In the Headlines

Latest education news

Below are links to articles produced by newspapers, TV and radio stations in Texas and across the country to provide you with a snapshot of what's happening in education.

TCTA is closed Nov. 22-26. Headlines will resume Monday, Nov. 29.

Friday, Nov. 19

• State Board of Education could reject sex ed materials with required birth control lessons that also mention sexuality, masturbation (Texas Tribune)
• Southwest ISD is looking to hire new substitute teachers (News4SA)
• Bryan ISD construction science students build picnic tables for community (KBTX)
• Fearful of new laws, many teachers deterred from covering race-related topics (PBS NewsHour | AP)
• New barbering program at Westfield HS allows students to learn new skills while earning degree (ABC13)
• Should schools require the COVID vaccine? Many experts say it's too soon (NPR)

Thursday, Nov. 18

• Advocates hope the Texas education board will approve new textbooks that include lessons on sexuality (The Texas Newsroom | KERA)
• Reading academy requirement puts additional stress on Texas K-3 teachers (CBS Austin)
• Dallas ISD Implements Employee Retention Incentive For ‘Highly Qualified Staff’ (CBS DFW)
• U.S. Department of Education investigates claims of racial and gender discrimination at North Texas school district (Texas Tribune)
• Midlothian ISD Closing Schools Friday Due To Traveling Staff, Not Enough Substitutes (CBS DFW)
• Texas will receive more than $100 million to invest in broadband expansion across the state (Texas Standard)
• South San ISD monitor says board violated law, policy (San Antonio Report)
• Pandemic or no, kids are still getting — and spreading — head lice (NPR)
• '1619 Project' journalist says Black people shouldn't be an asterisk in U.S. history (NPR)

Wednesday, Nov. 17

• Harlandale ISD approves another $1,000 stipend for its employees (San Antonio Express-News)
• Dallas College launches a 4-year bachelor of education program (KERA)
• School districts ask Texas lawmaker to pay over $1,000 for inquiry into books on racism, sexuality (Houston Chronicle | subscribers)
• Tyler ISD parents express concern over books in campus libraries (Tyler Morning Telegraph)
• Katy ISD removes 'inappropriate' books from libraries after parents express concern (KHOU)
• Abilene ISD updates health and safety protocols, asks parents for feedback (Big Country Homepage)

Tuesday, Nov. 16

• Texas education board considers how middle schools teach climate change and sexuality as officials fight over library books (Texas Tribune)
• Carroll ISD trustees explore policy prohibiting secret employee recordings (Community Impact)
• Fighting teacher shortage, San Antonio ISD board to mull pay increases for substitutes (San Antonio Express-News | subscribers)
• Facing falling enrollments, school officials hope vaccines for younger students will turn tide (San Antonio Report)
• Laredo school districts discuss early pediatric vaccine success (Laredo Morning Times)
• Killeen ISD partnership vaccinates 266 children against COVID-19 (KXXV)
• Dallas ISD to offer free curbside ‘grab ‘n go’ meal service over Thanksgiving for all children 18 years and younger (Dallas ISD)
• Premont ISD keeping an eye on COVID-19 cases as we enter the holidays (KIII)
• ‘I’m really worried that they are behind.’ How Louisiana public schools are dealing with learning disrupted by pandemic surges and storms (PBS NewsHour)

Monday, Nov. 15

• New study ranks Texas public schools on pandemic resiliency (Texas Standard)
• Dyslexia testing changes increase access to services at Conroe ISD, other districts statewide (Community Impact)
• Penguin parents, anti-bullying tips, teen romance: What we found inside three books flagged by a Texas lawmaker’s schools inquiry (Texas Tribune)
• Substitute shortage causing Round Rock ISD teachers to cover extra classes (KXAN)
• Students are still struggling to get internet. The infrastructure bill could help (NPR)
• Rice University named its first Black and foreign-born president in the school’s history (Houston Public Media)
• When a Hyundai is also the family home (NPR)

