State education board finalizes anti-Islamic rewrite of Texas social studies lessons

State Board of Education members on Friday approved a rewrite of what Texas high schoolers learn in social studies, disregarding pleas from Muslims who testified that schools should teach how people of Islamic faith positively contributed to world history. The Republican majority instead adopted a lesson, for example, requiring public school students to learn that “radical Islam” motivated the 9/11 attacks, as opposed to more narrowly focusing on terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda and extremists such as Osama bin Laden. A Muslim-American EMT was notably among those killed while attempting to save lives during the tragedy.
Huffines: School Audits Could Lead to Prosecutions for ‘Nefarious Spending’

The comptroller says his office is expanding its focus on government fraud as auditors prepare to investigate four Texas school districts. Texas Comptroller Don Huffines says school officials could face prosecution if upcoming state audits uncover fraudulent spending. Huffines made the comments during an interview on Texas Scorecard’s Real Texans, as his office prepares to investigate the spending practices of four yet-to-be-named school districts. “If we find nefarious spending, I will do everything I can to prosecute,” said Huffines. Huffines noted that the comptroller’s office has its own police force and said he has hired a new chief for the agency’s Criminal Investigation Division. He is also looking to expand the division specifically to assist with government fraud investigations. “Historically, the state of Texas has not really focused on that very much, and most governments haven’t,” said Huffines, arguing that Texas has a “massive fraud problem.”
Weather Update - La Porte ISD

After consulting with meteorologists early this morning and out of an abundance of caution, La Porte ISD will be closed today due to the potential for local flooding and hazardous road conditions later in the day. We will continue to monitor conditions and consult regularly with area meteorologists and will provide updates as needed. Please avoid unnecessary travel, use caution if you must be on the roads, and never drive through flooded roadways. Most importantly, please stay safe and take care of yourselves and your families.
Here’s what Greg Abbott, Gina Hinojosa say about education priorities in Texas governor’s race

From school takeovers to college affordability, the Democrat and Republican are rolling out their education priorities ahead of November’s election.
San Antonio ISD Proposes $600 Million Bond Package, Tax Rate Increase 

Trustees for San Antonio Independent School District are placing both a voter-approval tax rate election and a $600 million bond package before voters in November. There will be four propositions for voters to decide on during the November election. A 3.17-cent maintenance and operations (M&O) tax rate increase would fund day-to-day operations and is estimated to generate an additional $5.5 million in revenue. The district reports that these funds will be used to help support college and career readiness, teacher pipeline initiatives, and compensation initiatives.
Texas schools given conflicting advice on Ten Commandments

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has ordered school districts unaffected by a recent court ruling to comply with a state law requiring Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms beginning Sept. 1. The Aug. 25 directive came less than a week after a federal judge in San Antonio blocked the statute from taking effect in 11 school districts named in ongoing litigation filed by 16 multifaith and nonreligious families with children in public schools. Paxton echoed supporters of Senate Bill 10, who say the 16-by-20-inch classroom displays are a way to honor the nation’s history and help instill traditional values. “From the beginning, the Ten Commandments have been irrevocably intertwined with America’s legal, moral and historical heritage,” Paxton said. “Schools not enjoined by ongoing litigation must abide by SB-10 and display the Ten Commandments.”

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D’Rinda Randall Elected New Texas GOP Chair

June 1508:26 AM

HOUSTON—The Republican Party of Texas will have new leadership after delegates elected D’Rinda Randall as party chair and David Covey as vice chair during Senate district caucus meetings Friday at the state convention in Houston. Randall defeated incumbent Chairman Abraham George, under whom she had served as vice chair. Under Texas law, the party’s chair and vice chair must be of opposite genders. With Randall elected chair, delegates selected Covey to serve as vice chair. The leadership elections came as thousands of delegates gathered in Houston to adopt the party platform, select legislative priorities, and chart the party’s course ahead of the 2026 general election and the 2027 legislative session. view article

