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August 7, 2026
This Colorado school district is using Biblically infused reading curriculum made for Texas students

(Chalkbeat) Officials in Montezuma-Cortez, a small school district in southwestern Colorado, could have chosen a new elementary reading curriculum from more than 20 state-approved options. Instead, with little public discussion this summer, they picked one called Bluebonnet. It’s described as being “built for Texas students” and has drawn fierce criticism from some Texans for containing Biblically infused lessons. Montezuma-Cortez leaders picked Bluebonnet because the district recently adopted a school reform model from the Houston school district, which approved Bluebonnet this summer.

United ISD says second loan may be needed after proposed $30M loan

(Laredo Morning Times) United ISD officials said Wednesday that the district may need a second loan next spring after seeking a proposed $30 million Tax and Revenue Anticipation Note to maintain payroll and operations as it addresses ongoing budget challenges. The Board of Trustees is expected to vote on the proposed loan Aug. 12, 2026.

Record teacher turnover leaves Fort Worth ISD with few vacancies — but fewer veteran educators

(Fort Worth Report) More than 1,100 educators left positions, including 279 veteran teachers with a decade or longer in Fort Worth ISD. Related:

The ‘Houston Miracle’ Shell Game

(Texas Observer) How Houston ISD’s takeover regime inflated school accountability ratings by systematically holding back certain students.

Northwest ISD files lawsuit against gun range after bullets found in new middle school building

(Fox 4 KDFW) Northwest ISD has filed a lawsuit against Quail Creek Shooting Range in Northlake after the district says bullets were found in a new school building. Bullets were found on the south end of Barksdale Middle School, which lines up with the gun range that sits 1.2 miles away from the school. The district says it was unable to get the gun range to commit to safety improvements before the school opens on August 12.

Marshall ISD takes first step toward charter school program

(KLTV) Marshall ISD is seeking additional state assistance to improve its schools. At a Thursday night meeting, district leaders presented their plan to introduce Texas Partnerships, or charter schools, to the district. The school board will vote on a charter partner that’s recommended by a committee before an application is sent to the TEA by December. The TEA will approve or deny applications by March.

Austin ISD is still adding transportation hubs with less than 2 weeks till school starts

(KUT) Austin ISD is rolling out a hub model for its middle school and high school students that will have them congregate at elementary schools, Austin Community College campuses or CapMetro stops to ride the bus to school. Officials said the new system will save the district $5.2 million, but some families are concerned about getting their children to school safely.

New Texas education laws take effect: What families need to know

(KHOU) Texas students heading back to school this fall will see several new education laws take effect, including the rollout of the state’s school voucher program, changes to special education funding and a new financial literacy graduation requirement. Here’s a look at some of the biggest changes affecting students and families this school year.

Dallas ISD officer wounded in Sam’s Club parking lot

(Fox 4 KDFW) A Dallas ISD police officer was shot while trying to help someone near the Walmart and Sam’s Club stores in Northwest Dallas on Thursday morning. Dallas ISD Police Chief Albert Martinez confirmed the injured officer is one of his officers – 39-year-old Officer Justin Jones, who is assigned to White High School and has been with the department for 16 years. Officer Jones was taken to Parkland Hospital with a critical gunshot wound to the leg.

Leander ISD police department under state investigation over hiring practices

(KVUE) The Leander ISD Police Department is facing a state investigation into its hiring practices and background check process, less than a year after the district established the force. The district says the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) has been investigating the department since October 2025.

Weatherford ISD math teacher accused of having improper relation with student

(FOX 4 KDFW) 38-year-old Chase Liles was arrested on Thursday and charged with having an improper relationship between an educator and a student. Liles was employed at Weatherford High School as a math teacher, and resigned from the district one day before his arrest. Weatherford Police said Liles was exchanging inappropriate text messages with a 17-year-old student. The identity of the student involved in the alleged relationship is not known.

Former Henderson ISD employee accused of sexually assaulting minor

(KLTV) Former Henderson ISD employee Teris Michaelle Butler, 38, of Henderson, has been arrested on a charge of second-degree sexual assault of a child. The school confirmed the accusation does not involve a Henderson ISD student. Butler was first hired with the school in August 2014 and worked as an aide until December, when she began working for another school district. She was later re-hired and worked in several different roles. Her husband, Drew Butler, previously held a position on the school board during the time of Teris Butler’s employment. He chose not to seek re-election in 2023.

Former Robstown ISD employee charged in federal child pornography case, court records show

(KIII) Federal investigators say a cyber tip led to charges against former Robstown ISD computer technician Roland Anastacio Martinez. Court records state Martinez later admitted to receiving, viewing and downloading child sexual abuse material from the internet and told investigators the files would be found on his phone.

Burleson County sheriff releases back-to-school warning after string of sex crime arrests

(KBTX) As families across the Brazos Valley settle into new back-to-school routines, the Burleson County Sheriff’s Office is releasing a sobering reminder: predators don’t take a summer break. Sheriff Bill Rios released a video Thursday revealing his office has made 41 arrests connected to sex crimes since July 2025 — nearly one per week. Most of those arrests involved online solicitation of minors. Others involved prostitution, including cases involving minors.