Friday, Nov. 12

• Group of renowned Texas authors pens open letter to Abbott condemning banned book list (Texas Standard)
• Resolution to Texas school mask battle ‘could take months’ despite ruling (KXAN)
• Spike in COVID-19 cases prompts remote learning for some Canutillo ISD schools (CBS 4)
• Federal mask mandate ruling unlikely to change much in Abilene area (Abilene Reporter-News)
• Spring ISD to launch $3M online tutoring program (Community Impact)
• Carroll ISD Debuts New STEAM Center (Southlake Style)
• When can kids take off their masks in school? Here's what some experts say (NPR)
• Emily Oster: Why wasn't the US tracking the spread of COVID-19 in schools? (Ted Radio Hour | NPR)

Thursday, Nov. 11

• Texas schools can again set their own face mask rules after federal judge overrules Gov. Greg Abbott's ban (Texas Tribune)
  
• School districts struggle to maintain teaching positions in the classroom (KTXS)
• Allen ISD could have half-day pre-K courses through 2023 (Allen American)
• Seminole ISD, Sewell hold staff appreciation meal (News West 9)
• Austin area schools districts start vaccinating students ages 5-11 (CBS Austin)
• Temple ISD bond fails after provisional votes counted (KCEN)
• Kilgore ISD board discusses bond's next steps (Kilgore News Herald)
• Most students who want to transfer colleges don't. Here's how to start (NPR)

Wednesday, Nov. 10

• Gov. Greg Abbott calls for criminal investigation into availability of pornographic content in public schools (Texas Tribune)
• Austin ISD didn't increase enrollment this year, meaning staff won't get annual raises (KUT)
• Friendswood ISD drafts potential 2022-23 academic calendar, requests community feedback (Community Impact)
• Child care workers in Tarrant County are getting a raise (KERA)
• New Caney ISD discusses proposed changes to 2022-23 school start times (Community Impact)
• 'I’m feeling really hopeful': Ex-principal Whitfield speaks out after losing his job in Colleyville (KERA)

Tuesday, Nov. 9

• Unvaccinated Texans make up vast majority of COVID-19 cases and deaths this year, new state data shows (Texas Tribune)
• Clear Creek ISD leaders revise COVID-19 health protocols, move mitigation stage closer to normal (Community Impact)
• Round Rock ISD to end virtual learning in January after approval of COVID-19 vaccine for children (KXAN)
• A state association gave five awards to social studies. Two of them teach in Denton schools (Denton Record-Chronicle)
• Richardson ISD seeking additional substitutes for 2021-22 school year (Community Impact)
• $1.2 billion Fort Worth ISD bond still hangs in the balance (Spectrum News)
• Friendswood ISD drafts potential 2022-23 academic calendar, requests community feedback (Community Impact)
• Grapevine-Colleyville ISD parts ways with Colleyville Heritage H.S. Principal Dr. James Whitfield (WFAA)

Monday, Nov. 8

• Texas schools started this year with record-high coronavirus cases, but weekly totals have now declined (Texas Tribune)
• Sen. Ted Cruz files bill to block COVID vaccine mandates for kids (Houston Chronicle)
• Beaumont ISD's new initiative 'PACS' to provide positive role models for students (KBMT)
• ‘A terrible loss’: Spring Branch ISD student among those killed in crowd surge at Astroworld Festival (Click2Houston)
• Kilgore ISD passes largest bond in history, prepares for renovations (CBS 19)
• He always wanted a Ph.D. in physics. He finally earned it at 89 (NPR)

Friday, Nov. 5

• Houston-area school district suspends gender-based provisions of its dress code after being sued over its long-hair policy (Texas Tribune)
• Support staff shortages continue to affect Grapevine-Colleyville, Carroll ISDs (Community Impact)
• San Angelo ISD partners with Atmos Energy and other supporters to distribute books to 4th and 5th Graders (Concho Valley)
• Dallas Cowboys Celebrate Arlington ISD Teachers (NBC DFW)
• LBJ marching band finds its beat after LASA moves to new campus (KUT)
• Dallas ISD Accepting Applications for New Biomedical School (NBC DFW)
• Abbott appoints three from area to Texas Commission on Virtual Education (Fort Worth Business Press)
• Pflugerville HS student lands perfect AP exam score, joining elite global ranks (KXAN)

