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April 28, 2026
In fight with state, North East ISD backs down on student cellphone policy
(San Antonio Express-News) After the state threatened greater oversight and intervention, North East Independent School District trustees on Monday backed down from a standoff with the Texas Education Agency over their student cellphone ban. The district will now adopt a bell-to-bell cellphone ban beginning May 25, the first day of the final week of classes this school year. The board voted 5-1 to remove the district’s more narrowly tailored definition of “school day,” from its cellphone ban. North East ISD previously defined the school day as instructional time, which allowed students to use their phones during lunch, passing periods and bathroom breaks.
Springtown EF-1 tornado cleanup continues; schools closed Tuesday
(Fox 4 KDFW) Springtown is cleaning up after a weekend EF-1 tornado destroyed homes with 105 mph winds and killed one resident. Springtown schools will remain closed for a second consecutive day on Tuesday.
Some San Antonio educators hope to take advantage of Texas Education Freedom Accounts
(San Antonio Report) School choice advocates seeking to get the word out about Texas Education Freedom Accounts are now working to educate educators on how the program can open opportunities for teachers to earn money outside their day jobs. “There’s a lot of opportunity,” said Zoe Alterman, speaking to a group of educators from across San Antonio during a teacher happy hour at Vibras on April 16. “It’s a very, very wide range of what is considered educational products.”
Texas AG Paxton Launches Second Strike Against Austin ISD Over Boys In Girls’ Restrooms
(Dallas Express) Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sent an additional notice to the Austin Independent School District demanding documentation of policies and enforcement actions regarding the use of female facilities by biological males, citing ongoing concerns over compliance with the Texas Women’s Privacy Act. Monday’s action follows a March 2026 notice to the district after a citizen complaint alleged that a biological male had been using girls’ restrooms and locker rooms at Austin High School.
State funding calculation errors, property tax breaks cause unexpected budget shortfalls for El Paso schools despite hold harmless promise
(El Paso Matters) El Paso school districts are bracing for budget shortfalls next school year after the state miscalculated the way it would make up for the lost tax revenue after Texas voters approved increased tax breaks for homeowners. District leaders have promised to cut costs without affecting the student experience, and said they do not expect to lay off employees or close schools.
Leaked Houston ISD Plans Call for “Special Ed Specialty Schools”
(Houston Press) A leaked proposal that would establish “special education specialty schools” in Houston for a significant change in how and where special education students are taught had several Houston ISD parents of those students alarmed over the weekend.
Conroe ISD adopts plans to decentralize its special education program for 2026-27 school year
(Community Impact) The Conroe ISD board of trustees has adopted a new plan, dubbed the “homecoming plan,” to decentralize its special education program for the 2026-27 school year. CISD Deputy Superintendent Ted Landry presented the decentralization plan, the motivation for which is so that special education students no longer have to leave their zoned campuses for education.
Richardson ISD secondary schools to end block schedules due to budget cuts
(Community Impact) Jennie Bates, RISD assistant superintendent for school leadership and superintendent support, said at the April 23 school board meeting that the district will save roughly $11.1 million by returning to a traditional seven- or eight-period daily schedule at junior highs, middle schools and high schools. Under the block schedule, students took eight classes on an alternating schedule of four periods a day.
Could Arlington ISD launch a virtual school to battle declining enrollment?
(Arlington Report) Arlington ISD trustees are considering a virtual school as a potential solution to its declining enrollment.
Carroll ISD faces $1.25M budget shortfall for FY 2025-26, gives update on FY 2026-27 budget
(Community Impact) Carroll ISD is facing a $1.25 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2025-26, Deputy Superintendent of Business and Finance Chase Park said at the April 20 regular board meeting. The budget shortfall is primarily due to one-time payments that were made to district staff in November and April, Park said. Park said the district is hoping to recoup that loss through land sales and the selling of the district’s telecommunications towers.
La Joya ISD to begin contract non-renewals as enrollment declines
(myRGV) In a board meeting last Wednesday, the La Joya ISD school board voted to begin the process of contract non-renewals for teaching and professional staff — with Chief of Academics and School Leadership Derek Little citing a shift in enrollment, changes in programs and the closing of four campuses next year.
Former Wills Point ISD teacher gets life in prison for sexual abuse of children
(KLTV) Former Wills Point ISD teacher Jimmy Lee Hanks, 53 received a life sentence from a Rains County jury on Monday for his sexual abuse of children. Hanks was charged in February 2025 for continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, a first-degree felony. Hanks pleaded not guilty, but the jury was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that he did commit multiple acts of sexual abuse to multiple children as young as five years old.
Former Childress ISD employee found guilty of stealing from the school district
(KFDA) Former Childress ISD employee Lacy Rodriguez has been found guilty of theft by a public servant of more than $2,500 but less than $30,000 for stealing money from the school district. Rodriguez was a public servant and worked as an administrative staff member at the time of the theft. The records say that she pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years of supervised probation, must pay restitution of just over $40,000.
