Citizens Defending Freedom and attorney Mitch Little are joining the fight against unsuitable books in Denton ISD.  A Denton mom and grandmother is escalating her fight to keep inappropriate books out of her local elementary school libraries, and she’s gaining support from grassroots activists and a prominent Republican lawyer.  Debi Scaggs raised her children in Denton Independent School District, and now her grandchildren attend school in the district.  Last year, Scaggs challenged several elementary school library books that promoted “transgender” ideology to young children.  The district removed three of the books Scaggs challenged but kept books about a boy who wears dresses to school, Jacob’s New Dress and Jacob’s Room to Choose by Sarah Hoffman. view article arw

Protests are planned outside the home of the superintendent of Barbers Hill ISD. Activists say the district’s policy restricting the length of boy’s hair violates the Crown Act. This comes as the case involving a current student, Darryl George, 18, heads to trial Thursday. George hasn’t spent much time at Barbers Hill High School. He was suspended in August 2023 for violating the dress code. view article arw

After record numbers of illegal aliens have flooded into the United States, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is working on plans to release thousands of illegal aliens from detention centers into the country. According to a report from The Washington Post, ICE is planning to mass release more than 16,000 illegal aliens into the country after Senate Republicans and a handful of Democrats rejected a border measure supported by the Biden administration. The measure would have erased a $700 million budget shortfall but did not address Republicans’ concerns over the border crisis. view article arw

A Dallas Independent School District middle school is being renamed in honor of longtime state Sen. Royce West, but not everyone is happy with the decision. An official renaming ceremony for the Royce West Leadership Academy, located on Sebring Drive in southeast Dallas and known formerly as Kennedy Curry Middle School, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday. view article arw

The Livingston Independent School District on Wednesday expressed condolences to the family and friends of Audrii Cunningham, the 11-year-old who had been missing since Thursday, after her body was found in the Trinity River. The school district said Cunningham was a fifth-grade student and asked people to "keep Audrii's family, teachers, friends and community in your thoughts and prayers" in a statement on Facebook. view article arw

While the term “amygdala” may not bear much significance for the average person, elementary students attending Biomedical Preparatory at UT Southwestern understand it as the small structure inside the brain that processes emotions. Through experiential learning and the school’s partnership with the UTSW Medical Center, students easily grasp complex concepts like this every day. view article arw

Joshua ISD students may be going to school just four days a week starting this fall. A hybrid four-day week is one of three calendar options the district is considering.  Joshua ISD Superintendent Corey Hickerson hosted a Facebook live on Wednesday to answer questions from parents about the new calendar, as well as school capacity and other issues.  “Our goal, if we implement this hybrid model, is to implement the burden on parents,” Hickerson said. “We want to make that as easy transition for the parents.”  Hickerson first addressed a Jan. 19 letter sent to parents concerning the capacity concerns at Elder and North Joshua elementary schools. view article arw

But school choice — a proposal that would use public dollars to help K-12 students pay for private school tuition — is not likely to be top of mind for primary voters, political experts say. Republicans are more likely to vote based on bread-and-butter conservative issues, such as border security or the economy.  After being a major focal point of Texas education policy for more than a year, school choice is likely to be one among many issues motivating voters in the Republican primary election.  During the 2023 legislative year, school choice, also known as vouchers or education savings accounts, drew thousands of supporters and opponents to the Capitol as lawmakers took up various iterations of the issue — none of which made it to the finish line. Advocates from across the country flew to Austin to persuade lawmakers to change their votes. Gov. Greg Abbott threw the weight of his office behind school choice, touring schools across Texas to encourage voters to call their representatives, and even called on religious leaders to preach about the issue from the pulpit. view article arw

An undercover investigation reveals multiple Texas universities admitting they will continue DEI work despite the state’s ban.  A new investigation released by Accuracy in Media reveals how Texas universities are attempting to skirt a state law that bans Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies in higher education.   Accuracy in Media (AIM)—an organization that empowers individuals to hold journalists, public officials, and private officials accountable—has released an undercover investigation showing multiple university officials saying they will continue DEI work under new names.  view article arw

What’s happening at the intersection of rampant illegal immigration and education in Texas? As it turns out, quite a lot.  Last week, multiple incumbent members of the Texas House, who voted to strip a school choice provision from an omnibus education bill in late 2023, released political ads claiming their votes were motivated by border security convictions.  Gov. Greg Abbott called one of these lawmakers, Drew Darby (R-San Angelo), a liar, and State Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston) a fraud for “knowingly misleading his own voters to try to protect the teacher unions.” view article arw

Editor’s note: This story led off this week’s Future of Learning newsletter, which is delivered free to subscribers’ inboxes every other Wednesday with trends and top stories about education innovation. By traditional measures of well-being, America’s children and teens should be doing well. Consider that:  Over the past two decades, high school graduation rates have gone up.  Fewer teens are taking up smoking.  The birth rate among 15-to-19 year olds is at a record low.  Arrest rates among teens are dropping. Youth drug use is trending down.  Nevertheless, teens report that their own mental health is spiraling: Increasingly, they are anxious, depressed and wrestling with thoughts of suicide. The measures that researchers have traditionally used to gauge adolescent well-being have become sharply out of step with the reality of adolescent life. view article arw