Austin ISD’s takeover clock is ticking. Here’s what happens next

June 1508:25 AM

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

TEA Releases Spring 2026 STAAR® End-of-Course Assessment Results

June 1508:25 AM

The Texas Education Agency today released results from the Spring 2026 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR®) End-of-Course (EOC) assessments. The results include assessments in Algebra I, English I, English II, Biology and U.S. History. The Spring 2026 results reflect continued academic progress for Texas students. Statewide, the percentage of students meeting grade level increased across all EOC subject areas and student groups. Biology, English I and English II continued their upward trajectory, with student performance now surpassing pre-pandemic levels. U.S. History also posted gains, with 70% of students meeting grade level. In Algebra I, 54% of students met grade level, representing a seven-percentage-point increase from last year. view article

No room for ‘optimism’: Austin ISD’s budget deficit balloons, again

June 1508:25 AM

With less than a month left in the financial year, the Austin Independent School District’s 2025-26 budget deficit has swelled to $95 million. The newly announced deficit will cause the district to dig into reserves, eating up more than half of its savings, officials announced at a school board meeting Thursday. view article

Austin ISD deficit swells to $95 million as financial cushion shrinks

June 1508:25 AM

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 scores rise as Texas prepares to release STAAR results for grades 3-8

June 1508:24 AM

With more STAAR results set to be released Tuesday for grades three through eight, education experts are watching closely to see whether the state's recent gains at the high school level carry over to younger students — especially in math. view article

Austin ISD to hold meeting Monday on possible boundary changes

June 1508:24 AM

Austin ISD is planning its latest meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at Austin High School to discuss possible boundary changes. view article

Contractor says 525-acre data center won’t create noise issues, researcher urges public scrutiny

June 1508:10 AM

Hut 8 says its proposed Beacon Point campus will minimize noise. A researcher says residents should still understand potential impacts of noise pollution. ROBSTOWN, Texas — Questions remain about water use, power demand and economic impacts as Florida-based contractor Hut 8 moves forward with its proposed Beacon Point data center campus in Nueces County. Now, a researcher who studied communities living near large concentrations of data centers says another issue should be part of the conversation: noise. view article

At Texas GOP convention, friction overshadows talk of unity

June 1505:00 AM

The Republican Party of Texas’ meeting in Houston offered a look at the state GOP’s next chapter and messaging heading into the fall’s midterm elections. view article

SpaceX Makes Public Market Debut With Texas Listing

June 1504:03 AM

The company began trading today on Nasdaq and the new exchange Nasdaq Texas. SpaceX completed the largest initial public offering in history, making the company the sixth-largest in the U.S. with a market cap above $2 trillion. In addition to trading on the main Nasdaq exchange, SpaceX shares are dual-listed on Nasdaq Texas, a Texas-based stock exchange. A dual-listing allows a company’s stock to trade on more than one exchange simultaneously. view article

Preventive Law: The Emergency Repairs Process: Knowing and Planning

June 1108:35 AM

It’s that time of year when weather conditions can be unpredictable. A small chance of rain can rapidly turn into lightning, high winds, and hail. When emergency repairs arise, it’s important for school districts to be able to respond quickly and legally. Let’s review the process for districts to utilize when responding to the need for emergency repairs and steps to take in preparation for when emergency repairs are required.

Preventive Law: Viewing AI Risk Through a School Law Lens

April 0710:28 AM

Artificial intelligence (“AI”) use is on the rise in Texas schools. From lesson-planning platforms to student-facing chatbots, AI is reshaping how instruction happens. But as more people use AI, one question lingers: Who is responsible when mishaps occur? In Texas, AI creates legal complexities where education law already demands careful attention to student privacy, curriculum standards, and teacher certification. Because AI provides a new way to violate state and federal laws, even inadvertently, educators and administrators must be mindful when using AI to ensure that the law is still being followed.

Preventive Law: Special Education Camera Updates: Coming Soon

March 0608:35 AM

As we all know by now, the 89th Legislative Session(s) brought numerous changes to the world of special education. In the midst of all of the high-profile special education legislation, one important change may have slipped through the cracks: House Bill 2 and Senate Bill 568 made changes to the requirements surrounding surveillance of special education settings.

