The Austin school district is entering a pivotal stretch that could determine whether the district remains under local control or becomes the next Texas school system taken over by the state. Three middle schools — Burnet, Webb and Dobie — are awaiting accountability results that could trigger a state-mandated intervention and set in motion a process that has already played out in Houston, Fort Worth and other districts across Texas. view article

Houston ISD's board of managers delayed a vote Thursday night to approve the district's proposed budget for the 2026-27 school year. The state-appointed managers are now scheduled to vote on June 25. The board must approve a budget by the end of the fiscal year on June 30. view article

As school districts draw up budget plans for the upcoming school year, San Antonio’s largest school district will likely place pay raises in the hands of voters. For months, Northside Independent School District officials have hinted at a voter approval-tax rate election, or VATRE, in November. VATREs increase tax rates on the maintenance and operation side, unlocking extra dollars a school district can use on day-to-day costs like pay, student programs and utilities. view article

The Austin school financial crisis reached a new low Thursday as district leaders revealed the school system is now projected to close the year with a $95 million year-end deficit, a shortfall $76 million deeper expected, and one that will drain the district’s financial reserves to half their usual level. view article

The Austin Independent School District Board is expected to consider a proposed contract amendment Thursday that would extend Superintendent Matias Segura's contract through 2030 and also include a performance pay incentive tied to campus accountability ratings. view article

The Brownsville Independent School District budget committee reviewed a near-final budget of $486.47 million for the 2026-2027 school year. The review last Monday, led by Chief Financial Officer Rosario Pena, forecasts pay raises of 2% for all employees, makes adjustments to the pay scales for some longtime employees, improves the teacher-student ratio for middle schools and fifth grade from 26-1 to 22-1 and makes other adjustments to “right-size” the district. view article

The Austin school financial crisis reached a new low Thursday as district leaders revealed the school system is now projected to close the year with a $95 million year-end deficit, a shortfall $76 million deeper expected, and one that will drain the district’s financial reserves to half their usual level. view article

Austin ISD officials said Thursday in an email to KXAN that the district’s savings account has dropped to a critical level as leaders prepare to adopt a budget that will require significant cuts. The district’s fund balance, often viewed as a financial safety net, is projected to end the year at about 10% of the overall budget. view article

Many Austin ISD students, parents, educators and community members packed a Board of Trustees meeting this week, voicing frustration and concern over a proposed budget plan that would eliminate nearly $186 million in spending as the district works to address a projected $181 million deficit next school year. view article

Austin ISD, the largest school district in central Texas, is back at the table tonight as leaders work through a major budget plan. The district is trying to close a projected $181 million shortfall before the next school year. The proposed plan would eliminate or restructure more than 500 positions districtwide. view article

Spring Branch ISD officials say a recent change by the TEA has left the district with millions less in state funding than expected, prompting concerns about future budget cuts and even discussion of possible legal action. During a school board meeting Monday night, district leaders said Spring Branch ISD received funding from House Bill 2, the school finance package approved by lawmakers this year. However, officials said in May there was a change to a TEA funding formula, reducing the amount of money the district anticipated receiving. view article

San Antonio ISD’s spent more than $46,000 to pay for travel for seven members of its executive cabinet since mid-2024, records show. The cabinet’s top traveler is Dr. Shawn Bird, the district’s deputy superintendent. Records show Bird has gone on at least 17 trips on SAISD’s behalf. view article

Carroll Independent School District is counting on $8.75 million in land sales this year to offset a projected $1.6 million budget deficit and $1.7 million loss in state funding.    These items were highlighted at the June 1 Carroll ISD board of trustees special meeting.  The $8.75 million in revenue includes the sale of Old Dragon Stadium — 14.78 acres at 2400 N. Carroll Ave. — and three other properties.   view article

The El Paso Independent School District voted during a special board meeting 5-1 on Thursday to declare financial exigency, allowing for termination of contracts, employment agreements and programs without penalties. This comes as district leaders have been working to balance the district's budget by the end of June, as the district is projecting a shortfall of roughly $42.1 million for the 2026-2027 budget year. view article

As a budget shortfall and lagging public school funding loom in Arlington ISD, the district’s teachers and staff will not see a pay raise in the next year. Arlington ISD school board members voted unanimously to bolster some employee benefits, but did not approve increases in pay Thursday night. view article

The Austin Independent School District’s plan to address a $181 million budget deficit includes a proposed $5 million cut to the school district’s police force. The budget proposal dropped this week; you can read a full summary of what that entails here. view article

The Austin Independent School District's proposed budget makes deep cuts to programs, transportation and as many as 558 positions. At a meeting Thursday night, teachers, staff and parents urged district officials and the board of trustees to reconsider the proposals being made to reduce the $181 million budget deficit. view article

District officials announced cuts affecting 558 positions.  Austin Independent School District has released its recommended budget for the 2026-2027 school year, including cuts to reduce the $181 million deficit. The cuts will affect over 558 positions.  Superintendent Matias Segura has guaranteed that teachers with state certifications will retain their jobs. However, non-certified teachers will move to different qualifying roles that the district is still working to find. Additionally, 112 qualified teachers will move to different districts, and Austin ISD will eliminate 228 department vacancies.  Austin ISD will also close 11 schools, saving approximately $21 million.   The district is also planning to increase the teacher-student ratio and reduce the amount of teacher planning periods. Educators have already started petitions claiming that the reduced amount of time will not allow them to serve their students effectively, especially when increasing the teacher-student ratio.  view article