Gainesville ISD football coach suspended for 2026 season after “UIL rules violations”

(WFAA) Gainesville High School head football coach and athletic director Neil Searcy was suspended for the 2026 season by the UIL on Thursday, the Gainesville ISD superintendent announced. The UIL State Executive Committee issued Searcy a one-season suspension from football, a three-year probation period, and ordered additional training. The GHS football program was also issued a four-practice suspension and will not play one of its scrimmages ahead of the 2026 season. The UIL State Executive Committee issued the punishment after the district self-reported that athletes participated in six offseason morning football practices while wearing helmets and shoulder pads, violating offseason practice regulations.

Navasota ISD reveals stadium damage; repairs underway ahead of football season

(KXXV) Navasota Independent School District officials announced this week that concrete repairs are underway at Rattler Stadium’s home bleachers following the discovery of erosion damage during summer preparations. District officials found damage to 12 concrete footings beneath the home bleachers while preparing for the upcoming football season. The repairs will not be finished in time for Meet the Rattlers on Saturday, Aug. 8. For that event, all fans must use only the visitor stands.

Texas private school football hiring faces scrutiny after parents uncover coach’s past

(Houston Chronicle) The private Liberty Christian School in Argyle has fired defensive coordinator Gabe Eliserio after parents raised concerns about information that was not disclosed during the school’s hiring process. Court records from Arizona show Eliserio was charged with sexual abuse in 2005 while attending Eastern Arizona College, later served jail time, and was sentenced to probation and community service; he and the college were also named in a 2006 civil lawsuit. The school said Eliserio, who was hired in March, was dismissed after learning of the previously undisclosed information.

Retired educators aim to influence voter turnout, Texas school policy

(Corpus Christi Caller Times) Can retired educators be a force in state elections? Former South Texas superintendent Cissy Reynolds-Perez believes so. More than 60 retired educators filled the meeting room at Kiko’s Mexican Food Restaurant on Aug. 5, invited by Reynolds-Perez to discuss how retirees might continue to have an impact on public education. The event was hosted by Raise Your Hand Texas, a nonpartisan public education advocacy group founded by H-E-B Chairman Charles Butt and other Texas business and community leaders.

Longview ISD and Kilgore College changing dual credit program

(KLTV) The Longview Independent School District and Kilgore College are changing the way their dual credit program works, and it’s quite a change. Students taking dual credit won’t be learning at the high school anymore, they will be bussed to the KC campus. When there’s a big change you have to get oriented to it. Longview ISD Early College Coordinator Crystal Walker helped do just that with about 40 Longview High School Students at Kilgore College.

Texas High School Football Coach Under TEA Investigation Following Student’s Death

(Sports Illustrated) Richland Springs head football coach James McIntyre Jr., formerly of Rocksprings ISD, remains on the sidelines while the Texas Education Agency investigates the March death of 17-year-old David “Samson” Reyes.

Nacogdoches schools enforce clear bag policy, weapons detection system at Dragon Stadium

(CBS19) Nacogdoches ISD added a weapons detection system at Dragon Stadium and implemented a clear bag policy for athletic events in the upcoming school year.

UT Austin quietly opens Center for Humanities but won’t explain how it was created

(Austin American-Statesman) UT Austin is adding 14 professors through a new humanities center, though the university has not explained how the initiative was formed.

What’s it like to major in AI? The architects behind UNT’s new undergraduate program explain

(KERA) The University of North Texas will roll out its new Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence this fall, joining a growing list of higher education institutions to offer the degree.

Texas State University System Regents Approve Curriculum Overhaul

(Texas Scorecard) Texas State was the first to complete a review required by a new state law. The Texas State System’s changes, covering 46 pages in the meeting agenda, led to the removal of a handful of courses and the modification of more than 100. For the system’s main campus in San Marcos, 135 courses were modified while eight were removed.

Prairie View A&M ranks No. 3 among Forbes’ top public HBCUs. Here’s why it stands out

(Houston Chronicle) A Texas HBCU ranked among the top 10 in Forbes’ first-ever ranking of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU). Forbes released rankings of historically Black colleges and universities “that set their graduates up for success.”  Prairie View A&M University ranked at No. 3 on the public list behind Florida A&M University. Howard University topped the list, followed by North Carolina A&T State University.

TWU, Girl Scouts announce partnership

(Linked in) Texas Woman’s University and the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas are partnering to increase leadership and educational opportunities for young women in the area. An agreement put into effect Thursday afternoon will give Gold Award Girl Scouts guaranteed enrollment at TWU, an application fee waiver and access to scholarship opportunities.

Lina Hidalgo’s proposed tax-rate hike for Harris County education programs fails for the second year in a row

(Houston Public Media) The rejection came almost one year after commissioners voted against Hidalgo’s first penny-tax proposal and said the county judge’s efforts to pass the measure to support a slate of education programs disrupted decorum as she brought a group of children to the meeting in 2025.

Texas Head Start leaders warn proposed federal rule could trade quality for access

(Dallas Morning News) Federal officials proposed an overhaul of the Head Start program Thursday that they say would reduce bureaucracy, give local providers more flexibility and create as many as 236,000 additional preschool slots nationwide. Texas Head Start leaders say they worry children and families could lose critical services in the process.

Texas appeals court upholds State Fair gun ban

(Fox 4 KDFW) The 15th Court of Appeals on Thursday rejected AG Ken Paxton’s challenge, ruling Dallas didn’t violate state law.

San Antonio charter school moves into historic Koehler House restored by developer Weston Urban

(San Antonio Report) Parents, children and Great Hearts public charter school supporters gather at the Koehler House on Wednesday for the reopening of the home that will serve as a school house for Great Hearts Monte Vista.

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