La Joya ISD is about to boost its career training efforts thanks to a $316,000 grant that will go toward its welding program. The Texas Workforce Commission announced Thursday that it awarded the school district $316,407 to support career training and will be presenting the check to La Joya ISD officials at Juarez-Lincoln High School on Tuesday. view article

MERCEDES —South Texas Independent School District and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley held a signing ceremony Monday morning to announce a new partnership between the two entities. UTRGV President Guy Bailey, South Texas ISD Superintendent Marco Antonio Lara Jr. and Board President Douglas Buchanan participated in Monday’s event which was held at South Texas ISD’s Biblioteca Las Américas in Mercedes. The partnership will expand dual enrollment opportunities for South Texas ISD students who wish to pursue their education with UTRGV. Buchanan said the partnership has been something that had been in the works since the school district’s inception. “It’s been a dream, if you will, to try to relay to all the students in the Rio Grande Valley instead of just pockets of kids here and there — to give all students the opportunity to receive college courses and then being able to apply that to a degree plan as they enter college,” Buchanan said. view article

During a ceremony held September 15, the Junior League of Dallas and Texas Instruments awarded 52 Dallas ISD educators with grants of up to $2,500 each through the annual Grants for Innovative Teaching (GFIT) program. In total, nearly $113,000 were distributed to fund deserving educators’ winning projects addressing reading and literacy enrichment; diversity; special education; science, technology, engineering and math (STEM); or arts and culture enrichment across one or more grade levels. “The Grants for Innovative Teaching Committee is in awe of the level of innovation, uniqueness and inclusivity that each of the educators so passionately brought to the table,” said Kiki Gao, 2022–2023 GFIT Chair. “It is an honor to share that due to the innovative projects that are designed by these educators, at least 8,200 Dallas ISD students will be directly impacted this school year.” view article

The Lufkin school board on Thursday approved a resolution authorizing the Lufkin ISD Police Department to submit an application for the Bullet-Resistant Shield Grant Program for the fiscal year 2023.  The application is submitted to the governor, the Public Safety Office and the Criminal Justice Division of the state of Texas and is for 16 shields, according to LISD officer Jeff Taylor.  “It’s just another tool in our tool chest to better prepare us for something, if something does happen,” he said. “Not only here at the school setting, but within our community, because we have a very good working relationship with Lufkin PD as well as the sheriff’s office and other entities within the county.”  Sixteen shields will allow for every officer in the department to have one and for additional shields to be placed at Lufkin High School, Lufkin Middle School and the LISD administration building, as well as at an additional location as needed.  “God willing, we get them, and God willing, we’ll never use them,” board president Hall Henderson said. view article

Lufkin ISD which has over 7,000 students in its care, has approved a motion to submit an application to the state to receive ballistic shields for its campuses. With the recent school massacre in Uvalde, being prepared for the worst is on everyone’s mind, especially patrol officers at schools, like Jeff Taylor. “We have a big task we have to do: providing safety and security, not only for the officers, but for those we are trained to protect at that point in time.” view article

The U.S. Department of Education has awarded a multimillion dollar grant to the Lufkin school district over the next seven years. The GEAR UP Program is a competitive grant program that helps low-income and historically underrepresented students achieve college readiness, improve high school graduation rates and postsecondary enrollment rates, and raise awareness of postsecondary options among students and families. Superintendent Lynn Torres said this is the fifth time Lufkin ISD has been awarded a grant for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. She said the program has supported nearly 3,000 LISD students with more than $10 million in federal grant funds over the years. “Lufkin ISD is excited to once again receive the GEAR UP grant,” Torres said. “We’re excited about our new partnership with UT Austin and look forward to working with their Institute on Public School Initiatives.” Lufkin ISD will be working in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin to achieve these goals. The U.S. Department of Education selected UT Austin to receive funding as a result of “funding down the slate of unfunded high-quality applications.” “This is huge for Lufkin ISD,” Torres said. This grant will specifically benefit sixth and seventh graders within Lufkin ISD throughout their postsecondary educational careers, she said.    (01) view article

McAllen ISD is planning on applying for a grant that would provide the district’s police force with bullet-resistant shields. A $50 million grant program that was championed by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the shield program is one of the first statewide security funding opportunities to trickle down to local schools in the wake of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde this May. view article

FC Dallas and H-E-B announced a multi-year partnership today that will see the Texas company become the club’s official and exclusive grocery store. H-E-B will also serve as the presenting partner of FC Dallas’ upcoming match against Real Salt Lake on Saturday, August 27 at Toyota Stadium as part of FC Dallas’ first-ever Nonprofit Night which will highlight organizations across North Texas who focus on improving our community in a variety of ways. “H-E-B is an iconic Texas brand and we’re proud be a part of their growth in Dallas/Fort Worth,” said FC Dallas President Dan Hunt. “We share the same commitment to serving families and we’re looking forward to partnering with H-E-B as it expands its community efforts throughout North Texas.” At halftime of Saturday’s match, H-E-B will donate $10,000 to the Frisco ISD Education Foundation. FC Dallas will make a donation on behalf of H-E-B of 500 non-perishable food items to Frisco Family Services for every save a Dallas goalkeeper makes during the match. view article

