What to know before applying for Texas’ education savings accounts next year

The Texas comptroller’s office has released a set of rules to govern the state’s $1 billion education savings account program, or ESAs. Accepted families will receive thousands of dollars in state funds to send their children to a private school or homeschool them. The overview: Accredited private schools and education vendors can begin applying to join the program as soon as Dec. 9, and applications will open for interested families Feb. 4. Most families accepted into the program will receive about $10,300 per student, which can be spent on tuition at accredited private prekindergarten or K-12 schools and related expenses. Homeschooled students will receive up to $2,000 per year, while students with disabilities will be eligible for up to $30,000 annually.
How Odyssey rose from tech startup to manager of Texas’ $1B school voucher program

When Texas chose a company to roll out the state’s $1 billion private school voucher program, it passed over more established vendors in favor of a four-year-old tech startup that said it could do it for almost half the cost. Now, Odyssey must execute on its promises to meet an aggressive timeline while avoiding missteps that have dogged other program launches. The New York-based company has rapidly expanded in recent years, launching programs in eight states that subsidize students’ private education costs with taxpayer dollars.
About 200 Texas A&M courses could change due to new restrictions on teaching gender, race

Faculty at Texas A&M University were told this week that roughly 200 courses in the College of Arts and Sciences could be affected by a new system policy restricting classroom discussions of race and gender, the implementation of which has already led administrators to direct a philosophy professor to remove Plato readings from a core course. The changes are being made days before the semester begins and after some students have registered to attend. The Texas Tribune obtained emails sent by college administrators showing the policy has already led to courses being cancelled or renumbered to remove them from core curriculum credit, with professors directed to alter course content or teach different classes.
Texas AG collects 1,100+ mystery seed packages from China, issues another warning

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is again warning Texans about mysterious packages of seeds being sent from China. Unsolicited packages of unidentified seeds began arriving in 2020 and continue to be sent to people across the state. The Texas Department of Agriculture is urging Texans who receive unsolicited seeds not to open the package, not to plant the seeds, and not to throw them into the trash, where they'll end up in a landfill. Since February 2025, the TDA said it has collected 1,101 seed packages sent to more than 100 locations across the state. The TDA said the seeds could pose a serious threat to the state's agricultural and environmental safety.
Health experts react as Andrew Huberman backs Trump admin’s new food pyramid

The Trump administration has taken a new approach to the food pyramid. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced new guidelines on Wednesday with an updated, inverted pyramid. The top of the pyramid, which is now the wider part of the structure, is built on meat, fats, fruits and vegetables, while whole grains are at the narrow bottom. T his follows HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s mission to "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA), aimed at addressing chronic disease, childhood illnesses and ultraprocessed foods.
Texas A&M tells professor to cut Plato, ‘race and gender ideology’ from syllabus

A professor at Texas A&M University was told by the school's philosophy department that he must drop class readings from his syllabus because they violate the school's new policy on "race ideology and gender ideology" in course content. Philosophy professor Martin Peterson submitted the syllabus for his Contemporary Moral Issues class for the spring 2026 semester to department leadership for review during the school's winter break. The syllabus included readings from Plato's Aristophanes' Myth of the Split Humans, Diotima's Ladder of Love and a textbook titled Ethics: Theory and Contemporary Issues, which were all flagged by the university.

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Texas A&M blocks readings on gender ideology in philosophy class: ‘Plato has been censored’

January 0808:40 AM

A Texas A&M professor has been told not to teach certain writings from Plato, a staple in introductory philosophy courses, because they may violate the university system's new rules against "advocating" race or gender ideology, or topics concerning sexual orientation, in core classes. view article

Preventive Law: New Year, New(ish) Grievance Procedures: A Review of the Recent Addition of Chapter 26A

January 0701:38 PM

The 89th legislative session has produced a staggering number of changes to the landscape of Texas education. Perhaps one of the more jarring changes was the addition of chapter 26A to the Texas Education Code. This new chapter codifies the grievance provisions that school districts are required to implement in policy. Some of the requirements in the Chapter simply mirror the procedures already common amongst school districts, such as the use of a multi-tiered grievance appeal process. Others, however, depart from the usual grievance procedures or create new procedures entirely. This article will highlight some of the largest departures from past grievance procedures and discuss the implications of these changes for Texas school districts.

