Katy ISD approves $102K design contract for potential Complex of Innovation renovations

Changes could be coming to Katy ISD’s Complex of Innovation, which houses the Miller Career & Technology Center. At a June 22 meeting, Katy ISD board of trustees approved a $102,500 design contract with Stantec Architecture Inc. to create a site plan to explore possible renovations and expansions at the Complex of Innovation. view article

Hamshire-Fannett ISD superintendent retires

After 10 years serving the Hamshire-Fannett ISD, Superintendent Dwaine Augustine announced his retirement, which was effective immediately June 30. view article

Connally ISD superintendent talks strategy, preps for 1st state-managed school year

Restructured classroom teaching for elementary and junior high. Fewer campuses. Principals whose main job is instructional leadership. New "Innovation Labs." Hiring and retention bonuses for teachers.  The upcoming school year for Connally Independent School District, which begins Aug. 3 for teachers and Aug. 11 for students, will be the first under state management and, accordingly, has a new look and strategy.  Five consecutive years of failing accountability grades for Connally's elementary and junior high schools led Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath to put the district under state management for the next two years, with an appointed board of managers and superintendent taking over district operations. For Superintendent Josie Gutierrez, her first month on the job has been packed with hiring leadership, teachers and staff, and building the framework for an instructional approach aimed at bringing failing schools up to grade level. view article

MAP: How much money Central Texas school district superintendents make?

AUSTIN (KXAN) — As school districts across Central Texas consider budget decisions for the next academic year, including needing to cut budgets to address financial challenges, KXAN is keeping track of starting superintendent salaries area-wide.  There are 58 school districts in the KXAN viewing area, from Mason ISD in the west to Fayetteville ISD in the east.  The map below shows base salaries in each district for current superintendents for the academic year 2025-26. Salary information for the new academic year, 2026-27, has not yet been published by the Texas Education Agency. view article

Texas Supreme Court rejects lawsuit by survivors of Uvalde school shooting

Twenty students and five teachers accused DPS and Uvalde County of negligence in the delayed response to the deadly 2022 shooting. The Texas Supreme Court on Friday rejected an appeal by Robb Elementary students and teachers who argued failures by the Department of Public Safety and Uvalde County contributed to a botched response to the 2022 shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers. The court’s order, issued without comment, upheld a February ruling by the San Antonio-based 4th Court of Appeals that dismissed the lawsuit.  DPS and the county were sued for negligence by five teachers and 20 students who were at the school but not in the classrooms where the shootings occurred. view article

Maternal health ‘deserts’ endanger some Texas women, babies

HEMPHILL — Sarah Gipson knew something was wrong when the normally chatty sonogram technician fell silent and called for the doctor. Gipson was in the 32nd week of her high-risk pregnancy, and she felt horrible. She was seeing stars, had constant ringing in her ears, and had been on bed rest for several weeks.  Gipson is one of thousands of women across Texas living in a maternal healthcare “desert,” with limited access to care during pregnancy, according to an analysis by Public Health Watch of data published in a May 2024 report by the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals (TORCH). view article

Abilene ISD trustee Alana Jeter shares empty-nest journey

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Alana Jeter is one of the newest members of the Abilene ISD school board. She's the Executive Director of the Noah Project in Abilene, but she's also the mom of two children. She has a son already in college, and her daughter is headed to college in the fall. While they both will attend McMurry University in Abilene, it will still be a big transition for them. view article

Van ISD mourns death of high school student after ‘tragic accident’

VAN — A Van High School student has died following a tragic accident, the school district said. Van ISD made a post on Facebook sharing the news with “profound sadness.”  “Kayden was a beloved member of the Vandal family whose infectious smile, kind heart, and servant spirit left a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him,” Van ISD said. “Having recently completed his freshman year at Van High School, Kayden was known for his energy, intelligence, and willingness to lend a helping hand whenever it was needed.” view article

Supreme Court clears way for Trump administration to revive restrictive immigration policy

