A new state law requiring students to lock away phones and other devices during the school day is already showing results in Beaumont ISD classrooms, according to district officials. It’s been just a month since students returned to school without their phones, but staff say the change has improved focus and interaction. “The kids are actually really conversing more with their instructor, conversing more with themselves,” said Randall Maxwell, the district’s senior director of student support. view article

School officials say that in the wake of Texas’ new cellphone ban in public K-12 schools, students have become more engaged in and outside of classrooms.  The ban on cellphones, laptops and tablets has prompted Texas’ more than 1,200 school districts to adopt policies ranging from secure device pouches to increased monitoring as the academic year has begun. While some officials were concerned that schools would face pushback from students and parents, administrators from across the state said that hasn’t happened.  Instead, school officials say they’re seeing signs of positive change after years of concerns that cellphones and addictive social media apps distracted students during instructional time.  “At one of our campuses, for example, they had to get some Uno cards and other things for students to do during lunch because they wanted that engagement, so there’s a lot more face-to-face conversation going on,” said John Khun, the superintendent at Abilene ISD.  view article

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon toured an Austin private school on Tuesday, which claims it helps students “Learn 2x in 2 Hours.” Alpha School Austin is part of an upstart network of Alpha Schools across the country, focused on using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help students progress through their coursework faster. “Fundamentally, we believe that kids are limitless,” co-founder MacKenzie Price said. “When kids receive personalized learning that goes at their pace and level, their learning is able to go exponentially faster than in a traditional classroom.” view article

The U.S. Secretary of Education was in Austin on Tuesday, visiting a private school that's using new technology to teach kids. Linda McMahon stopped by the Alpha School in South Austin to spotlight the importance of artificial intelligence in education. The Secretary toured the school and participated in a roundtable discussion on AI literacy and the evolving role of technology in education. The school utilizes AI learning in conjunction with life skills courses. The school doesn't have teachers but instead uses what it calls "guides." view article

A former Eanes ISD student has been taken into custody after suspicion that he had a weapon in his car near Westlake High School on Wednesday. In a letter to families, the district said several schools were placed in "SECURE" protocol Wednesday afternoon while district police responded to the incident near Westlake High. The district said it "heard unaffected schools were also placed in SECURE" and is investigating to learn more. view article

While the idea of using artificial intelligence in classrooms may seem distasteful to some, Barbers Hill ISD is encouraging teachers to use the technology to support instruction. In spring 2024, teachers across the district began experimenting with Brisk Teaching, an AI-teaching platform designed for educators, whether it be to create worksheets or track student performance. Now, district officials are encouraging staff across all grade levels to use the software to help teach students view article

San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) adopted a new cellphone policy that bans students from using the devices during the entire school day, including lunch and hallways. Students must keep their communication devices out of sight and in silent mode. view article

A Texas bill prohibiting students from using electronic devices in the classroom has sparked backlash from parents and students alike, with one even starting a petition against the law.  Cyliyah Goodlow, a junior at Lake Ridge High School, located southeast of Fort Worth in the Mansfield Independent School District, launched a petition on June 24 in opposition to the state's school cell phone ban. She called the law unfair and believes these measures put students at risk in emergencies. So far, the petition has gained widespread attention across Texas, gathering over 135,000 signatures. view article

This story is part of Hechinger’s ongoing coverage about rethinking high school. See our articles about a new diploma in Alabama, a “career education for all” model in Kentucky, and high school apprenticeships in Indiana.   BELOIT, Wis. — As Chris Hooker eyed a newly built piece of ductwork inside Beloit Memorial High School, a wry smile crept over his face. “If you worked for me,” he told a student, considering the obviously crooked vent, “I might ask if your level was broken.”Hooker, the HVAC manager of Lloyd’s Plumbing and Heating Corp. in nearby Janesville, was standing inside a hangar-sized classroom in the school’s advanced manufacturing academy, where students construct full-size rooms, hang drywall and learn the basics of masonry. His company sends him to the school twice a week for about two months a year to help teach general heating, venting and air conditioning concepts to students.  view article

