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Sept. 10, 2026
Austin mayor releases plan to prevent Texas from taking over the school district

(Austin Current via Texas Tribune) In an effort to keep the Austin school district independent, Mayor Kirk Watson is pushing to close two chronically-failing middle schools that triggered the state’s takeover law. He’ll need parents’ help to do it. Watson’s plan, released in his newsletter Wednesday morning, cites a little-known state rule that would give weight to a parent petition asking for the schools’ closure.

Edinburg CISD to solicit forensic audit as district faces $15M deficit

(myRGV) The Edinburg CISD school board voted Tuesday to solicit requests for qualifications (RFQ) for an independent forensic audit that sparked a discussion on what the scope of the audit should include. The solicitation for an independent forensic audit comes to the board with the district amidst a $15 million deficit in the proposed budget for next fiscal year.

Education Advocates Continue to Blast Voucher Program

(Houston Press) As the Texas comptroller seeks to double funding for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) voucher program to $2 billion, education advocates say new data undercuts claims it helps low-income families leave struggling public schools. Groups including the Texas Center for Voucher Transparency and the Houston AFT argue the $1 billion program is largely subsidizing families already in private school rather than expanding access for low-income students, and a review of 221 voucher-accepting schools found many use religious criteria in admissions, don’t publicly post full tuition costs, and can deny “right fit” students despite advertising services for disabilities. The Texas State Teachers Association opposes the funding increase, warning that public schools are cutting programs while state dollars flow to private and religious schools with limited transparency. Related:

Nacogdoches ISD works to avoid potential TEA takeover as district improves accountability grade

(CBS19) Nacogdoches ISD is working to improve student performance at three elementary campuses that remain under scrutiny after receiving multiple failing accountability grades as district leaders try to avoid a potential state takeover. Nacogdoches ISD Superintendent Grey Burton said the district was aware of the situation before the latest ratings were released and has been preparing for the challenge since last school year.

Students, parents voice concerns over AI use in Fort Worth ISD schools

(Fort Worth Report) Incorrect science diagrams, figures with six fingers and unrecognizable animal pictures on AI generated slides were just some of the concerns presented by parents and students who say they are frustrated by how AI is being used in Fort Worth classrooms. The Fort Worth school district is one of the 55 schools across 20 states partnering with OpenAI to take part in its ChatGPT for Teachers program. Four other Texas school districts are part of the program, though Fort Worth is the only district in Tarrant County participating. Related:

Pampa ISD enrollment continues to decline as district adds hybrid program

(KVII) Pampa Independent School District’s student enrollment has declined each year for the past 11 years, a trend that school leaders say is affecting funding and staffing. District officials said declining enrollment is a challenge for Pampa ISD and other rural school districts across Texas because state funding is tied to enrollment and daily attendance. This school year, Pampa ISD introduced a hybrid program designed to give students and families more flexibility while allowing the district to continue tracking attendance.

Socorro ISD weighs virtual academy to keep students, funding from leaving district

(KFOX) Socorro Independent School District leaders are moving closer to launching a full-time virtual learning program for high school students, an effort aimed at giving families more flexibility while also keeping students — and state funding — in the district. The Board of Trustees received an update during a briefing on a proposed Socorro Virtual Academy, which would offer an online option within SISD rather than requiring families to look outside the district.

Judson ISD begins a pivotal year with hopes of quickly boosting academics

(San Antonio Express-News) Judson ISD started the 2026-27 school year facing a critical deadline: two campuses have just one year to improve academics or risk triggering state takeover, after new state A-F scores released in August pushed the district closer to that threshold. Interim Superintendent Ann Dixon, who started in late June, has a short timeline to enact districtwide changes, including major staffing reassignments made before the school year began. The district is weighing measures other struggling districts have used, from flooding campuses with new resources and data tools to closing schools or handing operations to a third-party turnaround organization.