More than 130 cities, most with fewer than 10,000 residents, were blocked from increasing their property tax revenue because they had broken the law.  When Monte Walker took the reins as city manager of Howe, a town with a population of 3,686 some 50 miles north of Dallas, the city hadn’t audited its books for two years — even though state law says they must be done annually. The town had seen turnover in its management, and past officials hadn’t gotten those audits done before he took the job in 2023, Walker said. view article

More than 130 cities, most with fewer than 10,000 residents, were blocked from increasing their property tax revenue because they had broken the law.  When Monte Walker took the reins as city manager of Howe, a town with a population of 3,686 some 50 miles north of Dallas, the city hadn’t audited its books for two years — even though state law says they must be done annually. The town had seen turnover in its management, and past officials hadn’t gotten those audits done before he took the job in 2023, Walker said.  Some three years later, Howe is nearly caught up, Walker said.  When Monte Walker took the reins as city manager of Howe, a town with a population of 3,686 some 50 miles north of Dallas, the city hadn’t audited its books for two years — even though state law says they must be done annually. The town had seen turnover in its management, and past officials hadn’t gotten those audits done before he took the job in 2023, Walker said.  Some three years later, Howe is nearly caught up, Walker said.  But last month, Howe got a letter from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton: because the city’s behind on its audits, the attorney general had effectively frozen the city’s property tax rate for the foreseeable future. That’s owing to a new state law that forbids cities from raising property taxes if they’re not up-to-date on their financial audits — a law that appears to be falling disproportionately on smaller Texas towns as cities everywhere face tightening budgets. view article

Moody’s Ratings has reaffirmed Richardson ISD’s highest possible credit rating (Aaa) for its upcoming $190.6 million bond issuance, as well as the district’s existing Aaa rating on about $1.1 billion in outstanding debt. The rating reflects strong long-term financial stability, solid reserve levels, and RISD’s location in the economically strong Dallas-Fort Worth area. view article

Public school leaders told lawmakers how they're navigating finances, teacher quality and special education after last year’s state funding overhaul.  The influx of nearly $8.5 billion to Texas schools last year was not enough to stop schools from making tough cuts, district officials told state lawmakers during a Capitol hearing Monday.  view article

Public school leaders will share how they are navigating finances, teacher quality and special education in the wake of last year’s state funding overhaul. view article

In a new agenda item for an upcoming “Special Board Meeting,” El Paso Independent School District’s Board of Trustees listed the campuses that will be affected by the possible 400 job cuts as the district is facing a $52.8 million budget deficit. view article

As the Austin Independent School District works to reduce a projected multimillion-dollar budget deficit, some employees are learning that their jobs may be on the line. The district has entered its budget planning process facing a projected $181 million shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year. District leaders said a series of cost-saving measures has reduced that gap to approximately $4 million, but those efforts could still result in staffing cuts. view article

Public school leaders will share how they are navigating finances, teacher quality and special education in the wake of last year’s state funding overhaul.  The influx of nearly $8.5 billion to Texas schools last year did not stop many from cutting programs, eliminating staffing and closing campuses.  The El Paso district, for example, faces a nearly $53 million budget shortfall and may soon declare a financial emergency. Meanwhile, the Crystal City district in South Texas recently told families that it has less than $500 in its bank account  On Monday, school leaders from across the state will detail the financial challenges still plaguing their districts roughly a year after receiving the significant increase in funding. view article

El Paso Independent School District employees could learn as soon as next week whether their jobs may be affected as the district confronts a major budget crisis and considers declaring a financial emergency. Trustees are scheduled to meet Tuesday for a special board meeting to consider declaring financial exigency for this fiscal year and extending it into the next fiscal year. view article

The Austin Independent School District expects a $181 million deficit in its next budget. But officials still haven’t released a proposal for what cuts will be made. The district originally said it would release a plan for the next budget by Thursday. Now, it won’t be released until June 4, adding to the uncertainty teachers and parents have been feeling for the last few weeks. view article

As Houston-area school districts wrap up the school year, several have announced that some campuses will not reopen in the fall. It's a change school districts say must happen, but it's a shift families say is adding a lot of uncertainty to their lives. view article

The El Paso Independent School District is now grappling with a $52.8 million deficit that could spur deep cuts. The district presented an update on its financial status during a Tuesday, May 19, regular session of the Board of Trustees, outlining the circumstances affecting the district’s budget and the comprehensive steps being taken to secure long-term financial stability. view article

The Ysleta Independent School District is in danger of wiping out its savings without significant changes as part of the 2026-27 budget, the district’s internal auditor and chief financial officer warned the school board Wednesday night. view article

In a district meeting the Beaumont ISD Board of Managers will consider closing the Paul A. Brown Learning Center. view article

The Ysleta Independent School District is facing a budget deficit of $16.7 million. The district discussed its quarterly report during their Board of Trustee meeting Wednesday. The district said there was an issue with a software system across the state with certain Central Appraisal Districts. The state implemented a new methodology to calculate any losses that happened from that error. view article

The El Paso Independent School District leaders revealed a $52 million budget shortfall on Tuesday, as a public school consultant is recommending that the district declare a financial emergency that could impact students and staff. view article

The North East ISD Board of Trustees voted Monday on a lone finalist for superintendent. Anthony Jarrett was appointed as interim superintendent back in December after longtime superintendent Sean Maika resigned his post. At Monday's meeting, the board voted to name Jarrett the lone finalist for the district's top job. view article