Thursday, Nov. 4

• COVID-19 vaccinations begin for Texas children (Texas Standard)
• Borrowers say they were wrongly denied loan forgiveness. Now, help is on the way (NPR)
• Vernon ISD looking to the future after $40 million bond passes (KAUZ)
• Pearland ISD will receive an additional $7.4M following Nov. 2 voter-approval tax rate election (Community Impact)
• Election day results Sanford Fritch ISD $5 million bond proposal rejected (KFDA)
• Rapper Travis Scott and Houston ISD are teaming up to bring gardens to schools across the city (Houston Public Media)
• School funding elections see mixed results in the San Antonio area (Texas Public Radio)
• December runoffs could reshape Houston ISD board (Houston Chronicle | subscribers)
• Why education was a top voter priority this election (NPR)

Wednesday, Nov. 3

• Young Texans can soon get vaccinated against COVID-19 after CDC signs off on Pfizer shots for kids 5-11 (Texas Tribune)
• Analyzing long-term impact, side effects and risks of COVID shot for kids (PBS NewsHour)
• Another book pulled from Spring Branch ISD as statewide book investigation underway (ABC 13)
• Two of three New Braunfels ISD Bond propositions on track for approval with all Guadalupe County precincts and half of Comal County precincts reporting (Community Impact)
• Voters favor $1.2 billion Fort Worth ISD bond by slim margin (KERA)
• Georgetown ISD voters approve money for new schools to address district’s growth (KXAN)
• Unofficial results: Leander ISD voters narrowly fail 2 of 3 bond propositions (Community Impact)
• New Deal ISD $48.5 million bond leading after early voting (Everything Lubbock)
• Pflugerville ISD tax ratification voted down in unofficial election results (Community Impact)
• Elgin ISD residents approve new campuses, renovations (KXAN)
• Voters support measure to use more Lake Travis ISD property tax dollars to fund maintenance expenses (Community Impact)
• Fort Bend ISD ready to showcase its student-run businesses at Nov. 13 event (Houston Chronicle)
• Northwest ISD foundation opens free resource store, library (Cross Timbers Gazette)
• Critical race theory is a flashpoint for conservatives, but what does it mean? (PBS NewsHour)

Tuesday, Nov. 2

• TEA providing $1,500 for families of special education students impacted by pandemic (KRGV)
• Gov. Greg Abbott chastises school board group with vague accusation of “pornographic images” in library books (Texas Tribune)
• Austin ISD is first to defy Texas House inquiry into books about racism, sexuality (Houston Chronicle)
• Frisco ISD announces fully online, hybrid program for high school students (Frisco Enterprise)
• Richardson ISD to make masks optional for junior high and high school students, staff (Community Impact)
• Freedom 5K run set to benefit Bullard ISD teachers, students (Tyler Morning Telegraph)
• Carroll ISD gets TEA refund after reporting error discovered in recapture payment (Community Impact)
• Hutto middle schooler makes district history as first girl to score a touchdown (KXAN)

Monday, Nov. 1

• East Texas counselors see a decline in adolescents’ mental health (KLTV)
  
• Valley schools gear up to vaccinate students under 12 (KRGV)
• Forney ISD to host elementary attendance zone modification informational meeting for K-4 grade students, Nov. 9 (InForney)
• Your public school kid's lunch might be served on a pizza slice box. Here's why (NPR)
• TikTok’s ‘devious licks’ challenge countered by new ‘angelic yields’ trend (PBS NewsHour)

