Gov. Abbott Signs Billions in Homeowner, Business Property Tax Relief

Gov. Greg Abbott has signed three measures providing new property tax relief to homeowners and businesses. During a press conference in Denton on Monday, Abbott signed Senate Bill 4, Senate Bill 23, and House Bill 9 into law, which he says will bring the total amount of additional tax relief passed this session up to $10 billion. That number, however, includes some existing property tax relief passed in previous sessions. All three measures in the tax relief package were worked on by State Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R–Houston) and State Rep. Morgan Meyer (R–Dallas), who were in attendance at the signing. The first measure signed, SB 4, raises the homestead exemption to $140,000.
Patrick Accuses Abbott of Trying To Legalize Recreational Marijuana in Texas

Gov. Abbott’s veto of legislation banning THC has created a rare public clash between two of the state’s top leaders.
Gov. Greg Abbott vetoes THC ban, calls for regulation instead

The move infuriated Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the powerful head of the Senate, who had called the ban among his top five bills over 17 years in the Legislature.
Did Texas lawmakers do enough for children with disabilities? These child care advocates say no.

Lawmakers added $100 million to a child care scholarship program but failed to expand access to free preschool for children with disabilities. LUFKIN — Texas lawmakers this year added $100 million to a scholarship fund to help families across the state pay for early child care, an extraordinary investment that may ease a waitlist to help thousands of children. However, advocates say legislators fell short in creating more opportunities for the state’s youngest living with disabilities. “Most families with children with disabilities are really struggling in one area, if not multiple,” said Bethany Edwards, director for research and evaluation at the Center for Transforming Lives, a North Texas nonprofit that helps single mothers. Edwards is also a parent of a child with disabilities. “And there's a lot that can happen from a policy standpoint to change these systems, but change seems to happen very slowly,” she said.
Gov. Greg Abbott orders special legislative session after vetoing 26 bills

Abbott will call lawmakers back to Austin to tackle Senate Bill 3, a proposed ban on THC products that he vetoed, as well as five others from his veto list.
Texas Gov Signs Bill Requiring Ten Commandments in Public School Classrooms

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill into law that would require all public school classrooms in his state to display the biblical Ten Commandments. The law, which goes into effect on Sept. 1, requires classrooms to display a poster or framed English translation of the commandments that is at least 16-by-20 inches and is able to be read from anywhere in the classroom. Texas has more than 5.5 million students throughout its more than 9,000 public schools.

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Lancaster ISD Watering Kindergarten College Dreams With Cash

February 1407:45 AM

In Lancaster, piggy banks are helping plant the seeds of college dreams, especially when the school district chips in $50 just to get families started. view article

This Mexican musical tradition is now an official sanctioned high school event in Texas

February 0707:45 AM

Mariachi performance is a fully sanctioned University Interscholastic League event for the first time this year — a sign the Mexican ensemble style of music known for its stringed instruments, trumpets and powerful Spanish-language vocals is growing in popularity at Texas high schools. The State Mariachi Festival has been held for three years under a pilot status, but this year’s event in Edinburg later this month means the festival is here to stay. The festival’s status comes as mariachi programs appear to be growing in Texas, where Hispanic students make a growing part of the school population. “We believe that mariachi music is an important part of the heritage of many students in Texas because it is a part of their family heritage,” said Brad Kent, the UIL’s director of music. view article

Coppell ISD middle school teacher accused of inappropriate behavior with student

January 1008:10 AM

A Coppell ISD middle school teacher accused of inappropriate behavior with a student was arrested Monday on campus, officials say. The Dallas County Sheriff's Department arrested Julie Jenkin Brewer, 45, about 3:30 p.m. at Coppell Middle School West in the 2700 block of Ranch Trail in Dallas. Officials had received a complaint about alleged inappropriate text and social media messages between Brewer and a student, Sheriff's Department spokesman Raul Reyna said. view article

Whitehouse ISD: Student arrested for making terroristic threat

November 2808:20 AM

A Whitehouse ISD student has been arrested Tuesday after making a threat. According to a Facebook post from Whitehouse ISD, the student was arrested Tuesday morning and was charged with making a terroristic threat, a 3rd degree felony.