Part of Trinity University’s education department mandated to comply with K-12 education codes

(Trinitonian) In mid-July, the Texas Education Agency required all Educator Preparation Programs — including Trinity University, previously exempt as a private institution — to sign a “State Law/Prohibition Attestation” by Sept. 1, extending public-school-style restrictions on discussing “controversial” issues and advocacy activities to Trinity’s teacher-certification programs, with faculty personally liable “under penalty of perjury.” Critics, including UT San Antonio’s AAUP chapter, called the form coercive and vaguely worded, warning it could chill discussion of topics like race and gender. Trinity’s provost said the requirement is under review; department head Angela Breidenstein, the sole required signee, declined to comment.

Texas A&M accelerates $33.5M virtual production facility in Fort Worth

(Fort Worth Report) The 30,000-square-foot facility would house a studio, labs, classrooms and offices — the third piece of Texas A&M’s downtown expansion.

Phony food vendor allegedly conned over $253,000 out of Hidalgo County Head Start Program

(Progress Times) The Hidalgo County Head Start Program allegedly paid an imposter masquerading as a representative of its food service provider $235,457.20 in 2024, continuing to pay the fraudster even after being alerted about the likely theft. The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office arrested Susan Ware, 57, of Cucamonga, California in May of 2025 and charged her with felony theft in the second-degree for allegedly misappropriating the program’s funds. Ware, also known as Janet Johnson, allegedly tricked Hidalgo Head Start into diverting more than a month’s worth of direct deposits for legitimate food and beverage deliveries to herself instead of Labatt Food Service, the program’s actual vendor.

Project Safe Schools: Federal grand jury charges former Muleshoe ISD high school teacher with enticement offense for alleged sexual relations with a minor

(U.S. Attorney’s Office) A federal grand jury in Lubbock returned an indictment Wednesday charging former Muleshoe ISD high school teacher Allegra Fey Mora, 28, with enticement of a minor for allegedly having sexual relations with one of her students. Mora was arrested earlier this year.

Plano ISD Principal To Appeal Firing for Failure To Report

(Texas Scorecard) A Plano principal fired for failing to report sexual misconduct allegations appears to be challenging the district’s decision to terminate her contract for cause. Brinker Elementary Principal Jennifer King was placed on administrative leave in July after she was accused of failing to report allegations that 2nd-grade teacher Paul Campbell was sexually abusing female students in his classroom.

Socorro ISD educator arrested, accused of sexually assaulting 14-year-old he met on dating app

(KFOX) A Socorro ISD educator was arrested after a 14-year-old boy told detectives he had been sexually assaulted over several months by someone he met through a dating app, according to a criminal complaint affidavit. Armando Guadalupe Saucedo, 37, is accused of sexual assault of a child. Saucedo is listed on the Socorro Independent School District as an Educational Diagnostician in the Special Education Department.

Second former Manor ISD employee arrested on injury to a child charge

(CBS Austin) Manor ISD confirmed Tuesday that a second former employee at Presidential Meadows Elementary has been arrested on a charge of injury to a child, in a case the district says is unrelated to a separate recent arrest involving another former employee at the school. The district said it is limited in what it can release because of employee and student privacy rights.

Balmorhea ISD substitute teacher arrested after alleged inappropriate relationship investigation

(NewsWest9) A 22-year-old Balmorhea ISD substitute teacher has been arrested on a improper relationship between student and teacher after an investigation. According to an affidavit obtained by NewsWest 9, the Reeves County Sheriff’s Office investigated allegations of inappropriate conduct involving 22-year-old Meranda Jasmin Valerio a former substitute teacher with BISD and a former student during the 2025-2026 school year and into the summer.

