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.
Lt. Gov. Patrick Counters Abbott’s Plan to Reduce Property Taxes

Gov. Greg Abbott, meanwhile, has proposed tackling rising appraisals and local tax increases. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced a property tax reform plan aimed at increasing the homestead exemption for millions of Texas homeowners. The plan falls short of many of the elements of the property tax cut proposal introduced by Gov. Greg Abbott just last month. At a Tuesday press conference, Patrick outlined reforms that build on past efforts to raise homestead exemptions. He also introduced a new initiative known as “Operation Double Nickel.”
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.
Paxton Launches Financial Transparency Investigation Into Nearly 1,000 Cities

Attorney General Ken Paxton is escalating his confrontation with local governments over property tax compliance, launching a sweeping investigation into nearly 1,000 Texas cities. This comes just months after previously ordering four municipalities to pause their newly adopted tax rates amid allegations of audit violations. Paxton’s office said the widened review is aimed at ensuring strict adherence to Senate Bill 1851, the new state law that bars any city out of audit compliance from raising property taxes above the no-new-revenue rate.
UNT is the first college in the state to get a naloxone vending machine

The University of North Texas is the first public college in Texas to get a free naloxone vending machine, and Regan Browne, director of the Recovery and Intervention Support and Education Center — called RISE — considers it a win. Browne is new to the director’s chair at RISE, and she was among locals who attended the unveiling of a naloxone vending machine at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios, a storied Denton music venue, in June. A teen survived an overdose there in April because a quick-thinking patron knew the signs and administered naloxone, the generic form of the brand-name drug Narcan. Naloxone is a nasal spray that can reverse the effects of opioids, even a potentially lethal dose.
A slate of new Texas laws go into effect December and January. Here’s what to watch.

Dozens of new Texas laws will take effect in December and January, bringing wide-ranging changes to the state’s education system, law enforcement, taxes and more. Over 800 laws from this year’s regular legislative session already took effect on Sept. 1, but more measures from that period as well as the second special session will soon activate. Some also had to wait for voters’ approval, such as more tax exemption for businesses’ inventory.

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TEA Commissioner visits Aquilla ISD after A rating received for 2024-25 year

September 2508:28 AM

After preparing for a week, Aquilla ISD welcomed the Texas Education Agency’s Commissioner to their campus early Wednesday morning. TEA Commissioner Mike Morath toured classrooms, meeting teachers and students while learning about the school’s history and plans for future upgrades planned for Fall 2026. Commissioner Morath requested to see the school district after hearing about what they have achieved in the past year. view article

Coppell ISD considers school closure, program move to address $8 million shortfall

September 2508:28 AM

Despite being one of the best school districts in the state, the Coppell ISD is struggling with low enrollment and is forced to consider closing schools and firing teachers and staff. Coppell ISD has named Town Center Elementary as a campus that may close next year to help narrow an $8 million budget gap, and it’s not the only school impacted. view article

Comal ISD parents sound off on new Ten Commandments lawsuit now in federal court

September 2508:27 AM

Another San Antonio-area school district is caught in a legal battle over Texas’ new law that requires donated posters of the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and other religious freedom groups brought a lawsuit Monday against 14 Texas school districts, including the Comal Independent School District, which they say have “pressed forward with actually posting (Senate Bill 10) displays in classrooms, or have confirmed they will do so shortly.” view article

Georgetown ISD among Texas school districts sued over display of Ten Commandments in classrooms

September 2508:27 AM

Pflugerville ISD student allegedly brings knives to Dessau Elementary

September 2508:25 AM

A student is being investigated after allegedly bringing two knives to Dessau Elementary and threatening students and a staff member on Tuesday. Principal Daniela Guardiola sent a letter to families following the incident informing them that a serious incident took place on campus. view article

Austin’s Children Deserve More than a Test Score

September 2508:23 AM

Earlier this month, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced that 12 Austin-area schools with an “F” rating could be closed. For many families, this isn’t just a policy decision—it’s a direct threat to thousands of children’s educational stability and their communities’ future. view article

Tom Bean ISD proposing $22 million bond to upgrade aging athletic facilities, classrooms

September 2508:22 AM

Tom Bean ISD voters will decide on November 4th on a $22 million bond proposal. Parents, coaches, and administrators have all expressed how important this bond is for the district. “We’ve grown by about 10% over the past two years, so [this is] preparing for future growth,” said Steve Goodman, Tom Bean ISD Superintendent. view article

