What to know before applying for Texas’ education savings accounts next year

The Texas comptroller’s office has released a set of rules to govern the state’s $1 billion education savings account program, or ESAs. Accepted families will receive thousands of dollars in state funds to send their children to a private school or homeschool them. The overview: Accredited private schools and education vendors can begin applying to join the program as soon as Dec. 9, and applications will open for interested families Feb. 4. Most families accepted into the program will receive about $10,300 per student, which can be spent on tuition at accredited private prekindergarten or K-12 schools and related expenses. Homeschooled students will receive up to $2,000 per year, while students with disabilities will be eligible for up to $30,000 annually.
Lt. Gov. Patrick Counters Abbott’s Plan to Reduce Property Taxes

Gov. Greg Abbott, meanwhile, has proposed tackling rising appraisals and local tax increases. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced a property tax reform plan aimed at increasing the homestead exemption for millions of Texas homeowners. The plan falls short of many of the elements of the property tax cut proposal introduced by Gov. Greg Abbott just last month. At a Tuesday press conference, Patrick outlined reforms that build on past efforts to raise homestead exemptions. He also introduced a new initiative known as “Operation Double Nickel.”
How Odyssey rose from tech startup to manager of Texas’ $1B school voucher program

When Texas chose a company to roll out the state’s $1 billion private school voucher program, it passed over more established vendors in favor of a four-year-old tech startup that said it could do it for almost half the cost. Now, Odyssey must execute on its promises to meet an aggressive timeline while avoiding missteps that have dogged other program launches. The New York-based company has rapidly expanded in recent years, launching programs in eight states that subsidize students’ private education costs with taxpayer dollars.
Paxton Launches Financial Transparency Investigation Into Nearly 1,000 Cities

Attorney General Ken Paxton is escalating his confrontation with local governments over property tax compliance, launching a sweeping investigation into nearly 1,000 Texas cities. This comes just months after previously ordering four municipalities to pause their newly adopted tax rates amid allegations of audit violations. Paxton’s office said the widened review is aimed at ensuring strict adherence to Senate Bill 1851, the new state law that bars any city out of audit compliance from raising property taxes above the no-new-revenue rate.
UNT is the first college in the state to get a naloxone vending machine

The University of North Texas is the first public college in Texas to get a free naloxone vending machine, and Regan Browne, director of the Recovery and Intervention Support and Education Center — called RISE — considers it a win. Browne is new to the director’s chair at RISE, and she was among locals who attended the unveiling of a naloxone vending machine at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios, a storied Denton music venue, in June. A teen survived an overdose there in April because a quick-thinking patron knew the signs and administered naloxone, the generic form of the brand-name drug Narcan. Naloxone is a nasal spray that can reverse the effects of opioids, even a potentially lethal dose.
A slate of new Texas laws go into effect December and January. Here’s what to watch.

Dozens of new Texas laws will take effect in December and January, bringing wide-ranging changes to the state’s education system, law enforcement, taxes and more. Over 800 laws from this year’s regular legislative session already took effect on Sept. 1, but more measures from that period as well as the second special session will soon activate. Some also had to wait for voters’ approval, such as more tax exemption for businesses’ inventory.

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Fort Worth ISD Finds Lead in School Drinking Water

August 0308:14 AM

Fort Worth Independent School District officials said they have been working to reduce the quantity of lead in school drinking water during the summer. Testing of drinking water at Fort Worth ISD schools in June and July revealed lead levels exceeding recommended Environmental Protection Agency levels — 20 parts per billion — in dozens of areas. view article

Leander ISD names lone finalist for superintendent

July 2808:00 AM

The Leander ISD Board of Trustees named Dan Troxell, Ph.D., as the lone finalist to be the district’s new superintendent. Troxell has been superintendent of Kerrville ISD for 14 years, and was named Superintendent of the Year by the Texas Association of School Boards in 2008. Troxell also previously worked for Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, Allen ISD and Round Rock ISD. view article

Round Rock ISD awards $1.9M to ‘innovation’ schools

July 2508:10 AM

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

We Need a Brexit in Texas Education

July 1108:20 AM

The people of America recently woke up to witness the independent spirit of the people of Great Britain. Despite the polls, the people voted 51.8%to 48.2% to leave the [Education schoolkids] European Union and chart their own path. What were the issues that the Brits were upset about? The first thing I thought about the morning after was, we need a Brexit in education. view article

Proposed Judson ISD high school name change sparks community cry

June 0708:30 AM

A new Judson Independent School District high school is on the verge of changing its name before it opens. Mackey High School opens in August and nine trustees from Judson ISD host a special meeting to vote on a name change. view article

The cult of ignorance in the United States: Anti-intellectualism and the “dumbing down” of America

May 2508:25 AM

There is a growing and disturbing trend of anti-intellectual elitism in American culture. It's the dismissal of science, the arts, and humanities and their replacement by entertainment, self-righteousness, ignorance, and deliberate gullibility. Susan Jacoby, author of The Age of American Unreason, says in an article in the Washington Post, "Dumbness, to paraphrase the late senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, has been steadily defined downward for several decades, by a combination of heretofore irresistible forces. These include the triumph of video culture over print culture; a disjunction between Americans' rising level of formal education and their shaky grasp of basic geography, science and history; and the fusion of anti-rationalism with anti-intellectualism." view article