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Legal Issues for School Secretaries

September 2026

Preventive Law: Districts of Innovation: Flexibility to Save Money and Opt-out of Unnecessary Regulations

February 1707:45 AM

You might have thought the latest Legislative session was a significant change to public education, and you are right. But the most significant change to public education in Texas came from the institution of Districts of Innovation (DOI). For years, public schools complained that they were being compared to charter schools and that was not an apples-to-apples comparison, but DOIs provide school districts the freedom to opt out of many of the laws and requirements with which charter schools are not saddled.

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.

Preventive Law:Celebrate the Holidays

December 0208:35 AM

My favorite article that I have written over the years is one on official state holidays and recognitions. I find it fascinating to see which lobbyists succeed in recognitions for their cause. I look at this calendar and wonder why Monarch butterflies and veterinarian technicians get their own week, Lung Cancers Awareness gets only one day, Gold Star mothers get a day but not fathers, and there are no recognition days in December? Did you know that the 11 th day of each month is a recognition “day?”

Preventive Law: The False Claims Act and Civil Rights – What You Don’t Know Could Cost You

November 0508:35 AM

In case you are running low on things to worry about this semester, never fear. This article is dedicated to the False Claims Act (FCA), another tool the federal government appears happy to point in the direction of public schools.

Preventive Law: Negotiating With Vendors

October 0108:35 AM

Governments rely on private contractors, or vendors. Many times, using a vendor is either more efficient, less expensive, or gives the government access to expertise that it does not have. Given the ubiquitous nature of contracts with the private sector, devoting some time and attention to your vendor contracts is important.

Free medical services to be offered during Operation Border Health /Preparedness

July 2508:30 AM

SAN JUAN, Texas – From Monday, July 25, to Saturday, July 30, the Texas Health and Human Services will carry out Operation Border Health/Preparedness (OBHP). OBHP is a program that sets up sites around the Rio Grande Valley, offering residents free health services. Services include general physician services, immunizations, screenings, sport physicals, dental services, vision services, and more. Although assisting the public in maintaining their health is a goal of OBHP, the underlying purpose is to assist the community in preparing for disasters. State Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, said Operation Border Health Preparedness allows state, local, and nonprofit entities to practice setting up and operating health clinics that may be needed in the case of a public health emergency, while providing free care to the community. He said services include medical exams, immunizations for children and adults, sports physicals for students, health and diabetes screenings, and dental and vision exams. “Operation Border Health Preparedness is a great example of a smart policy that not only ensures we are prepared for future public health crises, but also provides an immediate public benefit in the process,” Hinojosa said. view article

Clint Independent School District approves pay raises, $2,500 payments for some employees

July 2208:27 AM

The Clint Independent School District on Thursday approved pay raises and a one-time $2,500 payment for qualifying employees during the upcoming school year. view article

After Uvalde school shooting, Texas police wonder how much training is enough — and will it matter?

June 1305:00 AM

Police officials and law enforcement experts say there’s no guarantee that officers will follow their training and confront a shooter — no matter how much training they have. In the weeks since officers in Uvalde waited more than an hour to confront a gunman who killed 19 children and two adults at an elementary school, police departments across the state have asked themselves a crucial question: If they faced a similar situation, would they be able to quickly stop the gunman? The images of parents and students pleading with officers to take action at Robb Elementary School on May 24 before a tactical team of federal agents finally breached a classroom and fatally shot the 18-year-old gunman deeply disturbed Marfa police Chief Estevan Marquez. view article

Report: Austin ISD has not met minimum TX exam standards for disabled students in 4 years

May 1208:28 AM

The Austin school district has not met minimum state exam standards for students with disabilities in the past four years, according to an independent review of the district’s special education programs. Stetson and Associates, a consulting firm, conducted a review of the Austin school district’s services for students with disabilities starting during the 2019-20 academic year, although the evaluation was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a change in leadership at the district. view article

Watch: Dallas ISD softball coach trumpets national anthem before every home game

May 0308:29 AM

Who says you can't mix two passions together? For Dallas Independent School District softball Coach Mark Stout, he's done it weekly this season. Stout warms up his team at W.T. White High School every home game and then, for a brief moment, plays the national anthem on the trumpet to get to that exciting umpire line: play ball! He started doing it before games last season. view article