President Biden's recent announcement of loan forgiveness for low- and middle-income Americans impacts less than one-third of Texarkana College graduates.  Jesse Hausler, TC's Student Loan Coordinator, said TC has very affordable tuition, and many credit-seeking students receive the federal Pell Grant which off-sets the need for most TC students to take out student loans.  "Compared to 4-year colleges and universities, tuition at Texarkana College is very affordable," said Hausler. "Many students who receive a federal Pell Grant do not have to pay anything out of pocket to attend Texarkana College, and several may even receive a refund for the unused portion of their grant."  According view article

Austin Ed Fund, Austin ISD’s nonprofit public education foundation, announced it would use $300,000 to fund 52 projects across the district as part of its grant program. According to the nonprofit, the program was started in 2015 to encourage and help fund teacher-led, collaborative projects that focus on innovative teaching strategies that enhance learning and support the well-being of students, staff and families. view article

HOUSTON — Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday announced a grant program that will fund ballistic shields and travel reimbursements for Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training. The money comes from $105.5 million, Abbott and state lawmakers set aside after the Uvalde shooting. In the video from Uvalde, you can see ballistic shields in the hands of officers positioned in the hallway. view article

CHAPEL HILL, Texas (KETK) – The Chapel Hill ISD Education Foundation granted 10 grants worth $12,000 to 20 teachers and instructional staff on Wednesday. Longview ISD to lower property tax rate for fourth-straight year “Teachers will be able to utilize the fund this new academic year and make a speedy impact on a students learning experience,” said Belen Casillas, Executive Director of the CHISD Education Foundation and Communications Director for the district. “We are excited and truly honored to have the opportunity to impact Chapel Hill ISD classrooms through Innovative Teaching Grants.” view article

THE WOODLANDS, TX – One local businesswoman has earned a name – and reputation – for championing the causes of the underdog. After years of working in the oil and gas industry, Priyanka Johri felt the urge to rescue and protect special needs animals. Knowing that the standard ‘nine-to-five’ wouldn’t allow her to achieve her goal of building an animal sanctuary, she quit her job and rewrote her entire career into that of a real estate agent. Thus, in 2007, was born Woodlands Eco Realty - Rescue and Real Estate. view article

Cumby ISD has been designated one of nine rural school districts to benefit from a portion of the $685,000 awarded by Texas Workforce Commission to Collegiate Edu-Nation for Youth Robotics programs, TWC announced Friday morning, Aug. 5, 2022. TWC logo Youth Robotics Programs will launch this month following the award of $2.1 million by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), allowing thousands of Texas high school students to participate in various events. The Youth Robotics Initiative encourages interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) by expanding participation in robotics programs. This program removes barriers to participation for students with disabilities through partnerships and collaboration, and teams primarily from schools in underserved urban and rural communities. view article

ANTHONY, Texas -- Anthony ISD if one the smallest districts in the county welcoming back about 800 students this year. The district is investing in a lot of time and money into new programs and incentives for teachers and students.  The superintendent Oscar Troncoso said the last few years have been difficult because of the pandemic but this year he’s hoping for an easier transition for everyone.  This year the district is investing resources into its Pre-k program. Thanks to the Texas COVID Learning Acceleration Supports state grant, Anthony ISD is providing play based learning for its youngest students. view article

The federal government is fining the San Benito school district about $780,000 for improperly administering some money received to offset losses stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, district officials said. The district incorrectly spent Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ESSER, money to fund some special education department staffing costs, school board members said. view article

The Charles Butt Foundation is committed to being research-informed in all we do. As an essential first step in any new initiative or partnership, we deeply examine issues or challenges, and are informed by both formal research as well as the lived experiences of those most directly affected. The Vice President leads the organization’s research initiatives and supports evaluation across all departments to maintain alignment with and progress toward the organization’s mission and goals. The Vice President collaboratively cultivates an organizational culture driven by learning to ensure the Charles Butt Foundation continuously learns from successes, as well as failures, to inform and refine strategy, drive organizational improvements, and to share lessons learned with the field to advance improvements in education. view article

After the playground grant was accepted, Charlotte ISD said goodbye to the old elementary playground and welcomed a new playground that meets ADA guidelines for students to enjoy for many years. The old playground was around 26 years old with broken slides and pea gravel that needed to be removed to improve safety for kids. The new playground features a zip line, new swings, five slides, a small rock wall, merry-go-round, spinning mushroom, saucer arch swing, engineered mulch, monkey bars and two canopies. view article

