keller ISD’s action plan that includes increased oversight of workouts, additional training on UIL rules and hiring a new coach. The UIL told The Dallas Morning News last month that the alleged rule violations were related to Section 1202 of the UIL constitution and contest rules that requires high school coaches to be full-time employees of the school of which the team represents. Three people with direct knowledge of the situation told The News that Keller athletes were training with their club team — Lakeside Aquatic Club — during school hours and at a school facility.
Texas Ford Dealers Announce Expanded Sponsorship of UIL State Championships
(Dave Campbell’s Texas Football) As part of the new commitment, Ford will now support all UIL extracurricular events, including athletic, academic and music state championship competitions.
Former UIL champ Oak Cliff Faith Family boys basketball joins Nike EYBL Scholastic League
(Dallas Morning News) The stage has gotten even bigger for the Oak Cliff Faith Family boys basketball program, which announced Monday that it has accepted an invitation to the Nike Elite Youth Basketball (EYBL) [Scholastic] League. After years of scrutiny over its basketball programs, the Oak Cliff-based charter school left the UIL in November following heavy penalties the association levied on its girls team for recruiting violations.
Doctors say they have no explanation for how this Texas teacher survived
(KHOU) Darren Pangle, a Katy ISD teacher known as the “miracle man,” survived a severe illness against medical expectations thanks to pioneering ECMO therapy.
Central Texas coach helped develop more than a dozen softball players who won Texas state titles in 2025
(KWTX) A local select coach who coaches a dozen of the softball players between the three Central Texas teams that won state titles over the weekend says he couldn’t be prouder. Trey Holdbrook, president of Centex Buzz Fastpitch, says he coaches twelve players between Robinson and Midway. Robinson High School, Midway High School and Jonesboro High School all won state titles this past week.
June 2, 2025
Legislative Update:
Bill to scrap STAAR test dies in the Texas Legislature
(Texas Tribune) A legislative effort to scrap the STAAR test to respond to concerns that the test puts unnecessary pressure on students died in the last days of the legislative session. House Bill 4, authored by state Rep. Brad Buckley, would have swapped the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness test for three shorter tests given throughout the school year. The Senate and House failed to come out of closed-door negotiations with a compromise in time, missing a key legislative deadline this weekend.
Texas Legislature approves $338 billion two-year spending plan with a focus on property tax relief
(Texas Tribune) Texas lawmakers signed off Saturday on a $338 billion two-year spending plan that directs billions toward hiking teacher pay, cutting property taxes and shoring up the state’s water infrastructure, after House and Senate budget writers ironed out their differences and won approval from both chambers on their final draft. The budget now heads to Comptroller Glenn Hegar, who is expected to verify there is enough revenue to cover the Legislature’s planned spending — the last step before the 1,056-page bill reaches Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.
LGBTQ clubs, DEI in public schools would be banned under bill headed to the governor
(Dallas Morning News) School-sponsored LGBTQ clubs would be against the law under a bill that is headed to the governor’s desk. Senate Bill 12 would not only prohibit school-sanctioned clubs based on sexual orientation or gender identity, but also forbid public and charter schools from providing any instruction, guidance or programming that acknowledges homosexuality or transgender identities. Related:
Bill to give political appointees more oversight over Texas universities wins final passage
(Texas Tribune) The latest version of the proposal eliminates language that would have required university curricula not to advocate that “any race, sex, ethnicity or religious belief is inherently superior to another.”
Effort to Restore AG’s Authority to Prosecute Election Fraud Killed as Deadline Passes
(Texas Scorecard) The Texas House and Senate were unable to reach an agreement on a proposal to allow the Attorney General to unilaterally prosecute election crimes.
Legislature passes bipartisan bill to let Texas state agencies determine remote-work policies
(KERA) The measure from Republican state Rep. Giovanni Capriglione allows agencies to adopt their own remote-work policies, while setting up guardrails for agency heads to ensure employees’ productivity.
Chinese citizens cannot own property or businesses under bill headed to the governor
(Dallas Morning News) Legal residents from those countries would no longer be able to purchase any property in Texas except for a homestead. Senate Bill 17 would also block some citizens of those countries from owning businesses in the state.
Also Reported:
After Uvalde, school mental health grants had bipartisan support. Now Trump is cutting them
(Stacker/Chalkbeat) Schools will likely have to lay off social workers and counselors, and college programs designed to train mental health providers may shut down after the Trump administration decided it would stop funding grants created under a bipartisan law passed in response to mass school shootings.
El Paso ISD board to discuss possible firing or exit agreement with Superintendent Diana Sayavedra
(El Paso Matters) Superintendent Diana Sayavedra’s future with El Paso Independent School District will be on the line again Tuesday, when the school board is set to discuss a possible voluntary separation agreement and appointment of an interim superintendent.
Facing mounting deficit, Austin ISD will cut central office staff, weighs school closures
(Austin American-Statesman) The Austin school district will be reorganizing its central office, including eliminating and reassigning positions, as part of its ongoing effort to cut its budget deficit from $97 million to $78 million. Officials say these measures are essential to maintain financial stability, after a year of budget cuts aimed at reducing a deficit that had grown to $110 million by January.