Arlington ISD announced its new cell phone policy tonight after approval from the Board of Trustees. The new policy aligns with a new Texas education law (HB1481) that prohibits students from using telecommunications devices during the school day. view article

The North East Independent School District (NEISD) unanimously approved a new cellphone ban policy during a Thursday evening board meeting. The board of trustees discussed the new state law that requires school systems to implement a policy that limits all personal wireless communication devices during the entire school day. view article

Texas has become a hotspot for tech companies, attracting business from data companies that need larger campuses to meet national demand. In the midst of a water crisis, data centers create additional demand for this vital resource.  According to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), there are 64 public water systems currently limiting usage in order to avoid shortages. The TCEQ’s drought map shows severe alerts being issued throughout Central Texas and the Rio Grande Valley.  This year, what Gov. Greg Abbott called “Texas-sized investments” were made with the passage of Senate Bill 7 and House Joint Resolution 7, which appropriated billions of dollars toward water infrastructure and conservation. view article

Along with every other public school in the state of Texas, Lubbock ISD is banning the use of cell phones. House Bill 1481 prohibits the use of all personal communication devices not only in the classroom, but throughout the school day. Superintendent Dr. Kathy Rollo says this new protocol will be an adjustment for everyone, from teachers to principals, students and parents. view article

Governor Abbott Announces Collins Aerospace Expansion In Richardson  Governor Greg Abbott today announced that Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, will expand its aerospace manufacturing and research and development (R&D) operations in Richardson. Collins Aerospace is a global supplier of aerospace and defense products. The project will create more than 570 new jobs and more than $57 million in capital investment. A Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) grant of $3,718,000 has been extended to Collins Aerospace.  “Texas is ranked as the No. 1 state for attracting aerospace manufacturing,” said Governor Abbott. “This $57 million investment by Collins Aerospace to expand their manufacturing and R&D operations in Richardson will create more than 570 good-paying jobs for hardworking Texans and deliver innovative solutions right here in Texas. Partnering with industry leaders, we will ensure Texas remains the hub for aerospace, aviation, and defense for generations to come.” view article

As consumption of fossil fuels continues to rise, technologies developed by Texas companies could help change the view of carbon as a hard-to-manage waste product.  At a San Antonio research campus, a four-story-tall contraption breaks apart the molecules of Texas shale gas, producing hydrogen and carbon.  But that carbon doesn’t form CO2 gas and drift into the atmosphere where it fuels global warming. Instead, it comes out as black powder that can be stored in bins, moved by railcar and even made into commercial materials.  “It’s a lot easier to handle solid carbon than it is to handle CO2,” said Zach Jones, CEO of Graphitic Energy, which commissioned its pilot project in San Antonio this year. view article

Schools have faced an onslaught of cyberattacks since the pandemic disrupted education nationwide five years ago, yet district leaders across the country have employed a pervasive pattern of obfuscation that leaves the real victims in the dark, an investigation by The 74 shows. Click text highlighted green to read more about specific hacks. An in-depth analysis chronicling more than 300 school cyberattacks over the past five years reveals the degree to which school leaders in virtually every state repeatedly provide false assurances to students, parents and staff about the security of their sensitive information. At the same time, consultants and lawyers steer “privileged investigations”, which keep key details hidden from the public. view article

The Dallas Independent School District Board of Trustees approved a new cellphone ban, which will take effect this fall. The decision comes in response to House Bill 1481, which requires all school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt policies prohibiting the use of personal communication devices during the school day on school property. view article

Cryptocurrency advocates rejoice as Texas invests in Bitcoin. view article

AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - The pandemic accelerated how much we all depend on internet access to carry out daily activities. The latest data shows more than 2 million Texas households do not have high speed internet, disproportionately affecting those in rural areas. “What has been revealed by COVID is the fact that many of our students in the city do not have equal access to broadband,” said Amarillo Mayor Ginger Nelson. However, this is not something that can be fixed overnight. view article

