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.

Monday, Sept. 27

• Watch U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona talk about the effects of the pandemic and more at The Texas Tribune Festival (Texas Tribune)
• Conroe ISD approves emergency pay for district employees (Community Impact)
• JOB FAIR: Houston ISD seeks high school teachers (Click2Houston)
• 2022 Best Public High Schools in Texas (Niche)
• Central Texas school districts with mask requirements report fewer COVID-19 cases (Austin American-Statesman | subscribers)
• COVID-19 Creates Dire Shortage Of Teachers, School Staff In The U.S. (KERA | AP)
• Pediatric COVID-19 Cases in Counties With and Without School Mask Requirements — United States, July 1–September 4, 2021 (CDC)
• CDC studies show masks lessen school outbreaks (PBS NewsHour | AP)
• New wastewater analysis finds 'high' COVID-19 levels on some Houston ISD campuses (KHOU)
• A Federal Judge Blocks A Vaccine Mandate For NYC Teachers (NPR)

Friday, Sept. 24

• Texas bill restricting transgender student athletes’ sports participation has enough votes to pass, House Speaker Dade Phelan says (Texas Tribune)
• Round Rock ISD Reinstates Mask Mandate After Hours Of Heated Public Comments (KUT)
• Weslaco ISD drops mask requirement (MyRGVNews)
• Georgetown ISD considers virtual learning option halfway through fall semester (KXAN)
• After Years Of Delays, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope To Launch In December (NPR)

Thursday, Sept. 23

• Six Valley schools earn Blue Ribbon; McAllen campus first to earn honors twice (MyRGVNews)
• Lamar County judge issues temporary injunction against Paris ISD mask rule (The Paris News)
• Frustration Grows Among Fort Bend ISD Parents Over Conflicting Mask Mandate Messaging (Houston Public Media)
• Dallas ISD has no plans to change mask mandate following federal investigation into the TEA (KDFW)
• Plano ISD won’t extend mask mandate for schools (Dallas Morning News | subscribers)
• Gov. Abbott agrees to foster care summit on solutions for kids stuck in unsafe placements (Houston Chronicle | subscribers)
• Killeen ISD moving more district officers to high schools after recent violence (KCEN)
• Florida makes quarantine optional for exposed students (PBS NewsHour | AP)
• How Some Schools Are Using Weekly Testing To Keep Kids In Class — And COVID Out (NPR)

Wednesday, Sept. 22

• Texas’ ban on school mask mandates draws federal investigation for possibly violating the rights of students with disabilities (Texas Tribune)
• Texas AG says he could drop mask mandate lawsuits if school districts take these steps (KCEN)
• Comal ISD approves five days of COVID-specific paid leave (Community Impact)
• Round Rock ISD to discuss mask matrix, censuring 2 board trustees on Wednesday (CBS Austin)
• Support, auxiliary staff shortage stressing Coastal Bend school districts (KRIS)
• Watch Texas lawmakers Larry Taylor and Harold Dutton discuss education and the Legislature at The Texas Tribune Festival (Texas Tribune)
• New UTEP course helps future educators prepare for post-Covid classrooms (KVIA)
• Houston-area schools see 2,535 fewer active COVID cases so far this week (ABC 13)
• Bryan ISD staff provide update on virtual academy at Monday’s school board meeting (KBTX)
• Tyler ISD votes against mask mandate, parents speak out against vaccine incentive for teachers (KETK)
• Former Harlandale Superintendent Will Be San Antonio ISD’s Interim Leader (Texas Public Radio)

Tuesday, Sept. 21

• First draft of Legislature’s map of new State Board of Education districts shores up Republican majority (Texas Tribune)
• Abbott and Local Officials Are Fighting In Court Over Mask Mandates. Here’s What You Need To Know. (KUT)
• Frisco ISD announces priority COVID-19 testing access for students, staff (Frisco Enterprise)
• Humble ISD board raises substitute pay by a third to attract additional help (Houston Chronicle | subscribers)
• A National Supply Chain Problem Is Biting Into Meals At Dallas Schools (KERA)
• Lufkin ISD receives $7.5 million 21st Century-Texas ACE grant (KETK)
• North Texas School District Takes Step Toward Firing Principal (KERA)
• San Antonio ISD board names Dr. Robert Jaklich interim superintendent (FOX 29)