Travis County DA: ‘Insufficient evidence’ to charge Austin ISD executive for tampering
(KXAN) Travis County prosecutors say there is insufficient evidence to charge a long-time Austin Independent School District executive with tampering with government records. In a court record filed on Wednesday, the Travis County District Attorney’s Office stated that it would not file charges. In February, Austin Independent School District investigators accused Amie Ortiz, 40, of deleting information police requested while she was working as the district’s director of talent strategy.
How Fort Worth ISD is shifting instruction so educators can focus on teaching, students
(Fort Worth Report) During a recent school board meeting, Fort Worth ISD’s top leader introduced the district’s new approach for instruction.
Leander ISD considers school consolidations amid budget deficit, despite new state funding
(CBS Austin) As state lawmakers tout new investments in public education, Leander ISD leaders say it’s still not enough to prevent school closures and deep staffing cuts.
‘It’s already paying for itself’: Boerne ISD pays nearly $18K for communication audit, auditor’s travel expenses
(KSAT) The 85-page report describes the district’s strengths and weaknesses in communicating with staff, parents and the community at large. “Well, we justify that price tag because it’s already paying for itself over and over,” said Boerne ISD Executive Director of Communications Maggie Domingue. “People weren’t coming to us before the audit and telling us what the issues were. This audit helped us dig down and get to the bottom of it. I don’t think that it’s appropriate for every school district, but for our school district, it was necessary, yeah.”
Fort Bend ISD approves $31.65M transportation contract amid ongoing driver shortage
(Community Impact) Amid a persistent Houston-wide school bus driver shortage, Fort Bend ISD trustees unanimously approved a $31.65 million transportation contract with GoldStar Transit at the May 19 meeting. The contract is a one-year agreement with four optional annual renewals as FBISD aims to reduce outsourcing over time as it strengthens its internal driver workforce, Kathleen Brown, FBISD deputy superintendent of operations, said.
Girls’ flag football redefines Friday night lights in Austin
(KUT) The Dallas Cowboys’ program first launched in Fort Worth in 2022 and has since expanded to include more than 100 participating high schools across the state. Crystal Victorino, one of Austin ISD’s area athletic coordinators, said the district jumped at the chance to partner with the Cowboys. Victorino said 12 of the district’s 13 high schools decided to participate in the program this season.
Opinion: Unproven school board governance training in Texas is all hat and no cattle
(Austin American-Statesman) According to the TEA, Lone Star Governance is a continuous improvement model, “founded on research” and focused on “improving student outcomes.” TEA has required the board of trustees in several districts — including Austin ISD, Fort Worth ISD and Houston ISD — to adopt Lone Star Governance to address various issues, from special education-related failures to persistent low performance on state standardized assessments. However, as education researchers, we are concerned that TEA is requiring public school districts spend public funds on an approach with no evidence of effectiveness.
Commentary: I watched teen moms in my school struggle. Texas needs to do better
(San Antonio Report) In some San Antonio high schools, baby bumps can feel almost as common as backpacks. In my graduating class alone, there were at least three teen moms juggling pregnancy, diapers and high school coursework.
New details emerge in alleged teacher attack at Plano ISD elementary school
(CBS Texas) According to newly obtained arrest documents, Daniel Okungbowa approached a woman outside Boggess Elementary School last Thursday morning and began asking her questions about her job. Police said that when the woman walked away, Okungbowa ran up behind her and grabbed her in a full-body hold. The two struggled on the ground as she fought to break free, eventually biting his hand. Authorities said the suspect let go and fled after the victim’s school radio went off. He took her phone and the school radio with him. Police tracked the phone to Okungbowa nearby and arrested him on charges of robbery and theft.
AFFIDAVIT: Former Southwest ISD substitute teacher accused of sexually assaulting 12-year-old student
(KENS) Christopher Patrick Uresti, a former substitute teacher at Southwest ISD, was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 12-year-old student.
2 accused in Longview ISD elementary abuse case appear in court
(KLTV) Two women accused in the abuse of multiple disabled Longview elementary students appeared in court Friday. Cassandra James, 51, of Hallsville and Linda Lister, 63, of Longview, are two of six people accused of abusing 11 students at J.L. Everhart Elementary from 2019 to 2021. A $2.5 million settlement was reached between Longview ISD and the affected families in 2023. Prosecutors and attorneys for Cassandra James and Linda lister spent the day in court, discussing a large amount of evidence; pictures, video and thousands of pages of information. Cassandra James and Linda Lister are charged with intentionally abandoning or endangering a child. They were arrested in 2021.
With help of Texas AG’s office, Killeen ISD keeps coach investigation at Fort Cavazos under wraps
(Killeen Daily Herald) Killeen Independent School District’s investigation of a teacher-coach at a Fort Cavazos school will remain classified. Despite an open-records request for the “completed investigation report on the teacher-coach at Meadows Elem. School on Fort Cavazos” filed by the Herald in March, the Texas Attorney General’s Office ruled in late May that the investigation should not be released to the public.
University of North Texas Grapples With National Trend of Drop in International Student Enrollment
(Dallas Observer) Geopolitical tensions, visa troubles and anti-immigrant sentiments have left University of North Texas leaders bracing for a drop-off in international student enrollment, university President Harrison Keller told the Board of Regents last week.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents make arrests on UT San Antonio campus
(Texas Public Radio) A UTSA statement said that agents arrested people that were working for a subcontractor on a campus construction project.
