CNN) -- A school district superintendent in North Texas apologized Thursday night after one of the district's administrators told teachers that if they have books about the Holocaust in their classroom libraries, then they should also include books that have "opposing" views of the Holocaust. At a training session last week, a school administrator with Carroll ISD in Southlake, Texas, tried to advise elementary school teachers on how to follow new district guidelines for the vetting of books. The guidelines were issued in an attempt to align with a controversial law in Texas that seeks to restrict discussion of race and history in schools. The training session was first reported by NBC News. After teachers expressed frustration and confusion over the new guidelines, Gina Peddy -- executive director of curriculum and instruction for the district -- invoked the Holocaust as an example of a historic event that would require a teacher to keep on hand other books with "opposing" views. view article

Carroll ISD in Southlake is receiving national attention Thursday night, Oct. 14 for an administrator’s comments about books on the Holocaust. The comments were secretly recorded, and NBC News reported a director of curriculum said teachers should have a book with an opposing view on the holocaust in their classrooms as well. The administrator was talking about the Texas law banning Critical Race Theory in Texas classrooms, HB 3979. view article

LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) - The legal age to receive a private pilot’s license is 17 years old. On Wednesday, Baylee Ward turned 17 and spent her special day obtaining her license at Angelina County Airport. Industry statistics report the average age of a private pilot to be 48 years old. Ward credits Hudson ISD for encouraging her to pursue flying. “They’ve provided me with so much to get to where I am today, you know. I learned the fundamentals of flight, and I came into my training with a whole new set of knowledge that my CFI or flight instructor wasn’t expecting me to know, so I came in a couple of steps ahead because of Hudson aviation,” Ward said. Hudson ISD’s aeronautics instructor Carla Ladner is incredibly proud of Baylee. She said the goal of her program is to get more enrolled students their private pilot’s licenses, but Baylee is their first to obtain her license while still in high school. view article

Recently I was contacted by Dr. Jeremy Glenn, the superintendent Of Granbury ISD. He asked me if I would be willing to serve on a long-range planning committee he was forming to study the current issues, needs and wants of the GISD moving into the future. Dr. Glenn explained he was asking individuals from the community to come together to learn and better understand the current conditions at GISD so we could help formulate well-conceived goals as GISD moves forward. I glanced at my calendar and in my mind, I could hear my wife’s voice saying, “Not another project,” but I decided if Dr. Glenn thought I might be of some sort of help, it was important for me to do my part. view article

Early voting begins Monday in the November Constitutional Amendment Election. There are eight constitutional amendments which will appear on the ballot in Young County, but no other local ballot issues. Early voting in the election will be held weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 18, to Friday, Oct. 29, at North Central Texas College at 928 Cherry St. in Graham, and Olney Community Library at 807 W. Hamilton in Olney, according to the notice of election from the Young County election office. Any registered voter can vote at any location for early voting. view article

Teachers in the Carroll school district say they fear being punished for stocking classrooms with books dealing with racism, slavery and now the Holocaust.  SOUTHLAKE, Texas — A top administrator with the Carroll Independent School District in Southlake advised teachers last week that if they have a book about the Holocaust in their classroom, they should also offer students access to a book from an “opposing” perspective, according to an audio recording obtained by NBC News.  Gina Peddy, the Carroll school district’s executive director of curriculum and instruction, made the comment Friday afternoon during a training session on which books teachers can have in classroom libraries. The training came four days after the Carroll school board, responding to a parent’s complaint, voted to reprimand a fourth grade teacher who had kept an anti-racism book in her classroom. view article

The Tyler Junior College Alumni Association honored its 2021 class of award recipients in a glittering event Saturday, Oct. 2, in the new Rogers Palmer Performing Arts Center on the TJC main campus.  “It’s exciting to host the TJC Alumni Awards at this location for the first time,” said Susan Farrington, TJC director of alumni relations. “We now have the ability to showcase student, alumni and faculty talent while honoring the best among us.” view article