Monday, Sept. 20

• COVID-19 vaccine works in kids ages 5 to 11, Pfizer says (PBS NewsHour | AP)
  
• Delta variant, lax mask policies delay Plano family’s return to school (Texas Tribune)
• Are we headed back to virtual learning? Area school districts speak on impact of Senate Bill 15 (MyHighPlains.com)
• We’re tracking COVID-19 cases in Texas schools. There are far more this fall than last year. (Texas Tribune)
• COVID-19 testing at San Antonio ISD will continue after superintendent leaves district (KSAT)
• Houston ISD Superintendent goes door-to-door in push to get students re-enrolled amid pandemic (KHOU)
• Caldwell ISD sends junior high class home for week due to COVID activity (KBTX)
• Appeals court issues hold on order preventing Round Rock ISD from enforcing mask mandate (KVUE)
• Brownsboro ISD increases emphasis on mental health with counseling spaces (Tyler Morning Telegraph)
• The Stakes Feel Higher Than Ever As The Education Secretary Welcomes Students Back (NPR)
• How a Black high school principal was swept into a “critical race theory” maelstrom in a mostly white Texas suburb (Texas Tribune)
• Students Are Damaging School Bathrooms For Attention On TikTok (NPR)

Friday, Sept. 17

• TEA launches new COVID-19 testing program for public and private schools (CBS Austin)
• Federal Judge Allows Texas' Ban On Mask Mandates To Continue — For Now (KUT)
• Eanes ISD requiring, but not enforcing, masks (KVUE)
  
• Williamson County district judge blocks Round Rock ISD's mask mandate (Austin American-Statesman)
• Jason Reynolds: How Can We Connect With Kids Through The Written Word? (TED Radio Hour | NPR)
• We Know Students Are Struggling With Their Mental Health. Here's How You Can Help (NPR)
• What returning to school looks and feels like in ‘unpredictable, unprecedented times’ (PBS NewsHour)

Thursday, Sept. 16

• Ken Paxton Is Suing Multiple Texas School Districts Over Mask Mandates. But Are They True Mandates? (Texas Standard)
• Paris ISD's dress code mask mandate is no more (WFAA)
• Popular Fort Worth ISD High School Teacher Richard Zarza Passes Away Due To COVID-19 (CBS DFW)
• Are masks really working in schools (Hays Free Press)
• Hays school district temporarily closes elementary school in Kyle amid rise in COVID cases (Austin American-Statesman | subscribers)
• Brackett ISD announces new changes if a student tests positive for COVID (News4SA)
• TEA approves 6 grants for Wichita Falls ISD (KAUZ)
• Canyon ISD gives COVID-19 policy update, names teachers of the year (Amarillo Globe-News)
• East Texas school superintendent to Gov. Abbott: ‘Man, we need your help’ (KLTV)
• San Antonio ISD Superintendent Pedro Martinez Accepts Offer To Lead Chicago Public Schools (Texas Public Radio)
• She's Been Teaching For 18 Years. She Says This Year Is Her Most Stressful Yet (NPR)

Wednesday, Sept. 15

• A Texas school district doesn’t require masks. The state is suing the district anyway. (Texas Tribune)
  
