Proposals to create education savings accounts for Texas students to attend private schools failed to pass the Texas Legislature in 2023, but legislators from The Woodlands area said the topic will return in the 2025 session. “Several key proposals didn’t pass last session, and I am already working on new legislation for the 2025 session,” Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, said in an Aug. 5 email. Creighton is chair of the Senate Committee on Education. He said in 2025 he would again advance his Texas Parental Bill of Rights and Texas Teacher Bill of Rights, which include provisions for education savings accounts for parents as well as raises and bonuses for teachers. view article

Pennsylvania GOP megadonor Jeff Yass kicked in another $4 million to Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this year to boost the governor’s bid to unseat Texas House Republicans who oppose private school vouchers. The April 3 donation, revealed this week in a campaign finance report filed by Abbott, was Yass’ second major contribution to the GOP governor this election cycle. The billionaire TikTok investor donated $6 million to Abbott in December, believed to be the largest single political donation in Texas history.  Yass’ more recent $4 million contribution was part of a haul of nearly $30 million Abbott reported over the first half of the year, an eye-popping figure for a governor who is not on the ballot this year.  Abbott has established himself as the most prolific fundraiser in the state’s political history. He ended June with more than $51 million in his campaign account, even after spending some $12 million on his crusade to secure a pro-voucher majority in the Texas House. view article

On Wednesday, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath recommended SBOE members approve the opening of Infinite Minds in Arlington, Pathway Academy in Big Spring, The Texas Girls School in Austin, Unparalleled Preparatory Academy in Manor and Visionary STEM Academy in Terrell.  The SBOE is slated to hold a preliminary vote Wednesday and will decide Friday whether to move the charter schools’ applications forward. If it does, the applications will return to the TEA for a final review.Representatives from each of the schools also gave presentations to the 15-member body. Some of the schools would focus on making STEM careers more accessible to students and equipping them with entrepreneurship skills while at least one other would place a heavy emphasis on literacy.  The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one.  The timing of the new charter proposals frustrated some teacher advocacy groups and public education advocates, who say the new schools would siphon state funds away from traditional school districts.  State lawmakers failed to approve additional funds for public schools during last year’s legislative session amid the fight for school vouchers, which would allow families to use taxpayer dollars to pay for private and religious schools. read more

ill lead to a Character and Career Academy at Liberty-Eylau Middle School. (Staff Photo by Mallory Wyatt) TEXARKANA, Texas -- Liberty-Eylau Independent School District held a signing ceremony at its administrative center yesterday afternoon. Superintendent Jeff Wright and Dr. Robert C.K. Harper, CEO and founder of the HOPE Initiative, signed a memorandum of understanding signifying the start of a partnership between the two entities. "I view article