Callisburg ISD teacher arrested, accused of solicitation of a minor

(KXII) A Callisburg ISD teacher has been arrested, accused of soliciting who he allegedly thought was a teenage girl. Collinsville Police told KXII 12 News that they arrested Spencer Brewer at his Collinsville home Wednesday afternoon. Brewer is employed as a 4th grade math teacher in Callisburg. The arrest came as part of a sting operation conducted by a third party that posed as a 13-year-old girl, according to police. They called Collinsville police when they made contact with Brewer.

Cy-Fair ISD mom demands answers after 7-year-old put on wrong bus, left outside for hours

(KPRC) A Cypress-Fairbanks ISD second-grader at Tipps Elementary was mistakenly put on a school bus instead of her after-school program on Sept. 8, leaving her alone outside for nearly three hours until a neighborhood friend helped her get home. Her mother, Rataja Pruitt, filed a formal complaint demanding an investigation and accountability after the school initially couldn’t locate the child. The district said a substitute staff member’s procedural error caused the mix-up and that it’s reviewing dismissal procedures, but Pruitt says the apology isn’t enough.

Student brings bullets to Winona ISD Elementary, school officials say

(KLTV) A student brought bullets to Winona Elementary Wednesday, according to a notice from the district superintendent. According to a notice to parents, two students told officials another student had shown them three .22-caliber ammunition shells in a plastic bag. While administrators and a counselor were discussing the situation with the student, the student admitted to throwing the shells outside, where they were found, the notice said. The superintendent said there was no firearm involved, and there was no threat to the safety of our students or staff.

Spring ISD staff member placed on leave after alleged off-campus conduct

(KPRC) A Westfield High School staff member has been removed from campus and placed on administrative leave following allegations involving off-campus conduct, according to Spring ISD. Additional information about the employee was not released.

$10M verdict in defamation case is ‘distracting,’ Trinity Valley School head says

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) The $10 million verdict issued last week against Fort Worth’s private Trinity Valley School is distracting and unsettling, Head of School Ben Courchesne said in a statement emailed to parents Tuesday. “Trinity Valley has received the jury’s decision, and the Board is reviewing the outcome with counsel and with the school’s insurance providers,” Courchesne wrote.

Bexar County spent big modernizing elections. It’s still stuck with a system that ‘destroyed’ voter confidence

(San Antonio Report) Bexar County has poured money into new voting equipment, poll pads, and a wait-time website ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms, but its switch to a private voter registration vendor is delayed until January, leaving it stuck with the state’s TEAM system, which Elections Administrator Michele Carew says has “destroyed” voter confidence due to lost data and tracking failures. The county meets the legal minimum for polling locations (301) but still lacks staff to expand further, and Carew expects long lines again despite mixed signals on turnout.

Nearly 1,500 layoffs hit North Texas healthcare, foster care and logistics companies

(Dallas Morning News) Three North Texas companies announced significant layoffs, adding up to nearly 1,500 job losses, according to WARN Act filings registered Tuesday with the Texas Workforce Commission, including more than 1,000 workers from one local healthcare company.

Iranian hackers claim credit for massive Texas AT&T outage. AT&T says no way

(Houston Chronicle) A group of Iranian hackers claimed responsibility for a widespread AT&T outage that left hundreds of Texans without service Monday, but AT&T says it has no evidence to support that claim.

Laredo commission tracks youth drug trends, cocaine spike in wastewater

(KGNS) The Laredo Drug and Alcohol Commission is addressing a rise in youth substance use and a spike in cocaine detected in wastewater. Laredo Police Department Assistant Chief Ricardo Gonzalez said he has seen an increase in THC and vape pen use among younger people. Webb County is among the top five counties in the country where a specific drug was found in wastewater, according to the commission. The samples come from city wastewater treatment plants.

Lack of players forces Hull-Daisetta ISD to end varsity football season

(KBMT) Hull-Daisetta ISD has canceled the remainder of its varsity football season because it does not have enough available players, Superintendent Tim Bartram announced. While the varsity season is ending, Hull-Daisetta officials are working to create a junior varsity schedule for the remaining players.

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