What to know before applying for Texas’ education savings accounts next year

January 0508:43 AM

The Texas comptroller’s office has released a set of rules to govern the state’s $1 billion education savings account program, or ESAs. Accepted families will receive thousands of dollars in state funds to send their children to a private school or homeschool them. The overview: Accredited private schools and education vendors can begin applying to join the program as soon as Dec. 9, and applications will open for interested families Feb. 4. Most families accepted into the program will receive about $10,300 per student, which can be spent on tuition at accredited private prekindergarten or K-12 schools and related expenses. Homeschooled students will receive up to $2,000 per year, while students with disabilities will be eligible for up to $30,000 annually. view article

About 200 Texas A&M courses could change due to new restrictions on teaching gender, race

January 0909:00 AM

Faculty at Texas A&M University were told this week that roughly 200 courses in the College of Arts and Sciences could be affected by a new system policy restricting classroom discussions of race and gender, the implementation of which has already led administrators to direct a philosophy professor to remove Plato readings from a core course. The changes are being made days before the semester begins and after some students have registered to attend. The Texas Tribune obtained emails sent by college administrators showing the policy has already led to courses being cancelled or renumbered to remove them from core curriculum credit, with professors directed to alter course content or teach different classes. view article

Witnesses to Uvalde school shooting give emotional testimony in first day of ex-officer’s trial

January 0908:42 AM

Emotions ran high Tuesday during opening statements and testimony in the trial of Adrian Gonzales, the former Uvalde school district police officer facing 29 counts of child endangerment for what prosecutors say was his failure to act during the 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School that led to the deaths of 21 people, including 19 students. view article

Emotional testimony delivered by teachers and staffers Thursday in trial for Uvalde CISD officer Adrian Gonzales

January 0908:40 AM

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — There were hours of testimony in the trial of former Uvalde CISD officer Adrian Gonzales Thursday. Gonzales is the first person to face charges with how authorities responded to the shooting at Robb Elementary School in May 2022. Defense attorneys began the day by cross-examining the teacher whose testimony was thrown out. A day earlier, attorneys for Adrian Gonzales had asked for a mistrial, arguing they were blindsided by new information in the teacher's testimony that had never been disclosed as required by law. view article

These Are the Known Gangs Operating in Texas in 2026

January 0908:32 AM

(KNUE-FM) As a kid in Texas, you’re taught so many things, one of the most important would be to avoid dangerous people or situations. For example, we find out at an early age that drugs can cause serious harm to ourselves and our families. So we’re encouraged to stay away from them. view article

Former superintendent named conservator to oversee Lake Worth ISD, TEA confirms

January 0908:31 AM

Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath has appointed a conservator to oversee the Lake Worth ISD after saying in December that the district suffered from a ‘chronic inability to support students.' The TEA said on Thursday that Andrew Kim, a former superintendent now serving as a co-conservator for the Socorro ISD in El Paso, has been appointed conservator to oversee the Lake Worth ISD's board of trustees, superintendent, and school administrators. Kim is expected to hold the position for approximately two years, during which time the district will be under the control of the Texas Education Agency. view article

TEA appoints Andrew Kim as conservator amid Beaumont ISD takeover

January 0908:31 AM

The Texas Education Agency has denied Beaumont Independent School District’s appeal and will move forward with a state takeover of the district, with Andrew Kim appointed as the new conservator. Kim said his focus will be on strengthening the district in partnership with local leadership. “I have spent my entire career focused on strengthening public schools and supporting the incredible educators who teach our kids every day,” Kim said. “As I step into this role, I am committed to working closely with district leadership and the community to establish strong systems that work for the students, staff and families of Beaumont ISD.” view article

Austin ISD says recent threats against schools came from outside US

January 0908:31 AM

Austin ISD has provided an update following a recent social media threat that named three district campuses. District leaders say the threat mentioned 14 schools statewide, including Andrews, Baranoff and Barrington elementary schools in Austin. view article

Newly elected Houston ISD trustees sworn in even though they can’t vote

January 0908:24 AM

At Houston ISD's headquarters Thursday morning, incumbents Bridget Wade and Myrna Guidry, alongside newcomers Felicity Pereyra, Maria Benzon and Mike McDonough, were officially sworn in to the board of trustees. But under the ongoing takeover by the Texas Education Agency, which began in 2023, elected trustees in the state's largest school district have been sidelined in favor of a state-appointed board of managers. The elected board members will not regain voting power until after the state's intervention, which last summer was extended until at least 2027. view article