In a two-hour and at times emotional town hall, Killeen Independent School District school officials including Superintendent John Craft, Police Chief Ralph Disher and School Board President JoAnn Purser solicited advice from about two dozen parents regarding how to help combat “a perceived increase in school violence.” “This violence is often over nothing,” said PTA Council President Trina Thompson. “We’re baffled.” Thompson, who opened the meeting, said the rise in violence was associated with social media and a lack of structure. view article

A Nashville judge ruled Monday that Tennessee’s school voucher law is unconstitutional and ordered the state to halt the controversial program before it starts this fall.  Chancellor Anne C. Martin said the legislature violated the state constitution last year when it passed an education savings account law that affects only students in Nashville and Memphis, where local officials have consistently opposed vouchers. view article

Victoria I.S.D. recently partnered with Graduation Alliance. Both plan to help recover district students who are in danger of dropping out of school, have dropped out of school or are significantly behind in core subject classes. Through an online setting, the Graduation Alliance dropout recovery plan is a diploma completion recovery program provided for students. view article

Dallas ISD is home to more than 100 innovation programs. Our schools offer unique and exciting learning opportunities such as P-TECH, Career Institutes, STEAM/STEM, Hybrid, Dual Language, Single Gender, Montessori, Magnet, Talented & Gifted, IB and much more. Our goal is to become a district where every child can find a school that fits their unique interests, learning styles and future aspirations. view article

Author Jerry Craft’s award winning graphic novels are back on Katy ISD library shelves after a review committee ruled that the books do not contain subversive or offensive material. Craft’s books were pulled from libraries and a speaking event with Craft was postponed after a district parent claimed the books promote critical race theory and anti-white rhetoric. The books, which are winners of numerous illustrious literature awards, focus on the experiences of a Black preteen who attends a predominantly white private school. Craft said the books are based on the actual experiences of his two sons. view article

A pandemic-weary faculty and staff want President Scott Gordon to step down, but the board of regents stands behind him for now.  By all accounts, the mood was tense among faculty at Stephen F. Austin State University this fall as they welcomed students back to Nacogdoches for the first in-person semester in over a year.  COVID-19 had exacerbated four years of enrollment declines at the East Texas university 140 miles north of Houston, resulting in subsequent revenue losses and forcing the recently hired SFA President Scott Gordon to call for voluntary retirements, cuts to academics and staff furloughs.  Despite those interventions, the university — one of the last public universities unattached to a university system in Texas — still found itself grappling with a $19 million shortfall heading into the new school year.    (14) view article

UTRGV has opened its first ever high school in the Rio Grande Valley. The UTRGV Harlingen Collegiate High School campus opened its doors Tuesday to students who have already been taking classes since August from another location. The school operates on a dual enrollment based curriculum, so students already have two years of college under their belt once they graduate from high school. view article

Barbers Hill ISD says it took appropriate action after an incident involving some of its students using a racial slur and laughing about it on social media.  A TikTok user shared a video condemning three teens who used the N-word and laughed afterwards, with the caption: "Y'all think this is funny?" One of the teens identified on social media as a student of Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, located about 40 miles east of downtown Houston.  view article

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD trustees approved a resolution on Thursday that will allow the district to receive funding for students attending school virtually. Funding for the program will be retroactive. The resolution allows the district to operate a local remote learning program and receive average daily attendance funding for both synchronous and asynchronous models. Attendance for synchronous instruction will be taken at 8:30 a.m. for elementary campuses and 10 a.m. for middle school campuses. Attendance will be based on active on-screen participation in each classroom. view article

La Pryor Independent School District will formally celebrate the renaming of its football stadium as Armando “Mandy” Najera Memorial Bulldog Stadium tomorrow at approximately 6:40 p.m., prior to the La Pryor Bulldog football game against the Charlotte Trojans. Armando “Mandy” Najera attended La Pryor High School, and as a sophomore sustained a serious head injury in the third quarter of a district football game against Knippa on Sept. 12, 1975. view article

Frisco ISD is looking ahead to offering a Mexican American Studies course next school year. The course, developed by Houston ISD and approved by the state board of education in 2018, will serve as a one-year social studies elective credit. The class is slated to be offered at all Frisco ISD high school campuses with hopes that enough students sign up for the courses to “make,” said Korinna Kirchhoff, communications facilitator with Frisco ISD. view article