In a 6-3 decision, the justices green-lit the practice of limiting the number of people who can apply for asylum each day. view article

Facing state probe and infighting, Judson ISD names a new leader for 4th time this year

Amidst a state investigation and board infighting, Judson Independent School District named a new interim leader. On Tuesday, the board chose Ann Dixon, a longtime educator and familiar face at Judson, in a 6-1 vote. Once the superintendent of Somerset ISD, Dixon has served as interim at more than 20 other districts in Texas, including Judson at one point. view article

California: Screen time limits coming for LAUSD in the fall

The nation’s second-largest system will impose restrictions for all grade levels, with the strictest ones for the youngest students. view article

Keller ISD announces employee raises for upcoming school year

The Keller Independent School District has announced employee raises for their 2026-2027 academic school year, according to a release. The Keller ISD Board of the Trustees met Thursday June 25, 2026, to discuss the general fund budget. The board approved the budget in the special meeting, which projected a $346.1 million revenue, with a $300,000 surplus. view article

Lubbock ISD Trustees announce leadership hire, approve 2026-2027 budget and compensation plan

The Lubbock Independent School District (Lubbock ISD) Board of Trustees met for their regular and workshop meeting on Thursday (June 25). At the meeting, the trustees announced Cary Fulgham as the district’s new Director of Instructional Technology, a position recently created that consolidates three other positions and provides leadership for the planning, implementation, evaluation and continuous improvement of instructional technology and digital learning initiatives across the district. view article

Houston ISD board unanimously approves controversial Bible-infused curriculum for 2026-27 school year

Houston ISD's state-appointed board of managers greenlit Bible-infused curriculum for elementary school students at a special board meeting Thursday night, when the board also voted to adopt a $2 billion operating budget for 2026-27. The state-developed Bluebonnet Learning curriculum for students in kindergarten through fifth grade has been criticized for its inclusion of biblical teachings in reading and language arts lessons. Its implementation also comes with a per-student financial incentive – more than $3 million in additional revenue for HISD, the largest school district in Texas. view article

Midland ISD denies ICE at construction site amid rumors

After social media posts claimed ICE agents were conducting an operation at a Midland construction site Friday morning, Midland ISD has issued a statement, saying there were no federal immigration officers on the district’s job site, and no arrests were made. The district released a statement Friday afternoon after multiple social media outlets shared videos and firsthand accounts from construction workers who believed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were in the area of a construction site near Avalon Drive and Thomason Drive. view article

Lubbock ISD Trustees announce leadership hire, approve 2026-2027 budget and compensation plan

The Lubbock Independent School District (Lubbock ISD) Board of Trustees met for their regular and workshop meeting on Thursday (June 25). At the meeting, the trustees announced Cary Fulgham as the district’s new Director of Instructional Technology, a position recently created that consolidates three other positions and provides leadership for the planning, implementation, evaluation and continuous improvement of instructional technology and digital learning initiatives across the district. view article

Texas school districts find creative ways to keep students reading over summer break

State data shows most grade levels in Texas saw reading scores for the annual STAAR exam increase past pre-pandemic levels, and educators are hoping to keep that momentum going this summer. Inside a Forney Independent School District cafeteria, 200 kids sit as still as they can. Their eyes are glued to a school principal reading a book. view article

Austin ISD pushes back boundary realignment timeline

Austin ISD is delaying its district-wide school boundary realignment by one year. The move comes after the district closed 10 campuses at the end of the 2025-26 school year, leaving it to navigate where those students will have classes in the upcoming fall semester. In a message to families on Friday, AISD Superintendent Matias Segura said the comprehensive plan will now take effect for the 2028-29 school year in order to give leaders more time to work through budgetary concerns, staffing, enrollment and long-term planning. view article

Refugio ISD prepares for student summer meal program

The Refugio Independent School District prepares for student summer meal program view article

Arlington ISD launches new virtual school options this fall. Could it mean more students?