Friday, Oct. 29

• Canyon ISD teachers surprised with $24,556 in education support grants (MyHighPlains)
• Math teacher's creative approach adds up to Dorothy Huffman Award (Times Record News)
• Class size reduced in 5th-grade El Paso ISD classrooms (KFOX 14)
• FBISD Board approves 2021-22 academic improvement plans, authorizes Virtual Learning Program (Fort Bend Herald)
• Pampa ISD Board approves compensation plan (The Pampa News)
• $10 million worth of computers, hot spots missing from local school districts (KHOU)
• How social media platforms impact kid and teen mental health (PBS NewsHour)
• 4 things to know about possible changes to your student loan debt (NPR)

Thursday, Oct. 28

• Author says students are 'more than ready' to learn about race after book challenge in Carroll ISD (KERA)
• North Texas Teachers Get a Store & Library to Buy Books & Supplies Free of Charge (NBC DFW)
• Beaumont ISD calling on families to help stop recent surge in school threats, student misconduct (KBMT)
• Midland ISD among districts state contacted about certain books on campus (Midland Reporter-Telegram)
• Politics of masks, critical race theory fueling heated school board elections (PBS NewsHour)

Wednesday, Oct. 27

• Texas House committee to investigate school districts’ books on race and sexuality (Texas Tribune)
• What's in the Fort Worth ISD bond proposal? (KERA)
• McKinney ISD baseball and softball fields to receive new technology (Community Impact)
• FDA panel recommends approval of the Pfizer vaccine for kids ages 5-11. Here's what that means for Texans. (Texas Tribune)
• Kids’ mental health, safety in the spotlight as social media execs face Congress (PBS NewsHour)
• Day care for disabled children requires better funding, parents and experts say (NPR)

Tuesday, Oct. 26

• Judge halts AG lawsuit against Waco, La Vega ISD mask orders pending high court ruling (Waco Tribune-Herald)
• Restrictions on transgender student athletes’ participation in school sports signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott (Texas Tribune)
• University of Texas System Chancellor’s Centurions recognizes 10 EPISD teachers (El Paso Herald-Post)
• Boys and nonbinary students at Montgomery ISD can have long hair for now, after a judge temporarily blocked the district’s ban (Houston Public Media)
• Some Red Oak ISD students, staff will spend their day off serving the community (Waxahachie Daily Light)
• Texas Doctor's Offices, Pharmacies to Receive 1.3M Doses of Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccine (NBC DFW)
• WATCH: Biden visits New Jersey preschool during infrastructure deal push (PBS NewsHour)
• A look at the groups supporting school board protesters nationwide (NPR)

Monday, Oct. 25

• TASA Names 2022 Texas Teachers of the Year (TASA)
• Ysleta ISD’s Ramon Benavides named 2022 Texas Teacher of the Year (El Paso Herald-Post)
• McAllen educator tearfully accepts state’s Teacher of the Year award (MyRGV News)
• Comal ISD hopes multi-million dollar propositions pass for improvements, teachers’ pay (KSAT)
• Program offers Marble Falls ISD students free mental health telemedicine care (Daily Trib)
• Bartlett ISD voters to decide on $20 million bond (FME News Service)
• Lufkin High School marching band heading to first ever UIL State Military Marching Championship (KETK)
• The U.S. needs more nurses, but nursing schools don't have enough slots (NPR)
• Texas universities with federal contracts are caught between Greg Abbott and Joe Biden over COVID-19 vaccine mandates (Texas Tribune)
• What it's like to be on the front lines of the school board culture war (NPR)

Friday, Oct. 22

• ACLU of Texas sues Houston-area school district over gender-based dress code’s long-hair policy (Texas Tribune)
• CDC signs off on Moderna and Johnson & Johnson boosters and says people can get a shot different from their original one (Washington Post)
• No evidence of bullying? Arlington police chief speaks at Mansfield ISD community meeting on Timberview High School shooting (WFAA)
• Dallas ISD is calling all fathers and father figures (Dallas ISD)
• Texas community colleges have seen an 11% drop in enrollment since start of COVID-19 pandemic (Texas Tribune)