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced their final list of awardees, which includes four Dallas ISD seniors. The NMSC, a not-for-profit corporation focused on recognizing and honoring the academically talented students of the United States, announced a group of winners of the 2022 National Merit Scholars on July 11. The four students are among 7,200 distinguished high school graduates who will receive scholarships for undergraduate study from sponsor colleges. This year’s competition for National Merit Scholarships began when high school juniors took the 2020 Preliminary SAT, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The organization named 16,000 semifinalists nationwide and selected finalists based on scholarship application entrees and SAT / ACT scores. view article

FABENS, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A Fabens Independent School District Teacher of the Year received a $5,000 grant. Elementary teacher Libby Garcia received the grant from Albertsons Foundation's Nourishing Neighbors Program. Garcia received the grant because she works to mitigate hunger issues. The Albertson's program aims to help connect individuals facing food insecurity with proper nutrition. Funds will be used to support the Fabens ISD community by purchasing Thanksgiving baskets for families in need and snacks for all Pre-K students. view article

HENDERSON, Texas (KETK) — The nonprofit organization No Kid Hungry, has announced it will fund six Texas school districts to help combat childhood hunger Henderson ISD is among the program recipients. Longview ISD to increase minimum wage for hourly employees The organization granted them $30,000. Their goal is to help rural students in what they have designated as food insecure areas. One organizer shared why she’s so passionate about this mission. “This is not a piece of equipment that goes in a kitchen, that no one sees and no one gets to use. This is something that’s going to be rotating from campus to campus,” said Tanya Davis, Henderson ISD Director of Child Nutrition. view article

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) - Wichita Falls ISD is applying for federal grants for the 2022-2023 school year. Gary Patterson, the district’s financial consultant, said despite receiving four grants and budget cuts made in April, the district will still be in a $3 million deficit. Board members did not approve the transfer policy that was presented Tuesday afternoon. They had an issue with who would be on the district transfer committee, citing possible conflicts of interest. “I mean I think that’s full of potential problems that somebody’s treated one way versus somebody else because they have friends on the committee,” Katherine McGregor, WFISD board member, said. view article

Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday that the state will spend an additional $30 million on his border mission, Operation Lone Star, to provide grants to cities and counties seeking financial assistance to combat criminal activity related to border crossings. The announcement comes after frustrated local officials, including those in border counties, called on Abbott on Tuesday to take drastic action. The county officials urged the governor to declare an “invasion” under the Texas and United States constitutions and to deploy state resources to remove migrants from the country. Immigration law enforcement and deportations are the responsibility of the federal government. view article

Grocery retailer H-E-B and the Butt Family have committed $10 million to the Uvalde school district to build a new school to replace Robb Elementary, the site of the mass shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers last month. The donations were made to the Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District’s new nonprofit arm, the Uvalde CISD Moving Forward Foundation, which is seeking donations to make the district’s schools more secure, help build the new school and build a memorial park at the Robb location. “It’ll definitely be part of the healing process,” Hal Harrell, Uvalde CISD superintendent, said of the donation. H-E-B was founded by the family of Charles Butt, who is chairman of the grocery store chain, the largest privately held employer in Texas. view article

Many school districts are utilizing ESSER III funds for HVAC projects. This is a good opportunity to look at common issues that can arise in the procurement process for these projects.

Paris ISD principals named employees and/or students for the August GROWL Awards “Getting Results from Outstanding Wildcat Leaders.” Winners are Rosalinda Silva, Anthony Lopez, Hailey Brown, Phyllis Huggins, Jessica Hodges, D’Anna Graham, Nancy Waldrum, and Misty Chelius. view article

Port Aransas schools are getting reimbursed for measures they took to get things up and running after Hurricane Harvey. The district on Monday announced it had received a grant for more than $1.2 million Federal Emergency Management Agency to help pay for things such as generators, air dryers, portables and security. Those items and more were needed in the aftermath of the Category 4 storm hit the area Aug. 25, 2017. view article

The Round Rock school district awarded $1.9 million in grants to 34 campuses to help foster innovation in schools through programs, models or initiatives that enrich learning. The grants range from $7,500 to $100,000 and support the district’s strategic goal of implementing, enhancing and reinforcing innovative teachings and learning models, according to a district news release. view article

Texas Instruments (TI) (NASDAQ: TXN)announced today that its 2015 corporate and foundation giving to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education totals almost $6 million. Focused on collaborative strategies to improve student success and teaching effectiveness in STEM education, TI and the Texas Instruments Foundation designate "Power of STEM Education" grants to a variety of nonprofit partners and educators in targeted communities where the company has a major design or manufacturing presence. Special emphasis is given to programs that reach female and minority students who are underrepresented in science and engineering careers today. view article

A local school that has been underperforming for years, is shaking things up for the new school year with the help of a $4.8 million grant. Indian Spring Middle School is under a state mandate to turn things around and their principal is hoping this multi-million dollar grant will help them do just that. view article