Jump in dyslexia diagnoses spurs Richardson ISD to hire more specialized teachers

May 2307:59 AM

Brooklyn Petersen loves to read. Dyslexia used to get in the way. Reading out loud in class used to be difficult. “I felt like, ‘What is happening?’ Because all the other kids were so good at reading,” said Brooklyn, a fourth-grader at Bowie Elementary in the Richardson Independent School District. view article

Former transgender student responds to Bonham ISD’s bathroom policy

May 1807:30 AM

Bonham ISD announced Monday they won't follow the new federal transgender bathroom policy. The superintendent told us there's no problem for transgender students at Bonham schools, but a former transgender student disagrees. view article

Mississippi school district ordered to desegregate schools after 51-year legal battle

May 1708:31 AM

A Mississippi school district has been ordered to desegregate its schools after what the Justice Department called a five-decade-long legal battle. The Cleveland School District, about two hours northwest of Jackson, was told that it must consolidate its schools in order to provide real desegregation for students in the city of about 12,000. view article

FORT BEND ISD CHANGES LUNCH POLICY FOR DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS

May 0908:25 AM

Fort Bend ISD is going to begin serving up something different for some students who continually fail to pay for their lunches -- a cold cheese sandwich with a side of milk, and that's not sitting well with some parents. We're not talking about students who qualify for free school meals. But apparently, these repeat offenders have gotten so "forgetful" that it's draining the district's budget by hundreds of thousands of dollars. view article

Cy-Fair ISD closes all schools and facilities through April 22 as flooding effects linger

April 2108:20 AM

As the aftermath of the major April 18 rainfall event continues to wreak havoc in the Cy-Fair area, officials with Cy-Fair ISD have announced all schools and facilities will be closed through Friday, April 22. “School closure is not a decision I take lightly, but it is currently the best option for all our students and staff as we support those who have lost everything and ensure all buildings are safe for school,” CFISD Superintendent Mark Henry said in a statement posted to the district’s website. view article

Katy ISD alerts parents to social media threat

April 1908:20 AM

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

Southside ISD board names lone finalist for superintendent

April 1808:29 AM

The Southside Independent School District’s months-long search for a superintendent came to an end Saturday with the naming of a lone finalist from a field of 58 applicants. Mark E. Eads, the current superintendent of the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District, was selected as the finalist during a special meeting after the applicants were narrowed down to three candidates. view article

Abilene ISD Bus Driver Assaulted by Student

April 1108:05 AM

An Abilene ISD bus driver was assaulted Monday morning. Police reports say the driver was transporting students back to the Abilene State Supported Living Center when one of the students refused to stay in his seat. The driver pulled over when he wouldn't sit down as requested, and after she stopped the bus, "the student began punching and kicking the bus driver," according to the reports. view article

Southside ISD’s Mark Weber wins ExCEL Award

April 0808:10 AM

Teachers and students gathered together in the cafeteria at ACES Early College High School for an exciting surprise, and for Mark Weber. The announcement was one that touched his heart. Mark Weber is currently serving as the AVID site coordinator for Aces Early College High School in the Southside Independent School District, and he says he absolutely loves his job. view article

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Dallas ISD board could consider building new South Oak Cliff High School following complaints

March 2908:16 AM

Students and supporters of South Oak Cliff High School could be a step closer to getting a new building. The Dallas ISD Board of Trustees is expected to weigh in on the issue for the first time in early April during a discussion about the 2015 bond program. Trustees could consider replacing the 1951 building or continue with plans to make less expensive improvements. view article

TEA Commissioner Requests AG Opinion on SB 507

March 2308:32 AM

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

Complaints: Former Frisco coach told black students he’d ‘hang them from a tree’

March 1708:12 AM

The Frisco School District has released documents tied to the investigation of racist comments made by a former football coach. Todd Campbell was an assistant coach at Centennial High School. He was put on administrative leave last November after the district received many formal complaints of his alleged comments from offended students and their parents. view article

Red Oak ISD: Builder agrees to pay for Shields Elementary tornado repairs

March 1408:28 AM

More than two months after a tornado hit Shields Elementary School in northern Ellis County on Dec. 26, Red Oak ISD confirmed Thursday that the original builder of the school, Ratcliff Constructors, has agreed to pay for the repairs. Fox 4's Lori Brown began investigating concerns about the quality of construction at the school in Glenn Heights after an exterior wall collapsed in the tornado. view article

Students to see revamped SAT in March, Cy-Fair ISD encourages practice

February 1807:46 AM

This spring, high school students throughout the U.S.—including those at Cy-Fair ISD—will be introduced to an entirely redesigned SAT as the College Board, a nonprofit organization that designs and administers the SAT, has drastically changed one of the most popular college aptitude tests in the country. Beginning in March, students will take a redesigned SAT that, according to the College Board, does away with the difficult vocabulary section and adds in more straight forward questions based on real-world college and career concepts. view article