Plea deal denied for former Tyler ISD substitute teacher accused of assaulting disabled student

January 0908:20 AM

A Smith County judge has rejected a plea deal for a former Tyler ISD substitute teacher accused of physically assaulting a student with special needs by throwing her to the floor. Joacim Castro-Lacayo, 29, of Tyler, pleaded guilty to the charge of injury to a disabled child. According to an arrest affidavit, Castro-Lacayo threw the student to the ground and restrained her for several minutes at Moore Middle School. view article

Campus closures, leases and sales on agenda for Bexar County school districts

January 0908:19 AM

It’s a new year, but public schools are facing the same fiscal difficulties, with lower student enrollment and budget shortfalls. On Monday, the Judson Independent School District school board will review the results of a school consolidation vote. The district faces a growing $18 million shortfall. The board will discuss the closure of two elementary schools, a middle school and the elimination of a Spanish immersion program. view article

Houston ISD’s proposal to shutter magnet programs sparks community outcry

January 0908:18 AM

Dozens of parents gathered in a Heights High School performance hall Tuesday night to ask questions and voice their concerns over Houston ISD's proposal to sunset several magnet programs across 10 different high schools in the district. "This plan has not had any community input and this meeting was only added when we made an uproar," said Latrice Ferguson, president of the Heights High School PTO. view article

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Parents plan protest over proposed Fort Bend ISD boundary changes

January 0908:16 AM

Parents in Fort Bend County are planning to protest outside Arizona Fleming Elementary on Friday morning as concerns grow over Fort Bend ISD’s proposed attendance boundary changes. While Fort Bend ISD says the plans are still in draft form, families say the uncertainty surrounding the proposal is already taking an emotional toll. view article

Dallas and Williamson counties end countywide voting sites for primary election day

January 0908:12 AM

In an about-face, Dallas County Republicans last week decided against hand-counting ballots in Texas’ March primary, saying they weren’t able to line up enough workers, among other hurdles. That leaves just two counties where Republicans will hand-count their primary ballots: Gillespie County, west of Austin, and Eastland County, southwest of Fort Worth. view article

State incentive program could bring six-figure pay to some Arlington ISD teachers

January 0908:09 AM

Arlington ISD is considering joining a state program that could allow some teachers to earn tens of thousands of dollars in bonuses, as the district seeks to boost pay and attract experienced educators. District leaders are weighing whether to participate in the Teacher Incentive Allotment, a state-funded program that rewards high-performing teachers, particularly at high-need schools. view article

Texas, facing doctor shortage, eases path for foreign-trained physicians

January 0906:08 AM

Texas joins 17 other states that are making it easier for foreign medical graduates to work as doctors here. About a quarter of the state’s licensed doctors were trained outside the U.S. view article

TEA appoints conservator to oversee Connally schools

January 0905:50 AM

Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath on Thursday named Andrew Kim, a former superintendent of the Comal and Manor school districts, as the conservator for Connally Independent School District. The appointment is part of the Texas Education Agency's takeover of Connally ISD, announced last month, in response to five consecutive years of failing state accountability ratings for Connally Elementary School and Connally Junior High School. view article

Texas hands over complete list of registered voters to Trump administration

January 0905:00 AM

Texas officials have turned over the state’s voter roll to the U.S. Justice Department, according to a spokesperson for the Texas Secretary of State’s Office, complying with the Trump administration’s demands for access to data on millions of voters across the country. The Justice Department last fall began asking all 50 states for their voter rolls — massive lists containing significant identifying information on every registered voter in each state — and other election-related data. The Justice Department has said the effort is central to its mission of enforcing election law requiring states to regularly maintain voter lists by searching for and removing ineligible voters. view article

More than 160 Texas faith leaders urge school districts to reject prayer policy under new state law

January 0904:00 AM

Rabbi Gideon Estes vividly remembers the weird looks he got at his California public school when he skipped “See You at the Pole,” a student-led Christian prayer rally held on campuses nationwide. The pressure to participate in a Christian, student-led event at a taxpayer-funded school is one reason why he joined a coalition of more than 160 Texas faith leaders who sent a letter to public school board members and superintendents opposing Senate Bill 11. view article

Texas AG collects 1,100+ mystery seed packages from China, issues another warning