Hays CISD releases draft innovation plan

November 1908:25 AM

On Nov. 9 Hays CISD released the draft of its innovation plan, which must be approved by the board of trustees in order to receive a district of innovation designation. If approved, the district would be able to make changes to the academic calendar and to exempt some Career and Technical Education instructors from teacher certification requirements. The district of innovation designation was created by the Texas Legislature in 2015 as a way to give independent school districts some of the flexibility that charters schools have under state law. While becoming a district of innovation can allow for numerous exemptions to curriculum or logistics requirements, the most-used exemption is the one that allows schools to start earlier in August. view article

In reversal, Texas board votes to teach students about Helen Keller, Hillary Clinton

November 1407:45 AM

Hillary Clinton and Helen Keller are back on the lesson plan after a vote by the Texas State Board of Education. The committee voted 12-2, with one abstention, on Tuesday to continue teaching students about Clinton in high school history classes, according to State Board of Education Director Debbie Ratcliffe. The board also voted to keep Keller on the curriculum. The vote reverses a September preliminary decision to cut the women, along with 1964 Republican presidential nominee Barry Goldwater and several other historical figures, from the required curriculum. The board said then that the change was intended to streamline the curriculum for its 5.4 million students at the recommendation of volunteer work groups. view article

UPDATE: Voters pass $118.3 million New Braunfels ISD bond

November 0708:25 AM

After a majority of voters showed support for a $118.3 million bond package for New Braunfels ISD, the district will move forward with plans to build new schools, make facility renovations, increase security measures, upgrade technology, enhance transportation and expand athletic programs. “I mean it’s a significant percentage so first of all I’m really happy to see that that many people voted,” said NBISD Board President Sherry Harrison. “I’m very excited about that all by itself.” view article

Port Aransas ISD receives $1.2 million FEMA grant for Harvey recovery reimbursements

October 3109:35 AM

Port Aransas schools are getting reimbursed for measures they took to get things up and running after Hurricane Harvey. The district on Monday announced it had received a grant for more than $1.2 million Federal Emergency Management Agency to help pay for things such as generators, air dryers, portables and security. Those items and more were needed in the aftermath of the Category 4 storm hit the area Aug. 25, 2017. view article

Big Country band directors step up to help Coleman directors injured in car crash

October 2907:45 AM

The spirit of the Big Country was in full effect over the weekend. The Coleman High School band director, Matthew Sowell and wis wife, Jackie, the assistant director were injured in a car crash the day before UIL marching contest in Mineral Wells. "My wife and I were coming [to morning band practice] and it was raining," Matthew Sowell says. "An 18-wheeler lost control right in front of us." view article

San Eli ISD Teacher Using Real-World Law Enforcement, Investigation Techniques to Prep Students

September 1108:10 AM

As a forensics and biomedical sciences CTE teacher, Luna exposes her students to techniques used in real world law enforcement and crime investigations. Her lessons cover topics related to the collection of evidence including entomology, anthropology, ABO blood typing, fingerprinting, DNA, case studies, hair analysis and ballistics. view article

Leander ISD works with Concordia University to offer new summer leadership program

July 2308:11 AM

Aspiring Leander ISD teachers now have the option to earn their master’s degree of education with a specialization in education administration through a unique partnership with Concordia University Texas. The new LISD Aspiring Leader program, which kicked off in May, offers district-specific coursework to groom potential and current LISD teachers for their careers with a distinctly LISD-oriented approach. view article

Midland ISD announces new principal for Scharbauer Elementary

July 2008:08 AM

Midland ISD has announced the new principal for Scharbauer Elementary Deanna Flader, a former elementary teacher and assistant principal for Midland ISD will be the principal at Scharbauer Elementary starting in the Fall. view article

Wichita County candidate’s request triggers statewide precedent in politics

July 0208:10 AM

The Texas Education Commission approved a groundbreaking request Wednesday in Austin from Wichitan Catie Robinson to pay for campaign-related child care with political contributions. The commission unanimously adopted a favorable ethics advisory opinion requested by the Democratic candidate, setting a precedent for state and local candidates across Texas. view article

S.A. school districts made all eighth-graders take algebra — and it worked

June 2808:22 AM

Eighth-graders in Southwest Independent School District passed their standardized math exams at a rate 8 percentage points below the state average last year — but something different was going on at the district’s Scobee Middle School. view article