Istation Scores Predict Student Success on STAAR

February 0207:45 AM

Istation reports a study linking student results on Istation assessments with a high probability of passing Texas' standardized reading test. This study updates Istation's previous prediction band study completed in March 2014 that tracked student performance on Istation's Indicators of Progress (ISIP™) assessments and STAAR (State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness) scores. view article

Slow your roll: Frisco ISD bans hoverboards

January 1108:05 AM

Any Frisco ISD student who got a “hoverboard” for Christmas and wants to show it off at school is in for a rude awakening. The trendy mode of transportation will no longer be allowed on Frisco ISD campuses, the district announced Wednesday. view article

New Texas law may prompt longer school days

January 0608:25 AM

Some San Antonio students may have to wake up a few minutes earlier next school year. Parents can blame it on the politicians who passed a new state law changing the amount of time students spend in school. During the last legislative session, lawmakers approved House Bill 2610. view article

Longer School Days Ahead For Arlington ISD Students

January 0508:15 AM

Arlington parents are hoping a few extra minutes in school every day will mean their students are out for summer break days earlier. The school district is about to lengthen its school days hoping to either provide a buffer in case weather-related school closures are needed or give everyone an early summer break. When kids go to school they’re literally on the clock. Their school year isn’t over until the school has clocked 17,600 minutes of student time. Arlington is hoping it can push all those minutes into a shorter school year. view article

Judson ISD board to discuss rescinding school’s name

December 0908:28 AM

A special board meeting for the Judson Independent School District is set to take place Wednesday night. On the agenda is the possibility of rescinding the name of Dr. Willis Mackey High School. The school was named after the district's former Superintendent who retired last year, and the topic has since been widely debated. view article

Michelle Faust of Round Rock ISD Joins North American Solutions

December 0108:31 AM

North American Solutions (NAS), a leading provider of insurance and risk management services for public entities, is excited to announce that Michelle Faust, currently Director, Safety & Risk Management at Round Rock ISD, will be joining the NAS team in January. view article

Superintendents should have teaching experience

November 2307:45 AM

There is no replicating the classroom teaching experience, and having that experience should not be optional for public school superintendent job candidates. The State Board of Education is voting in Austin today on the states requirements for public school superintendents and is considering removing teaching experience from the list of qualifications. view article

School board extends student/teacher ratio

November 2307:45 AM

Extending the student/teacher ratio for a few third-grade classes and approving a request made by the Texas A&M Agri-life Extension office were the only highlights during November's Plainview ISD school board meeting Thursday. With a unanimous vote, PISD trustees voted to approve an application for a waiver to exceed the ... view article

TEA: LA MARQUE ISD’S ACCREDITATION REVOKED, TO BE ANNEXED BY ANOTHER DISTRICT

November 1608:20 AM

Officials with the Texas Education Agency confirmed Thursday that the troubled La Marque school district has lost its accreditation and will be annexed by another district. In a letter addressed to the Board of Trustees and La Marque ISD, Commissioner of Education Michael Williams says the school district will be closed, effective July 1. He cites the district's rating of "academically unacceptable" for 2011 and a rating of "improvement required" in the state of Texas' academic accountability rating system for 2013 and 2014. view article

Editorial: Hallsville ISD does a poor job dealing with bullying incident

November 1307:58 AM

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

TEA announces closure of La Marque ISD

November 1208:40 AM

The La Marque Independent School District will officially be no more. The Texas Education Agency informed the La Marque ISD school board that the district will be annexed by another district after failing to meet standards for academic and financial accountability, TEA spokesperson Gene Acuna said. view article

Lighting mitigation plan a no for DSISD

November 1108:10 AM

The denial of an alternative light mitigation plan for Dripping Springs ISD’s new baseball/softball complex put in to motion an inventory of outdoor lighting at all district facilities. On Oct. 13, the Dripping Springs City Council turned down the Dripping Springs ISD’s proposed lighting mitigation. view article

Teen beaten by Pasadena ISD officer settles for $60,000

November 1008:16 AM

A teen who was severely bruised in a "brutal and excessive" nightstick attack by a Pasadena ISD school resource officer has settled his federal lawsuit for $60,000. Cesar Suquet Jr. was 16 in May 2014 when he went to the principal's office at South Houston High School to retrieve his cell phone, which had been confiscated earlier that day. His request was declined and he was told to leave. view article

Texas Supreme Court Hears Case Over Texas Homeschool Rights

November 0408:10 AM

When Gene and Shirene McIntyre met with an attendance officer in the El Paso Independent School District in November 2006, their nine grandchildren had already been homeschooled for more than a year. But they were concerned the kids weren’t getting a proper education. view article

Weaver Elementary School launches Chinese language program for kindergartners, first-graders

October 3008:15 AM

Six-year-old Harry Brown plopped down on the colorful rug in his kindergarten class and shook a clear little plastic container with two dice. He looked at the sets of dots facing up, added the two numbers aloud and pointed to the total number in Mandarin Chinese on his worksheet. view article

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