January 0809:00 AM

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is again warning Texans about mysterious packages of seeds being sent from China. Unsolicited packages of unidentified seeds began arriving in 2020 and continue to be sent to people across the state. The Texas Department of Agriculture is urging Texans who receive unsolicited seeds not to open the package, not to plant the seeds, and not to throw them into the trash, where they'll end up in a landfill. Since February 2025, the TDA said it has collected 1,101 seed packages sent to more than 100 locations across the state. The TDA said the seeds could pose a serious threat to the state's agricultural and environmental safety. view article

Houston ISD’s proposal to shutter magnet programs sparks community outcry

January 0808:45 AM

During the first of several planned community information sessions, parents challenged the district’s reliance on labor market data and warned of consequences for students and neighborhood schools. view article

Arlington ISD considers Texas’ pay-for-performance teacher program

January 0808:28 AM

Arlington ISD teachers at 24 at-need schools could receive merit-based raises of up to $36,000 in the next few years. District leaders are considering piloting Texas’ Teacher Incentive Allotment program. The program is meant to incentivize teachers to instruct in high-need schools. view article

Fort Worth ISD increasing security over online threat

January 0808:28 AM

The district told families at Diamond Hill-Jarvis High School that an online video that originated outside the U.S. threatened several schools in North Texas. view article

Austin ISD and FBI investigating social media threat to 3 elementary schools

January 0808:28 AM

Austin ISD leaders say they're working with the FBI to investigate a social media threat that named three AISD campuses. District leaders say the threat mentioned 14 schools statewide, including Andrews, Baranoff and Barrington elementary schools in Austin. The threat included a photo of someone in a mask with firearms but didn't mention a time or date. view article

Hearne ISD implementing secure pouches to end phone usage at school

January 0808:25 AM

The Texas State Legislature passed a bill in July banning cell phone use at public schools during the school day, and Hearne Independent School District is now taking it one step further: implementing Yondr pouches. Yondr is a company that helps schools become phone-free zones by creating secure pouches for students to store their phones. The program forces students to focus on school instead of their screens. view article

Parents speak out over possible elementary school closures in Fort Bend ISD

January 0808:25 AM

Several parents in Fort Bend ISD are speaking out after learning their children’s elementary school could soon close. What we know: The district is considering a rezoning proposal that could lead to boundary changes and possible school closures. Now, parents at Sugar Mill Elementary say they’re fighting back. view article

Cleveland HS employee charged with improper relationship with a student, Cleveland ISD says

January 0808:25 AM

A Cleveland High School employee has been charged with an improper relationship with a student on Wednesday, according to the Cleveland Independent School District. According to court documents, Amanda Greenwood, 33, of Willis, Texas, was arrested by Cleveland ISD police. view article

Construction worker dies at Converse Elementary School, Judson ISD says

January 0808:25 AM

A construction worker died Wednesday on the Converse Elementary School campus, according to the Judson Independent School District. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the worker on Wednesday as Baltazar Rubio-Olvera, 63. A Judson ISD spokesperson said Rubio-Olvera was employed with a third-party construction company contracted for the project. view article

Former Austin ISD teacher faces 20 years after entering guilty plea

January 0808:24 AM

On Tuesday, a former Austin ISD elementary school teacher pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). The DOJ said 51-year-old Carl David Innmon was a fifth-grade teacher in AISD when he was arrested in April 2025. Innmon had also worked as a substitute teacher at about 20 other schools within the district. view article

Odem-Edroy ISD fires coach, places two others on leave after bus assault investigation

January 0808:24 AM

Odem-Edroy ISD has terminated one coach and placed two others on paid administrative leave following a reported sexual assault aboard a district school bus returning from a basketball game in Hebbronville, Superintendent Yolanda Carr told 3NEWS Wednesday. Carr said the personnel actions were taken as the district conducts its own internal investigation into the incident and that they want to remain as transparent as possible. view article

Two East Side Austin ISD campus’ future in limbo under school closure plan

January 0808:24 AM

Austin Independent School District leaders will decide this month which campus the students at Blackshear and Oak Springs elementary schools will ultimately attend, after the school Board of Trustees decided in November to merge the campuses as part of a broader plan to close 10 schools. view article

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TexasISD.com was the brainchild of Joe F. Smith. Joe retired early from a successful career as Superintendent of Schools for Hudson ISD, deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Due to a long battle with Post-Polio Syndrome the doctor made him hang it up and rest for six months. Never being the kind of person to sit still and also not being the person to listen to his doctor, Joe logged lengthy sessions in front of his PC researching school issues, reading papers and corresponding with his friends and colleagues in the education business.

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