Ahead of the spring semester, Spring ISD officials have announced that changes will be implemented in hopes of improving remote and in-person instruction for teachers and students. In a presentation at the Dec. 8 board meeting, Lupita Hinojosa, chief officer of school leadership and student support services, announced that not all teachers will have to teach online and in-person students concurrently in the spring semester, as is currently the case. view article

Cleveland and Liberty ISDs became the latest school districts on the outskirts of the greater Houston area to cancel their online learning options this week, joining Barbers Hill and Navasota ISDs in requiring the majority of their students to return to campuses. Liberty ISD, which educates 2,266 students about 50 minutes northeast of downtown Houston, told parents at the end of October that remote learning would be offered only to medically fragile students, students who have tested positive for COVID-19, students who are quarantining due to COVID-19 exposure and students whose schools temporarily were closed due to positive tests. view article

The deadline has been extended for Fort Bend Independent School District parents deciding if they want their children to continue virtual learning or head back to the classroom. This comes as a special board meeting scheduled for today was canceled. Ft. Bend ISD Superintendent Charles Dupre said board members wanted to give more parents time to decide. view article

The Waco Independent School District and its charter school partner, Transformation Waco, could see more than half of their students start the school year Sept. 8 via remote instruction, according to registration numbers provided by both entities. view article

Alief Independent School District Superintendent HD Chambers says school officials have decided to begin the school year online. Chambers said he doesn’t want any student to lose out on their education because of the pandemic but the thought of how to bring students and teachers back to the classroom safely keeps him up at night. view article

Children with severe disabilities often don’t have the ability to speak up when they are hurt at school, so determining what happened can be difficult. That’s why one Dallas ISD trustee wants to require each special education classroom in the district to have video cameras. Texas public schools are already required to place one in a special education setting if a parent requests it. view article

Robert Bostic, a self-described evangelist for science, technology, engineering and math, really started something when he became the superintendent of the Stafford Municipal School District in 2014. The Stafford High Robotics Program, which began two years ago, competed May 19-20 in Austin as one of 32 teams from the state invited to the 2017 University Interscholastic League Robotics FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Division State Championship based on the points it earned at earlier competitions. view article

A threat was made against Seven Lakes Junior High School via social media Thursday, officials said. view article

On March 11, 2016, the Texas Education Agency Commissioner of Education, Mike Morath, requested an opinion from the Texas Attorney General on the implementation of SB 507. This new law requires video surveillance of certain special education settings upon request beginning in the 2016-2017 school year. In an earlier blog post, I outlined the provisions of SB 507. view article

Schoolhouse bullying is nothing new. It has been going on for decades wherever someone bigger, tougher or meaner believed they could get away with abusing another child. And wherever it's happened, it has been harmful to the person being bullied in degrees ranging from intimidation and fear to causing children to commit suicide, or even murder. view article

School districts have been caught flat-footed in the last two years, facing an onslaught of digital textbook providers who follow no standard data file creation process. This problem is called "user provisioning," (a.k.a. account provisioning) a fancy way of saying that you have to create usernames and passwords in EVERY online system students and staff will need to use. view article

The Beaumont ISD Board of Managers appointed Fred Shafer as executive director of the district's special education department during a special meeting Monday, according to social media reports. view article

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New Braunfels ISD Superintendent Randy Moczygemba is in Washington DC today, joining President Barack Obama for the "ConnectED to the Future" Event, a special conference including superintendents and other educators from across the country, who will lead their schools and districts in the transition to digital learning.  view article

While the staff at TexasISD.com preferrs Google Chrome as our browser of choice, we often use Mozilla Firefox as well.  We aren't huge fans of Microsoft Internet Explorer (MSIE) but the site works on it as well...as long as you are current in your versions, otherwise, well...it's just a mess. Most browsers have an update function and may even notify you that there are updates availible.  In some districts I have been to, the attitude is what I have works, why update. Well, what you have probably doesn't work that well and you just don't realize it. Take a second to check your browser version or look for updates if you haven't in a while. view article