Phone survey seeks input on potential Georgetown ISD bond projects

June 2608:10 AM

Georgetown ISD and a district-organized citizens advisory committee are using a phone survey to get community feedback regarding potential facility and equipment projects that could be included in a November 2018 bond election should district trustees vote to call one, according to a press release Monday. view article

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UPDATE: Texas school district where 10 fatally shot adds police

June 1308:41 AM

The Texas school district where eight students and two teachers were fatally shot last month has implemented security measures increasing the number of police officers and guards on campuses. The Santa Fe Independent School District said the increased security presence began Wednesday at the district's four schools southeast of Houston. view article

Body of Pakistani Girl Killed in Texas School Shooting Is Returned Home

June 1108:25 AM

Sabika Sheikh finally returned to her family in Pakistan on Wednesday from her months away as a foreign exchange student in Texas. Her father was the first to meet her coffin, draped by a Pakistani flag, at Karachi’s airport in the dark of the early morning. view article

Austin ISD: student, teacher numbers decreasing while admin salaries rise

June 0808:20 AM

Enrollment in the Austin Independent School District has been on a six-year slide with no end in sight. Consequently, the number of teachers has been steadily decreasing. During the same period, however, the number of administrators, the highest paid group of professionals in the district, has held fast, while their average base salaries have increased by 32 percent since the 2011-12 school year. view article

In sudden move, Katy ISD board president steps down

May 2208:28 AM

Katy ISD continued to experience upheaval Monday as Ashley Vann suddenly announced she was stepping down as board president and two new board members were sworn in, just a few weeks after Lance Hindt, the district's controversial superintendent, announced he would retire next January. When the school board returned from closed session Monday night, Vann acknowledged how proud she was to serve the school district during Hurricane Harvey and of watching the community come together, but then her tone shifted. view article

Shooting reported at Texas’ Santa Fe High School

May 1808:50 AM

A shooting has been reported at a high school in the southeastern Texas city of Santa Fe, officials said Friday. A gunman walked into an art class at Santa Fe High School and began firing what looked like a shotgun, a witness told CNN affiliate KTRK. The witness told KTRK she saw a girl shot in the leg. view article

Lometa ISD reinstates concealed carry for staff

April 0508:25 AM

Staff at Lometa Independent School District in Lampasas County will soon be able to carry concealed weapons after the school board approved their use at a recent meeting. The school board voted March 23 to allow volunteers with concealed carry licenses to begin carrying concealed weapons on campus after undergoing specialized training required by the state. “We have actually had this policy in place for three or four years,” Superintendent David Fisher said. “It was put in place by the prior administration.” view article

Texas schools scramble after state’s $118M pre-K funding cut

April 0308:25 AM

Texas pre-K programs are just scraping by after losing millions of dollars last year — and without sustainable funding, they could see greater problems down the line, school officials say. During the 2017 legislative session, lawmakers decided not to fund a $118 million high-quality pre-K grant program that was created in 2015 and championed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. The money had gone to 573 districts and charter schools that pledged to meet measures such as setting a lower student-teacher ratio, avoiding Common Core curricula and reporting student progress to the state. view article

After Parkland, Fort Bend ISD expedites security vestibules, stations guards at campuses

March 2908:16 AM

In the wake of last month's mass shooting when 17 high school students were killed in Parkland, Fla., a new awareness of school safety issues seems to have arrived for district officials and trustees at Fort Bend ISD. "I've heard a great deal from our students and staff who are concerned and feel like this school shooting felt different from any other school shooting in our nation" FBISD superintendent Charles Dupre said in a video posted on the district website. Awareness of the shooting seemed to be heightened because of media coverage and discussions on social media, Dupree said. view article

Austin ISD Board of Trustees votes to approve ‘modernization’ of Norman Elementary

March 2908:10 AM

On Monday night, the Austin ISD Board of Trustees voted to approve the modernization of Norman Elementary School in East Austin. Under the $1 billion bond passed by voters in November 2017, Austin ISD will rebuild the school as a state-of-the-art facility that would turn it into a "21st century learning environment," according to the district. view article

Houston ISD taps Joseph Williams as new principal of struggling Wheatley High School