Waxahachie ISD continues to reach out to district employees and the community to seek their input as part of WISD’s visioning process. During a video update to the district, Superintendent Jerry Hollingsworth said he has recently held 50 one-hour “get to know you” sessions with all principals on each campus, central office team, all of the district’s directors and community members. “I’ve really learned a lot,” Hollingsworth said. “We have so many wonderful strengths in Waxahachie. So many people love our district, the traditions and the wonderful heritage of student success that exists in Waxahachie ISD.” view article

The first-year Bridge City schools superintendent looks into the future and sees more and more young people. To make sure the schools have room for them, Dr. Mike Kelly is proposing a building program that will not require any new tax dollars. He wants to add six classrooms at Bridge City Elementary and a new career and technical education building at Bridge City High School. "None of these projects have anything to do with new taxes," Dr. Mike Kelly says. "They would all be paid for out of our fund balance." view article

Hackers obtained Social Security numbers for some district staff in a recent cyberattack, Allen ISD Superintendent Robin Bullock announced in an email Friday afternoon. It is not yet known if all staff or students had their information exposed. The district will notify the staff members — and others, if any — whose Social Security numbers were compromised. The cyberattack on Sept. 20 disrupted district networks, devices and online activities for a day. Since the cyberattack, hackers have attempted to extort the district for millions of dollars, and the district has been trying to deal with the aftermath. view article

Step into the Dallas ISD Translation Services Department and you’ll feel like you’ve stepped into the United Nations. With interpreters who speak American Sign Language, Arabic, Burmese, Chin, French, Italian, Kirundi, Portuguese, Spanish and Swahili, you’ll feel part of a true global experience. The cultural background of the staff is as diverse as the district, and represents El Salvador, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, Burundi, Puerto Rico and Myanmar. These languages and cultures mirror the student population in Dallas ISD schools. view article

CASTROVILLE, Texas — She’s not just a champion in the classroom. This Medina Valley ISD Senior is always going out of her way to help others. It’s common knowledge at Medina Valley High School that Aya Kasim is good at spreading smiles and positive spirit. “She is very selfless and very giving of her time,” said Cheryl Jones, Medina Valley High teacher and student council sponsor. view article

The public is invited to a Killeen Independent School District PTA town hall meeting this week that will address school violence. The event, sponsored by the KISD PTA Council, is touted on Facebook as an “opportunity to voice your opinion to KISD board members.” The meeting will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Church of Deliverance, 3121 Commerce Drive, in Killeen. view article

Houston ISD on Tuesday took responsibility for failing to include the nickname of a trustee candidate when it entered his name in a county elections office portal.  Lee “Mac” Walker, vying for district 7, said last week he learned of the issue when a voter asked whether he was on the ballot. On his application to run, he listed his preferred name — Mac — as the name he wanted identified on the ballot. He has been campaigning under the nickname. view article

The Frisco ISD board of trustees got its first look at proposed zones for the 2022-23 school year at an Oct. 12 meeting.  As Frisco’s population grows, rezoning takes place to preserve the district’s small school model, which supports students having opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities.  Over the past 20 years, attendance zones have been changed 17 times to accommodate the opening of 61 new campuses, according to a district news release.  Kris Poole presented to the board on behalf of Population and Survey Analysts (PASA), the largest demographic firm in the state. PASA assists school districts in rezoning plans by providing enrollment projections based on factors such as city housing projections, undeveloped land and current student populations. view article

Ysleta ISD is the only district in the city to see each of its seven high school marching bands remain in the chase for a UIL state championship following Saturday’s regional contest. All seven of the district’s varsity bands earned Division I ratings and qualified for the next level of competition. District officials say this marks the first time ever in a single year that Ysleta ISD will see all of its high-school marching bands – Bel Air, Del Valle, Eastwood, Hanks, Parkland, Riverside, and Ysleta – advance to separate Area competitions in Class 4A, 5A, and 6A, which will take place later this month. The Riverside High School Ranger Marching Band advances to the next level of competition – the Class 4A Area contest – on Saturday, October 30, at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene, where it will perform its “Legacy” show led by Drum Major Julian Castillo. The band is under the direction of Jason Lauturner, Sean Kilkeny, J.C. Pineda, and Gabby Tellez. view article