United ISD schools on two-hour delay due to heavy rain, flooding

September 2508:22 AM

The second of Laredo's two major school districts has made changes to its schedule due to the inclement weather in the area. United Independent School District announced Thursday morning before 6 a.m. that its schools would be operating under a delayed start due to the downpour and flooded streets around the area. view article

Midland ISD releases names of employees resigned amid special education investigation

September 2508:20 AM

Six employees at Midland ISD’s South Elementary have resigned and two administrators remain under investigation following claims of misconduct in special education classrooms, prompting a multi-agency investigation and increased oversight across the district. Following last week’s initial statement regarding an investigation into classroom practices in special education classrooms at South Elementary, Midland ISD remains committed to transparency while acknowledging that some details cannot be disclosed during the ongoing investigation. view article

Fort Worth ISD approves biblical-laced curriculum and new campus model for underperforming schools

September 2508:20 AM

Dr. Molinar’s big proposal involves placing seven campuses on a new resource model, giving her the power to keep only teachers who meet the highest standards. "They are identified as being in the top third of teachers across the state. That is huge based on the ACE model from Dallas ISD and saw several campuses go from F to B in one year," said Bridget Worley, chief impact officer at The Commit Partnership. view article

Bastrop ISD celebrates opening of Adelton Elementary School

September 2508:18 AM

Bastrop Independent School District marked a significant milestone with the dedication and ribbon-cutting for Adelton Elementary School, the district's ninth and newest elementary campus, on Wednesday. The 105,000-square-foot school, funded by a bond approved by voters in May 2023, opened in August and now serves over 500 students from Pre-K through fifth grade. view article

Lubbock ISD Town Halls: Help Shape the Future of Our District

September 2508:18 AM

The Lubbock Independent School District (Lubbock ISD) is excited to announce a series of town hall meetings designed to engage community members and stakeholders in meaningful discussions about proposed changes and enhancements in the district. Over the next several weeks, town halls will be hosted in each of the voting districts served by the Lubbock ISD Board of Trustees, beginning with District 5 on Tuesday (Sept. 30). These meetings will provide an opportunity for participants to share their thoughts and ask questions about the district. The town halls represent Lubbock ISD’s commitment to transparency and collaborative decision-making as the school district works to benefit the community and every child and family served by the district every day. view article

Canyon ISD hosts Agriculture Days for 4th grade students

September 2508:10 AM

Canyon ISD hosted Agriculture Days for their fourth grade students this week. Students rotated through stations on agriculture, animals, crops and more. All the presentations were led by local agriculture leaders and CISD high school students. Many of these students have not been able to have this experience with agriculture before today. view article

Lufkin ISD investigating report of unloaded gun at middle school

September 2508:10 AM

Lufkin ISD says it is investigating after an unloaded gun was brought to the Lufkin Middle School campus earlier in September. The district says it received a report Monday and has confirmed that more than one student witnessed a gun on the middle school campus on Sept. 12. The district, in a statement, said it was working on recommending further measures to enhance campus security and reminded students, parents and guardians that failing to report incidents was “unacceptable.” view article

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Experts say Chagas disease should be considered ‘endemic’ based on Texas data. What does that mean?

September 2408:57 AM

Health experts hope data out of Texas will raise awareness about a type of infection commonly spread through kissing bugs. Researchers with Texas A&M University and the Texas Department of State Health Services analyzed state health data and found it supports classifying Chagas Disease as endemic in the U.S., meaning consistently present in a community like the common cold and strains of influenza. The U.S. doesn't have standardized surveillance of Chagas, and that can make its presence difficult to study. view article

Liberty-Eylau ISD board votes to continue armed security, open line of credit

September 2408:00 AM

TEXARKANA, Texas -- Liberty-Eylau Independent School District held a regular school board meeting Thursday and made decisions regarding school security officers and financial decisions for the district. Superintendent Jeff Wright asked the board to approve the continued use of armed security officers on LEISD campuses, referring to a recently enacted statute. view article