February 0108:10 AM

The Houston ISD has announced the appointment of Joseph Williams, a 22-year veteran educator, as the new principal of Wheatley High School. The district said in a news release Tuesday that Williams is "known for transforming underperforming schools into thriving campuses." Wheatley High is in improvement-required status because it has not met state standards for six years, the news release said. view article

Little Elm ISD to hire three special education paraprofessionals

January 2907:45 AM

In order to meet increasing demands, the Little Elm ISD Board of Trustees approved the hiring of three special education paraprofessionals. During Monday’s board meeting, Cortney Clover, executive director for special populations, said the student population has increased, driving the need for more special education teachers. The new staff members come with a $90,000 price tag. view article

Flu outbreak causes two-day shutdown at Sunnyvale ISD

December 1208:25 AM

A flu outbreak has prompted the entire Sunnyvale school district to halt classes Tuesday and Wednesday, officials announced Monday. Not only are student absences soaring, but officials also believe kids needed to be separated to prevent further contamination. view article

Former Killeen ISD teachers arrested for prostitution, deputies say

November 1508:15 AM

Two former Killeen ISD teachers were arrested in a prostitution sting in Bell County on Nov. 8, the Bell County Sheriff's Office confirmed Tuesday. Terrance Hockless, a former music teacher, and Aaron Daub, a former career builder teacher, were both charged with prostitution -- along with eight other individuals who were also arrested in the bust, according to BCSO Major T.J. Cruz. view article

Aledo ISD voters reject $72.9M bond package

November 0908:20 AM

After Aledo ISD voters shot down a $72.9 million bond package Tuesday, the school board and administration said they will work to determine their next steps. According to unofficial election results, 71 percent of voters (2,454 votes) rejected a $64.1 million option to build a new middle school and renovate McAnally Intermediate School to use as an elementary school. Twenty-nine percent (1,020 votes) voted in favor of the option.

Announcer who called Arlington athletes ‘Cougroes’ fired from Cleburne sportscast

October 3107:38 AM

A JacketRadio.com announcer accused of calling Seguin High football players "Cougroes" and jesting about a cheerleader's weight was fired from the Cleburne sportscast and will not work Friday's game against Burleson, Cleburne school officials told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Mark Banton acknowledged being one of the announcers for last week's game between the Cleburne Yellow Jackets and the Seguin Cougars of Arlington ISD but would neither confirm nor deny making the remarks, the Star-Telegram reported. view article

Children’s activity book brings aviation sciences to life

October 2308:09 AM

Baylor’s Institute for Air Science reached out to Baylor’s School of Education in early February to collaborate in making an activity booklet that would entertain and enlighten children about aviation sciences. The project had dragged on for several semesters, being passed between student workers with the task of finding and creating the activities. Kelley Oliver, the institute’s project coordinator and office manager, expressed her concerns over the dilemma to her assistant director, Tim Compton, who advised she reach out to the education department. view article

Vidor ISD estimates more than $12 million in damages, hoping for state, FEMA assistance

October 1808:05 AM

Vidor ISD superintendent Jay Killgo estimates the district has $12-13 million in damages from Harvey. Both Oak Forest Elementary and Vidor Middle School are unusable right now. Those students are going elsewhere, which is overcrowding some schools. view article

Christoval Cougars Fly Into the Future

October 0508:30 AM

view article

In response to Harvey, Houston ISD to provide 3 free meals per day for all students this school year

August 3108:20 AM

The Houston Independent School District announced on Wednesday that it had received approval from the United States Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of Agriculture to waive the required application process for the National School Lunch/Breakfast Program. "All HISD students will eat all school meals for free during the 2017-2018 school year," the district said in a release Wednesday morning. Families still need to apply for this waiver though. view article

Speakers to discuss school finance at Democrat meeting

June 2807:45 AM

School finance was the big-ticket item this legislative session, said Emett Alvarez, Victoria Democrats Club president. "Education should be important to everyone," Alvarez said. "We are all taxpayers and are affected by it one way or the other." The Victoria County Democratic Party will host its club meeting Tuesday at VeraCruz Restaurant, 3110 N. Navarro St. Guest speakers will be Dwight Harris, former president of the Victoria chapter of the Texas American Federation of Teachers, and Ray Thomas, who is running for chief justice of the 13th Court of Appeals. view article

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