When the 2026-27 school year opens, Arlington ISD will see some new beginnings. The school district, which is facing declining enrollment and a budget shortfall, will introduce two virtual school options at the high school level. Sarah McMurrough, the school board president, said she is excited to see the new programs take shape and that they will help the district better serve its students. view article

Mandated Bible stories in reading lists, revamped history for Texas public schools approved

The State Board of Education approved the reading lists and K-8 social studies changes after months of debates.  Texas will require Bible stories in public schools after the State Board of Education approved a mandatory reading list Friday alongside a rewrite of K-8 social studies lessons that minimize racial, geographic and cultural diversity.  The Republican-led board passed the mandated Christian stories in public school lessons on a 9-4 vote along party lines, with two members not present for the vote.  view article

Q&A: NEISD’s newest leader talks challenges, AI and changing public education landscape

When NEISD’s then-superintendent left in January, the school board chose Jarrett as interim, before naming him as the sole finalist for superintendent in May and finalizing his appointment on June 16. Anthony Jarrett didn’t set out to be superintendent of San Antonio’s second-largest school district when he started his education career.   In fact, he didn’t plan to work in education.   After moving from the Chicago area to Texas in his teens, Jarrett studied psychology at Texas Tech University, later working as a counselor in a San Antonio mental health facility for over five years. So how did he end up leading North East Independent School District and serving 55,000 students across 65 campuses?   Now officially in the driver’s seat, Jarrett’s job will be to lead the district through a budget deficit, declining enrollment, a growing school-choice movement and uncertainty about the way the state’s new education savings accounts — state dollars for private school tuition and education services — will affect public schools. view article

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Preventive Law: New Year, New(ish) Grievance Procedures: A Review of the Recent Addition of Chapter 26A

Preventive Law:Celebrate the Holidays

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Free medical services to be offered during Operation Border Health /Preparedness

SAN JUAN, Texas – From Monday, July 25, to Saturday, July 30, the Texas Health and Human Services will carry out Operation Border Health/Preparedness (OBHP). OBHP is a program that sets up sites around the Rio Grande Valley, offering residents free health services. Services include general physician services, immunizations, screenings, sport physicals, dental services, vision services, and more. Although assisting the public in maintaining their health is a goal of OBHP, the underlying purpose is to assist the community in preparing for disasters. State Sen. Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, said Operation Border Health Preparedness allows state, local, and nonprofit entities to practice setting up and operating health clinics that may be needed in the case of a public health emergency, while providing free care to the community. He said services include medical exams, immunizations for children and adults, sports physicals for students, health and diabetes screenings, and dental and vision exams. “Operation Border Health Preparedness is a great example of a smart policy that not only ensures we are prepared for future public health crises, but also provides an immediate public benefit in the process,” Hinojosa said. view article

Clint Independent School District approves pay raises, $2,500 payments for some employees

The Clint Independent School District on Thursday approved pay raises and a one-time $2,500 payment for qualifying employees during the upcoming school year. view article

After Uvalde school shooting, Texas police wonder how much training is enough — and will it matter?

Police officials and law enforcement experts say there’s no guarantee that officers will follow their training and confront a shooter — no matter how much training they have.  In the weeks since officers in Uvalde waited more than an hour to confront a gunman who killed 19 children and two adults at an elementary school, police departments across the state have asked themselves a crucial question: If they faced a similar situation, would they be able to quickly stop the gunman?  The images of parents and students pleading with officers to take action at Robb Elementary School on May 24 before a tactical team of federal agents finally breached a classroom and fatally shot the 18-year-old gunman deeply disturbed Marfa police Chief Estevan Marquez. view article

Report: Austin ISD has not met minimum TX exam standards for disabled students in 4 years

The Austin school district has not met minimum state exam standards for students with disabilities in the past four years, according to an independent review of the district’s special education programs. Stetson and Associates, a consulting firm, conducted a review of the Austin school district’s services for students with disabilities starting during the 2019-20 academic year, although the evaluation was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a change in leadership at the district. view article