Gov. Greg Abbott and pro-voucher groups pumped a record-breaking $15 million into flipping state House seats ahead of the March primaries, while the grocery giant’s political action committee spent just under $2 million supporting GOP incumbents. After bruising defeats in the first round, Butt spent even less in May’s runoffs, in which four more pro-voucher candidates won, securing a presumed majority in the House to pass Abbott’s plan next year to divert taxpayer dollars to private and religious schools. The week before the defeats, Butt’s political committee reported that it had left more than $10 million unspent in its account. view article

Electric vehicles are becoming more common on the roads every day. Thanks to a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, Wylie Independent School District has the opportunity to introduce 22 electric school buses, which, if accepted, would make up one-third of the district’s bus fleet. view article

$244,000 is coming to Denison High School to get students ready for the booming tech industry in Texoma. “With the end goal that when they graduate from Denison High School, they’re ready to step into the workforce,” Denison Superintendent David Kirkbride said. “Perhaps Texas Instruments, Globitech, and other similar type industries.” The money will fund a lab that will give students hands-on experience, and ultimately a certification in electronic engineering. view article

Hallsville ISD intends to apply for several federal grants in the 2024-25 academic year with a total amount of $9,297,900. The presentation included seven different federal grants that HISD intends to apply for. The presentation to each of the Board of Trustees was done at the school board meeting held on May 20 by HISD Director of Federal Programs Amy Whittle. view article

SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — A teacher from San Angelo ISD’s Glenmore Elementary was recently awarded for her over 20 years of teaching at the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards ceremony on May 5. Veronica Stapper at the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards on May 5, 2024. Image courtesy of H-E-B. Veronica Stapper at the H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards on … Read More During the ceremony held in Houston, Veronica Stapper was given $25,000 and a $25,000 grant for her school after winning the Lifetime Achievement Elementary Award. Stapper was one of two educators to receive the Lifetime Achievement Elementary Award. view article

The average Texas teacher will earn $62,463 during the 2023-24 school year. This is over $9,000 below the national average, the National Education Association found from an analysis of Texas Education Agency data.  Texas’ full-time school support staff, such as bus drivers, cafeteria workers and secretaries, made $30,382 on average during the 2022-23 school year.   “​​Many of our support workers, who are critical to school safety and success, hardly make livable wages. As we continue to fight vouchers, [the Texas State Teachers Association] will be seeking substantial pay raises for them, as well as for teachers, when the Legislature convenes next year, because we know Texans value their public school educators, and it’s time the Legislature does too,” TSTA President Ovidia Molina said in a news release. 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