ELYSIAN FIELDS — Elysian Fields ISD recently recognized the district’s 2021-22 alumni of the year, Fran Ruben, during the Yellow Jackets’ homecoming football game. Ruben was presented the 2021 Distinguished Jacket Award.  Ruben is the fifth of eight children born to William “Tom” and Arnella (Leffall) Black, and is a 1967 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, Elysian Fields ISD Assistant Superintendent Monica Simmons said in a statement.  Ruben spent most of her 45-year career in mental health services and public education serving as a psychologist, as well as a licensed specialist in school psychology and an educational diagnostician. view article

WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — As the Wichita Falls ISD looks toward the future with the creation of the two new high schools, there is now talk of creating a sixth grade academy. WFISD Superintendent Mike Kuhrt presented the idea to the School Board this afternoon. Kuhrt believes having all sixth grade students in the district at one location will give them transitional experience between elementary and secondary school and expose them to diverse classrooms, effective instruction and a variety of potential secondary course offerings. Kuhrt also said sixth graders are having trouble transitioning to middle school from elementary school. view article

Sherman ISD expanded its Pre-K program this fall, opening a second facility and extending the hours to a full school day for preschool students. It’s the only district in Grayson County to have facilities dedicated to Pre-K. Perrin Early Childhood Center opened its doors this fall to more than 150 preschool students, and Fred Douglass Early Childhood Center welcomed more than 185 students. Last year, the district served a total of 250 students through half-day programs. view article

SAN ANTONIO — Battling mental health challenges with the badge. North East ISD launched a new police unit. NEISD said it's one of the first districts in the state dedicating a team of officers to mental health needs of students and community outreach. The unit will be called the 'Campus And Community Resource Team' or CCRT. It will be made up of seven officers focused on the mental health needs of students. The school district's Police Chief Wally McCampbell said officials started having the conversation about this team six months ago. view article

Five Lamar Consolidated ISD high schools will have free access to an online financial literacy program because of one credit union’s effort to help students develop fiscal skills. First Community Credit Union of Houston Texas announced it is sponsoring Banzai, an award-winning online financial literacy program and content library of economic-related resource material. Since 2016, First Community Credit Union of Houston Texas has worked with Banzai to build financial literacy in the community by investing time, money, industry experience, and credit union resources. view article

Each school day, high school students throughout Hunt County roll up their sleeves and get to work in their various career education classes. And while school districts continue to work to ensure that their kids meet state standards of college readiness, many are providing opportunities for young people to not only learn skills in their vocational classes, but also earn professional certifications. For example, students at Greenville High School (depending on which career technology pathway they take), can earn certifications in skills as diverse as welding, electrical systems, veterinary assistance, culinary arts, or use of specific software, such as Microsoft Excel or Adobe Creative Suite. Likewise, even the smallest districts in Hunt County, like Boles ISD, offer opportunities to earn professional certifications in several of the same fields. “Even when I was little, I was interested in engineering, but as a girl I was reluctant,” said Anika Escobar, a junior at Greenville High School. “But, after I started with FIRST Robotics and then solar car (class/team), I started to learn what all goes behind the making of a car and I liked it. In solar car, I learned so much about welding that I took the test to become AWS certified and passed.” view article

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- In August, Action 13 exposed severe discrepancies in discipline for students in the Greater Houston area. Black and Hispanic kids are more likely to miss school because of suspensions than their white peers, data shows. There is a different approach to discipline that changes the system by taking race out of the equation. It's called restorative discipline. The idea is to use relationships to deal with the root issue behind bad behavior at school instead of sending students home. view article

Cool fall weather and threatening rainclouds put an extra kick into the steps of hundreds of enthusiastic runners and walkers who gathered at Denison High School Oct. 2nd for the district’s 5th annual 5K for Kindness. Proceeds from the event, which grossed over $18,000, will benefit the Denison Boys & Girls Club, the Denison Education Foundation and the Rachel Ramer Scholarship Fund.  “I continue to be so impressed by the broad base of support that our 5K for Kindness generates throughout our school district and community,” said DISD Superintendent Dr. Henry Scott.  view article