Thursday, Oct. 21

• 'Mini-grants': Brenham ISD receives $100,000 donation (KAGS)
• Austin Public Health working with schools, parents to gauge demand for COVID-19 vaccine for young kids (KXAN)
• 15-year-old injured in shooting at Timberview High School released from hospital (WFAA)
• White House calls Texas’ bill targeting transgender student athletes “hateful” (Texas Tribune)
• Austin ISD pilots COVID-19 ‘pooled testing.’ Here’s what happened day 1 (KXAN)
• Many Texas children miss out on required lead testing, report finds (Houston Chronicle | subscribers)
• UT Rio Grande Valley to offer free tuition and fees to students with family income $100,000 or less (Texas Tribune)
• $10M Douglass ISD bond would fund high school classroom addition, new gym (KTRE)
• Ready for liftoff: Clear Creek ISD's NASA connections expose students to space exploration (Community Impact)
• Parents speak out at Carroll ISD meeting after teachers reportedly asked to share 'opposing perspective' about Holocaust (WFAA)
• Oklahoma's anti-critical race theory law violates free speech rights, ACLU suit says (NBC News)
• Nikolas Cruz pleads guilty to 2018 Parkland school massacre (PBS NewsHour | AP)
• White House drops free community college from its spending bill (NPR)

Wednesday, Oct. 20

• Five takeaways from Texas’ third special legislative session (Texas Tribune)
• Mask mandate was the right decision to keep students safe, Austin ISD superintendent says (KUT)
• Connally hoping for $39 million bond to build new elementary school (Waco Tribune-Herald)
• PSJA ISD working on getting remote students back into classroom (KRGV)
• Nonprofit Launches $10M Campaign to Address Students' Mental Health (NBC DFW)
• Fort Worth ISD teachers are heroes to students. Here’s how school bonds can help them (Fort Worth Star-Telegram | op-ed, subscribers)
• San Antonio ISD data shows extent of learning loss during pandemic (San Antonio Report)
• State seeks temporary injunction against Lufkin ISD, Diboll ISD mask mandate (KLTV)
• Chapel Hill ISD lifts mask mandate effective Tuesday (KLTV)
• Learning Loss: AISD student performance impacted from the pandemic (KFDA)
• Mansfield ISD to hold school safety meeting in wake of school shooting (Dallas Morning News)
• How second chances and support at this Dallas cafe can discourage juvenile recidivism (PBS NewsHour)
• UTSA boosts income limits for free tuition program to $70,000 (Texas Public Media)
• Student loan forgiveness is a lot closer for some borrowers, and they are pumped (NPR)

Tuesday, Oct. 19

• WATCH: First Lady Jill Biden calls teachers ‘most consequential’ people after parents (PBS NewsHour | AP)
• El Paso students return from Fall intersession without face mask requirement (KFOX 14)
• Premont ISD receives grant for new program benefitting students and the community (KRIS)
• A big ‘Thank you’: Businesses, schools show support for SpaceX (MyRGV News)
• Friendswood sophomore makes history as school's first female varsity football player (Houston Chronicle | subscribers)
• 1 in 3 working families is struggling to find the child care they desperately need (NPR)
• A Florida school district will pay $25 million to the families of Parkland victims (NPR | Texas Public Radio)

Monday, Oct. 18

• How Staff Shortages Are Crushing Schools (Education Week)
• The law that prompted a school administrator to call for an “opposing” perspective on the Holocaust is causing confusion across Texas (Texas Tribune)
• Two Williamson County school districts put bond packages on the ballot to cover projected growth (KUT)
• Dallas expands public library access to all teachers and students in the city (KERA)
• Texas Senate committee advances tuition revenue bonds bill for higher ed construction projects (KERA | Texas Public Radio)
• Austin ISD awarded money for licensed mental health professionals to join district’s police department (KXAN)
• High schoolers are training to drive 18-wheelers amid a shortage of truck drivers (NPR)

Read the latest Texas education headlines posted by texasisd.com