Editor’s note: This story led off this week’s Future of Learning newsletter, which is delivered free to subscribers’ inboxes every other Wednesday with trends and top stories about education innovation. By traditional measures of well-being, America’s children and teens should be doing well. Consider that:  Over the past two decades, high school graduation rates have gone up.  Fewer teens are taking up smoking.  The birth rate among 15-to-19 year olds is at a record low.  Arrest rates among teens are dropping. Youth drug use is trending down.  Nevertheless, teens report that their own mental health is spiraling: Increasingly, they are anxious, depressed and wrestling with thoughts of suicide. The measures that researchers have traditionally used to gauge adolescent well-being have become sharply out of step with the reality of adolescent life. view article arw

The importance of having high-quality, affordable and accessible child care is bubbling up as early childhood development advocates push for how Texas can support its youngest. “Children do better as their parents do better and when families thrive, our communities succeed,” said Tori Mannes, president and CEO of ChildCareGroup. view article arw

Ballinger ISD Superintendent Caroline Tolivera composed a compassionate letter in a Facebook post on February 17 at 4:00 P.M. to the Ballinger school district and community addressing the unexpected death of Elizabeth Cook, providing a list of services available to teachers and students affected. view article arw

Acclaimed San Antonio Chef Johnny Hernandez joined Port Isabel Early College High School culinary students Thursday afternoon, providing competition tips as they prepare for the 14th annual Paella Challenge in San Antonio. The competition March 24 at Mission County Park will also mark the 12th annual high school challenge sponsored by H-E-B. About 40 professional chefs and 15 high school teams will compete, said Hernandez, who founded the contest. Paella is a rice dish from Valencia, Spain. The original version includes chicken and rabbit, but a seafood version features shrimp and scallops. view article arw

The Timpson (Texas) High standout will sign with Texas A&M, LSU or Georgia on Wednesday. There is nothing like Texas High School football and Timpson (Texas) High superstar and Texas A&M bound Terry Bussey certainly left his mark. view article arw

Georgetown ISD's new superintendent said the district it is entering a "critical" period as it plans for continued growth.  At an Oct. 11 Georgetown Chamber of Commerce luncheon, GISD Superintendent Devin Padavil addressed a room of community members, some of whom said they have children in the school district. Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau in May showed Georgetown is the fastest-growing city in the country with a population of more than 50,000 residents, and Padavil said the district is reckoning with a ballooning student body.  GISD currently has 600 more students than it did last year, he said.  "I don't think this is hyperbole to share with you that we're probably at one of the most critical points in the future of Georgetown ISD as a school district," Padavil said. view article arw

Community members across East Texas are mourning the loss of a Winnsboro ISD student who suddenly passed away following a fishing tournament. The student has been identified as Winnsboro High School junior, Kale Robinson, who was a beloved member in the fishing community. Robinson was part of the Texas High School BASS Association for three years before suddenly losing his life this weekend. view article arw

While new elementary boundaries will be implemented before the 2024-25 school year, altered intermediate and junior high boundaries will take effect for the 2025-26 school year, according to TISD. High school boundaries will change ahead of the 2026-27 school year, and grades at specific schools will be reconfigured to account for the addition of a fifth-grade facility at Creekside Park Junior High. Boundary changes will be implemented in three phases, which also include grade configurations before the 2026-27 school year for elementary, intermediate and junior high levels, TISD officials said. view article arw

Another San Antonio-area school district is going to a four-day school week. The Bandera Independent School District Board of Trustees approved the change in the district’s 2024-2025 calendar earlier this week. Students and teachers will have Fridays off, with the exception of some teacher workdays. The school days now will begin 10 minutes earlier in the mornings and end 25 minutes later than during previous five day work weeks. view article arw

In perhaps a modern-day “Footloose,” around a half dozen students danced in front of the Leander ISD board Thursday night to protest a district policy change. For years, Leander ISD allowed students who participated in dance programs off campus to apply that time towards course credit. In addition to the credit, students would get a free period. view article arw

At Crockett Elementary in the Heights area of Houston's Northside, music is almost always in the air. It's a magnet school for the performing and visual arts. "It’s something that I think is really unique," said parent Liz Silva. "There’s not many schools where children are taking percussion multiple times a week, and they have orchestra options and all of the instruments, and they have dance and visual arts." view article arw

Brenham had six 6th grade teams participating out of 46 in total. Twelve teams advanced to the next round, and five of those teams were Brenham’s: American Hunters, AR Fishonaries, Digital Band Orchestrators, City Scapers, and the International Geocaching Crew. view article arw