Manor ISD Breaking Ground on New Early College High School

March 1408:20 AM

Officials with the Manor Independent School District are celebrating the groundbreaking today of the new Early College High School. “This is a great day in Manor ISD,” said Dr. Andre D. Spencer, Manor ISD Superintendent. “We are breaking ground on a new building for a group of scholars who we expect to break ground academically in their respective fields of interest. We expect great things to come out of this facility and the scholars who will call this home.” view article

Extreme bus driver shortage affects local school district

March 1008:27 AM

Across the nation, school districts are having a hard time keeping and hiring bus drivers. One local school district, Comal ISD, is becoming greatly effected. As one of the fastest growing and largest districts in the San Antonio area, the district covers over 500 square miles in five different counties with over 27,000 students attending. view article

Many voting locations throughout Texas did not open because of staff shortages

March 0205:00 AM

In some voting locations where a party’s appointed polling judge didn’t show up, election officials allowed the other party’s judge to operate both parties’ voting machines in an effort to keep the polling place running. view article

Mesquite ISD Hiring From Within To Fill Superintendent Spot; Ángel Rivera Is Lone Finalist

February 1508:29 AM

The Mesquite ISD Board of Trustees announced its unanimous selection of Dr. Ángel Rivera as the lone finalist for the role of Superintendent of Schools on Monday, Feb. 14. Dr. Rivera currently holds the position of deputy superintendent for the district, which serves nearly 40,000 students. view article

Ysleta ISD sees uptick in COVID-19 related absences following winter break

January 3108:28 AM

An increase in COVID-19 cases among children in El Paso is resulting in more absences at some schools. "Last week my child had a light cough so we decided not to take her to school to not expose the other children to her cough," said El Paso ISD parent Guerrero Garcia. view article

BRENHAM ISD ATHLETIC DIRECTOR ELIOT ALLEN ACCEPTS NEW POSITION WITH BASTROP ISD

January 1808:00 AM

Brenham ISD Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Eliot Allen has accepted a position with a new school district. Brenham ISD announced this (Thursday) afternoon that Allen has been selected as Director of Athletics for Bastrop ISD. He will begin his new position next week. view article

Cy-Fair ISD board member faces calls to resign after comments about Black teachers, dropout rates

January 1408:24 AM

A growing number of Houston-area leaders are calling for the resignation of a Cy-Fair ISD board member after he made comments suggesting that the more Black teachers a district has, the greater the dropout rate. The comments were made Monday night during a work session about Cy-Fair ISD's equity audit report. view article

BRENHAM ISD PARENTS VOICE CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY ON SCHOOL BUSES AMID DRIVER SHORTAGE

January 1208:12 AM

Some Brenham ISD parents are concerned about the safety of their children aboard school buses, while the district struggles to find people to drive them. Overcrowding and longer run times for some buses has parents worried and debating whether their children should be using school transportation. One parent, Cassi Harrison, has pulled her three children off after she says her daughter had to sit on the floor of her elementary school bus, which had students from two bus routes. Harrison says the safety of the children needs to be addressed. view article

Lewisville ISD trustees approve 2022-23 academic calendar

January 1208:01 AM

The Lewisville ISD board of trustees approved the district's 2022-23 academic calendar, which includes 177 instructional days. The 2022-23 calendar, which was approved during a Jan. 10 board meeting, will have an Aug. 10 start date with exams for the first semester to be completed before winter break, which runs Dec. 19-Jan. 4, 2023, according to the calendar. view article

Richardson ISD Brings Back Mask Mandate as COVID Cases Skyrocket

January 1108:25 AM

Saying positive cases of COVID-19 are climbing to "very high rates" in the district, the Richardson ISD says they are once again temporarily implementing a mask requirement for everyone inside K-12 schools. In a letter to parents, the district said active cases of COVID-19 have increased from 49 on Dec. 7 to 1,089 on Jan. 6, an increase of more than 2100%. The previous pandemic-high number of positive cases in RISD was 367 on Sept. 3. 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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