‘Absolute panic’: New $100,000 H-1B visa fee expected to hit North Texas har

September 2405:10 AM

The White House clarified its change to H-1B visas after workers, companies and foreign governments scrambled to respond to its latest immigration crackdown. The surprise order from the Trump administration imposing a new $100,000 fee on some visas set off a day of frantic travel as workers, companies and foreign governments scrambled to respond to Washington's latest immigration crackdown. By the time the White House clarified that existing holders of the H-1B visas for skilled workers were not affected, the chaos had already been sewn: U.S. allies expressed concern and their nationals abandoned holidays, business trips and plans to see their families as they raced back to America before the new rules took effect Sunday. view article

CHAGAS DISEASE IN THE UNITED STATES A Community Science Program

September 2405:00 AM

lease explore to learn more about kissing bugs, the parasite they transmit, and how you can submit your insects and observations to our research program. view article

West Texas wants to sell its natural gas to AI data centers, but has few options for transporting it

September 2308:35 AM

Other smaller oil and gas producing regions in the state are better poised to help power the growing data center market, a new report found. ODESSA — Big data centers that power the artificial intelligence industry demand an abundance of energy. West Texas — known for producing 40% of the nation’s crude oil — also has an extraordinary amount of natural gas that could power those data centers. But the region lacks adequate infrastructure to convert the gas, a byproduct of pumping oil, into electricity and transmit it to the growing industry, experts said. “Meeting this unprecedented demand takes more than production alone,” said Ed Longanecker, president of the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association, a trade group. “It requires a strong network of pipelines and infrastructure to move natural gas efficiently and ensure reliable power for end users. In Texas, expanding this network has never been more important to keep pace with growth.” view article

Georgetown ISD among Texas school districts sued over display of Ten Commandments in classrooms

September 2308:33 AM

The American Civil Liberties Union and Americans United for Separation of Church and State, along with other civil rights groups, filed a second lawsuit in federal court Monday to stop more Texas public school districts from displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Earlier this summer, Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 10 into law, requiring every public school classroom in the state to include a poster with the Ten Commandments. Last month, the groups — who are representing Texas families of varying religious and nonreligious backgrounds — successfully argued for a preliminary injunction against 11 school districts in Texas’ largest metropolitan areas. While issuing the injunction, U.S. Judge Fred Biery wrote the new law "likely violates both the Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment” to the U.S. Constitution. "This [new] lawsuit is a continuation of our work to defend the First Amendment and ensure that government officials stay out of personal family decisions," said Chloe Kempf, a staff attorney at the ACLU Texas. "All students — regardless of their race or religious background — should feel accepted and free to be themselves in Texas public schools." view article

“Bathroom bill” aimed at trans people signed into law after decade of failed attempts

September 2308:30 AM

Senate Bill 8, which goes into effect on Dec. 4, restricts bathroom use in government buildings and schools to the sex assigned at birth. view article

Harrison Says New Audio Proves TAMU President Knew Student Was ‘Threatened’ by Faculty

September 2308:30 AM

Embattled Texas A&M President Mark Welsh is facing new calls for his job. This comes following disclosures that he knew about threats issued against a student who complained about a controversial LGBT curriculum. In an audio recording posted by State Rep. Brian Harrison (R–Midlothian), a student told Welsh that a department head had threatened her over recordings she had taken of a class. The student told Welsh that the department head told her the student handbook prohibits that activity despite Texas being a one-party consent state. view article

Man who made threat against Austin ISD board convicted of hate crime

September 2308:27 AM

Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza recently announced that his office secured a hate crime conviction for Michael Boone. Timeline: On August 11, 2023, the Austin Independent School District’s Police Department investigated a terroristic threat sent to the Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees via their "Let’s Talk" App prior to the Board of Trustees' participation in the Austin Pride Parade on August 12, 2023. view article

Spring Hill ISD holds meeting on proposed property tax increase, bond package

September 2308:25 AM

Spring Hill ISD held a meeting on Monday to answer questions from residents about a proposed property tax hike and $20 million bond package that will be on the November ballot. If approved by voters, property taxes in the district would be increased by $.0321 per $100 property valuation. The district says the change would provide an additional $304,000 per year. Spring Hill ISD School Board President John Borens says there is leeway with how that money is used. view article

Tax cuts for Texas homeowners on ballot for Nov. 4 general election

September 2308:24 AM

Several proposed amendments in Texas’ Nov. 4 general election would provide property tax cuts for Texan homeowners if approved at the cost of billions of the state’s funding. The general election has 17 different proposed statewide amendments on the ballot. Of those, ten of them relate to providing tax cuts in various ways, including on homes, businesses, capital gains, securities, and animal feed. view article