Huntsville ISD employee terminated, charged with injury to a child
(Fox 26 Houston) A Huntsville ISD employee is facing charges following an investigation, according to a news release. 32-year-old Brittany King is facing two counts of injury to a child/elderly/disabled with the intent of bodily injury. School officials stated King was initially identified as a teacher, but it was later learned she was a campus support staff member.
United ISD teacher’s aide arrested on tampering charge
(KGNS) A teacher’s aide with the United ISD is under arrest, accused of tampering with official school records. UISD police arrested Maria Garza on Sunday, April 26. Jail records show she is charged with tampering with a government record, specifically a school record, license, seal or permit. The district said it is aware of the arrest and that “further administrative action remains pending pursuant to District policy.”
Fort Bend ISD employee off job after investigation into incident at Burton Elementary
(KTRK) Fort Bend ISD confirms an employee is no longer on the job following an investigation, that one family says involves their 6-year-old nonverbal student with autism. The child’s family says they are outraged after discovering what they describe as mistreatment inside Burton Elementary School.
Suspect sentenced to 10 years in prison in connection with San Antonio ISD student’s shooting death
(KSAT) Andrew Cantu, 18, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his role in the 2025 shooting death of 14-year-old SAISD student Simon Cuevas, after pleading to a reduced charge of injury to a child rather than capital murder. Cuevas was followed by a group of males and killed shortly after leaving SAISD’s Brewer Academy on April 16, 2025. The sentence reflects the maximum penalty for the lesser charge, and the case has drawn criticism from the victim’s family and community over the lack of murder convictions. One other suspect committed suicide, the fate of two juvenile suspects are unknown and another suspect also faces a charge of injury to a child with intent to cause bodily injury.
Motorcyclist critically injured after crashing into East Central ISD bus, police say
(KENS) A motorcyclist was rushed to the hospital after crashing into an East Central Independent School District bus on the southeast side of San Antonio Monday afternoon, officials said. SAPD Detective Cody Smith was on scene and said the motorcyclist had been traveling southbound on W.W. White when it clipped the back of the school bus, which was at a traffic light getting ready to turn. The bus driver and the lone student pasenger were unharmed, ECISD said.
Former Texas Tech professors criticize course content changes, cite academic freedom concerns
(KCBD) Former Texas Tech professors say system leaders are harming the future of the university by what they believe is stifling academic freedom in the classroom. They claim the recent system-wide change is forcing Tech to take a step backward. The professors told KCBD they need to talk about this since current faculty are afraid to do so.
49 UT Arlington employees have faced layoffs since June 2025, records show
(Fort Worth Report) The University of Texas at Arlington has notified 49 employees since June 1, 2025, that they are being laid off, according to public records obtained by the Fort Worth Report. The layoffs come from 14 departments and offices, with the highest numbers being laid off from the Office of Information Technology, Office of the Provost and Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center.
Texas State Technical College to launch online artificial intelligence certificate in 2027
(Community Impact) Texas State Technical College is slated to launch a new online artificial intelligence implementation specialist certificate program within its web design and development program.
San Antonio’s Hallmark University launches hybrid AI degree amid rising industry need
(San Antonio Report) A new degree in Artificial Intelligence is being developed at Hallmark University, which will become the second institution in San Antonio to add an AI degree pathway this fall.
Trump dismisses UT El Paso president, others from National Science Foundation Board
(El Paso Matters) The White House fired all members of the National Science Board Friday, including Heather Wilson, president of the University of Texas at El Paso.
New A&M $133 million meat science center to remain on main campus
(Battalion) The Texas A&M Board of Regents vote to move new meat science center from the RELLIS campus to main campus.
Off-campus galleries in Dallas and Denton step in as UNT art students boycott school spaces
(KERA) University of North Texas art students are boycotting campus galleries after the university removed a politically charged exhibit, prompting concerns about censorship and free expression. In response, independent and DIY galleries in Dallas and Denton have stepped in to host student exhibitions, giving them alternative spaces to showcase their work and build community.
‘Unprecedented’: Merged UT San Antonio rises in the ranks of top research institutions
(San Antonio Report) Less than a year since the University of Texas at San Antonio and UT Health San Antonio became one institution — UT San Antonio — the university ranked among the top 2.3% of U.S. institutions to receive National Institutes of Health funding.
These Texas students organized to defend church-state separation
(Baptist News Global) A group of Texas high school and college students received the David Noor Youth Activist Award from Americans United for Separation of Church and State this year — recognizing a well-organized youth movement making a difference.
Immigration ‘trap’: New decision could leave DACA holders vulnerable to removal
(ValleyCentral) A new ruling by the Board of Immigration Appeals, part of the Justice Department, could make it easier to deport Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals holders—potentially weakening protections under the program. This is causing many in the Rio Grande Valley to fear, even though they might have temporary protected status under the program.
U.S. Supreme Court upholds Texas’ newly redrawn congressional map
(Texas Tribune) The high court had previously allowed the map to be used temporarily, but Monday’s ruling makes that permanent.
Meet Kali, Ranger and Jolene. These horses are helping Dallas first-graders learn to read
(Dallas Morning News) Equest, a therapeutic riding program, helps to get young students engaged with reading.
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