Each year, Black History Month is a time to honor and celebrate African Americans’ significant contributions and achievements throughout history, recognizing their profound impact on our society and culture. This month is an opportunity to continue the march toward equality and justice while understanding and appreciating the rich diversity and resilience of the African American community. By dedicating this month to learning about and reflecting on our history and the role African Americans played in the growth of our country, we can foster a more inclusive and compassionate world. The theme for this year is “Art as a Platform for Social Justice.” T view article arw

Two months into the second semester of the year, Kingsville ISD teachers and students have had the chance to get used to only attending school for four days a week. This fall, the district adopted a shortened school week. Students are only required to attend school Monday through Thursday. But key to the calendar are voluntary half-days when students are invited to come to school for intervention and enrichment. view article arw

Palestine ISD announced their new athletic director and head football coach Thursday morning. James Reyes joins Palestine from Lumberton ISD, where he served in the same position. Reyes hails from Nacogdoches, and has coached in several areas in East Texas during his career. The passion runs in Reyes’ family; his father coached for 42 years. view article arw

The University Interscholastic League’s 31-5A District Executive Committee determined Wednesday that James “Nikki” Rowe’s boys basketball team let an ineligible player take the court and determined the team had to forfeit all games in which that player took part, according to McAllen ISD. view article arw

In the far, far suburbs of Houston, Texas, three teenagers are talking at a coffee shop about a clandestine bookshelf in their public school classroom. It's filled with books that have been challenged or banned. "Some of the books that I've read are books like Hood Feminism, The Poet X, Gabi, A Girl in Pieces," says one of the girls. She's a 17-year-old senior with round glasses and long braids. The books, she says, sparked her feminist consciousness. "I just see, especially in my community, a lot of women being talked down upon and those books [were] really nice to read."  These students live in a state that has banned more books than nearly any other, according to PEN America. The Texas State Board of Education passed a policy in late 2023 prohibiting what it calls "sexually explicit, pervasively vulgar or educationally unsuitable books in public schools." Over the past two years, Texas teachers have lost jobs or been pressured to resign after making challenged books available to students. view article arw

According to a district news release, instructional materials review week is a time when the district prepares to adopt a new K-12 science curriculum in compliance with new Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills standards for the 2024-25 academic year. Keller ISD community members, including teachers, staff, parents and students, are invited to attend one of the three following come-and go-events: view article arw

KILGORE – Region 7 Education Service Center proudly celebrated five exceptional educators across the region at a pinning ceremony on Tuesday, February 6. Damaris Nunez Correa of Center ISD, Bailee Smith of Joaquin ISD, Rachel McGinnis of Laneville ISD, Renee Ramsey of Lindale ISD, and Sandi Bristow of Palestine ISD all completed the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards coursework and became nationally recognized and certified in December 2023. Rachel McGinnis is a reading, dyslexia, and ESL teacher and interventionalist for Laneville ISD. “I chose National Board Certification as a way to challenge myself,” says McGinnis. “It teaches you to be more reflective about your teaching, more intentional about your planning, and really dive into the data you get from your assessments.” view article arw

The fourth-quarter growth report is in for Denton ISD, and the picture is dramatic. The same week that a number of districts are either preparing to shutter campuses or discuss closures in Fort Worth, Irving and Plano, demographer Bob Templeton, the vice president of the school district segment at Zonda Education, told Denton ISD leaders to brace for impact. view article arw

A New Caney Independent School District father wants to know why other parents were not informed about a second-grader who brought a knife to school to threaten his son. On Tuesday, Brandon Farris told Eyewitness News his 7-year-old son was the target of the threat allegedly made by the armed classmate. "We got a phone call (Monday) that a kid brought a knife to school and a ring, and he was going to stab my son and give the ring to my son's girlfriend because he liked her," Farris explained. "They didn't tell any classmates, any parents. They told me they wanted to keep it on the down low." view article arw

More than 2,000 students will have a shorter school week as another school is moving to a four-day school week. Bandera ISD says that the four-day week is a one-year plan. The school day will be extended by 10 minutes in the morning and 25 minutes in the afternoon. view article arw

The Commit Partnership has awarded Dallas ISD the inaugural Dallas County Economic Mobility Award in recognition of outstanding efforts in preparing students for college and career success. The award underscores Dallas ISD’s commitment to equipping students with the necessary skills and resources to thrive in post-secondary education and secure well-paying jobs upon high school graduation. view article arw

Wearing a green t-shirt with "vote, vote, vote, vote, vote," in big block letters across the front, Susana Carranza stood in front of a 12th-grade social studies class at Anderson High School in northwest Austin. Carranza is chair of First Vote!, a free program from the League of Women Voters Austin Area that educates high schoolers about voting. The nonpartisan group has been visiting high schools in the Austin area ahead of the Feb. 5 voter registration deadline for the March primary elections to help eligible students register to vote. The students sat at desks arranged in circles as Carranza started the presentation by telling them their vote matters. Then, she wanted to know what issues are important to them. view article arw