Coppell: Another North Texas school district is considering closing a campus

September 2308:23 AM

Another North Texas school district is considering a possible school closure as it grapples with an $8.5 million budget deficit. Coppell ISD says it's considering closing Town Center Elementary, among other possible changes. The move would save about $1.3 million in payroll, according to information shared by the district. view article

Splendora 1st-Grade Teacher Charged With Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child

September 2308:23 AM

Rene Tavera taught bilingual classes at Peach Creek Elementary in Splendora ISD. view article

Athens ISD board discussing accepting band director’s resignation after meth allegations

September 2308:18 AM

The board of Athens Independent School District is discussing accepting the resignation of the high school’s band director. 45-year-old Nicholas Durham was arrested on a meth charge earlier this month after Henderson County Sheriff’s Office deputies searched his apartment. According to arrest records, he gave investigators two bongs containing meth at that time. view article

Student Who Mocked Charlie Kirk’s Assassination No Longer at Texas Tech

September 2305:15 AM

A Texas Tech University student was caught in a viral video mocking the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. She is now no longer enrolled there. “F*** y’all, ya homie’s dead,” the student chanted. The confrontation occurred outside a vigil for the slain evangelist on the Texas Tech University campus. The student, Camryn Giselle Booker, is 18 years old. According to press reports, Booker was arrested after she shoved several people, including an elderly veteran and a mother with a young child. The viral video does not show that incident. view article

Tarrant County schools sued over Texas Ten Commandments law

September 2305:08 AM

More than a dozen multi-faith families, including one from Fort Worth, filed a lawsuit against five Tarrant County-area school districts and others across Texas to stop them from displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms as required under a state law. The group of 15 families filed the suit Monday in a San Antonio court against 14 districts, including Fort Worth, Arlington, Northwest, Mansfield and Azle saying the law is a violation of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. This is the latest legal challenge to the new state law that went into effect Sept. 1. Kristin Klade, a Lutheran pastor in Fort Worth, is among those who filed this week’s lawsuit. She said in a statement that displaying the Ten Commandments in her children’s classrooms steps on her parental right to teach religion to her family. view article

Report: University of Houston Must End Partnership With Chinese University

September 2305:04 AM

A new congressional report found that the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Houston have concerning connections with the Chinese military-industrial complex. The U.S. Congress’ Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and the Committee on Education and the Workforce published the 39-page report that found both universities have partnerships with Chinese institutions that “pose serious national security risks.” The University of Houston partners with Dalian Maritime University to run the Houston International Institute, a joint engineering operation. view article

Sen. Phil King predicts legal victory as Texas schools begin displaying Ten Commandments

September 2305:01 AM

AUSTIN — After scoring a legislative victory with a new law requiring classrooms to display the Ten Commandments, state Sen. Phil King of Weatherford says he’s ready for the next round: a court challenge asserting that the mandate on Texas schools violates the fundamental principle separating church and state. Enacted by the recently adjourned regular session of the Texas Legislature, King’s Senate Bill 10 requires a version of the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every classroom beginning Sept. 1. Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill into law on June 20. The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and allied groups filed suit in a San Antonio federal court July 2 declaring the law violates the religious rights of students and parents and “is plainly unconstitutional.” It also seeks a preliminary injunction to keep the law from going into effect pending the resolution of the suit. view article

How a SIM farm like the one found near the UN threatens telecom networks

September 2305:00 AM

The U.S. Secret Service has found and is quietly dismantling a massive network of “SIM farms” across the New York area just as world leaders gather for meetings at the United Nations view article

FWISD plans teacher shake-up for 7 struggling schools, new reading lessons with Bible stories

September 2305:00 AM

Teachers and principals at seven persistently failing Fort Worth schools must reapply for their jobs for next school year if trustees approve a turnaround plan next week. That’s because FWISD students deserve to have the best teachers in front of them, Superintendent Karen Molinar said Wednesday. As a potential state takeover looms, Molinar wants to shift three middle schools and four elementaries to a Texas-approved turnaround model. On top of that, FWISD administrators want to use the state’s new reading materials that incorporate Bible stories into lessons. view article

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