• 197 Vaccinated San Antonio ISD Employees Got COVID In August (Texas Public Media)
• Cy-Fair ISD board approves additional paid COVID-19 leave days for employees in 2021-22
  (Community Impact)
• Longview ISD board OKs $1,000 vaccine stipend for employees (Longview ISD)
• Clear Creek ISD named among top 15 employers in Texas (Community Impact)
• Alice ISD featured in new report that outlines strategies to better support first-year teachers (Alice Echo-News Journal)
• Dallas ISD Program Alternative to Out-of-School Suspensions (NBC DFW)
• Remote learning began on Monday for DeSoto students affected by coronavirus (Dallas Morning News | subscribers)
• Garland ISD gears up to extend virtual learning option after the state approved funding (Dallas Morning News | subscribers)
• Leander ISD opens first free on-campus COVID-19 testing site (KXAN)
• Fort Bend ISD closes 7 campuses Sept. 15 due to power outages from Hurricane Nicholas (Community Impact)
• Amarillo ISD releases substitute teacher pay scale, continues search for candidates (MyHighPlains.com)

Tuesday, Sept. 14

• Here Are The Houston-Area Schools Closed By Tropical Storm Nicholas (Houston Public Media)
• Conroe ISD to close Sept. 14 due to Tropical Storm Nicholas (Community Impact)
• Area school districts address Title I challenges amid pandemic (Katy Times)
• Grow Your Own program builds teaching careers in Waxahachie ISD (Waxahachie Daily Light)
• Lewisville ISD board approves contract to help with staffing shortage (Community Impact)
• Northside ISD uses federal COVID relief funds to expand full-day pre-K program (San Antonio Report)
• Bryan ISD outlines virtual academy for K-6, seeks interest from parents (The Eagle)
• On-again, off-again mask mandates in Texas schools can cause anxiety in kids (WFAA)
• Woodson ISD closes for remainder of week due to COVID-19 (KAUZ)
• Dallas ISD offers $50 incentive for students to get vaccinated (KDFW)
• San Marcos CISD wants to curb COVID-19 cases, quarantines with weekly testing (KXAN)
• Northeast ISD Employee Information May Have Been Compromised By Hacker (KTSA)
• Flour Buff ISD serves up trending lunch menu (Spectrum News)
• School vaccine campaigns targeting students face blowback (PBS NewsHour | AP)
• The First Trial Has Begun In The College Admissions Scandal (NPR)

Monday, Sept. 13

• Texas sues six school districts that issued mask mandates in defiance of Gov. Greg Abbott’s order (Texas Tribune)
• Cy-Fair ISD board considers additional paid COVID-19 leave days for employees in 2021-22 (Community Impact)
• Wimberley parents unenroll students because of COVID-19 concerns, district could lose $300K in state funding (KXAN)
• Houston-area schools seeing 5% increase in COVID cases with 12,845 among students and staff (KTRK)
• Brownsboro ISD increases emphasis on mental health with counseling spaces (Tyler Morning Telegraph)
• Yes, Gov. DeSantis, Studies Do Show Masks Curb Covid-19 In Schools (NPR)
• Educators reflect on the significance of teaching about 9/11 (PBS NewsHour)

Friday, Sept. 10

• Biden Dangles New Federal Funds For Schools That Defy Mask Mandate Bans (NPR)
• Group of parents file lawsuit against Round Rock ISD to stop district's mask mandate (KVUE)
• Parents Sue Allen ISD To Force Mask Requirement (KERA)
• Central Texas school districts without mask mandates have more COVID-19 cases, data shows (KXAN)
• ‘Masks are required’: Richardson ISD students could face discipline for no protective face coverings (Dallas Morning News | subscribers)
• Marble Falls ISD votes to remove recent mask mandate (KXAN)
• Nacogdoches ISD school board votes down adoption of mask mandate (KTRE)
• Ector County ISD looking into virtual learning options (News West 9)
• Mesquite ISD urges parents to keep sick students home (Dallas Morning News | subscribers)
• How To Talk About 9/11 With A New Generation Of Kids (NPR)

Thursday, Sept. 9

• The pandemic’s toll on educators has made Texas’ teacher shortage worse (Texas Tribune)
• McGregor ISD implements mask mandate for seven day period beginning Tuesday (KWTX)
• Weslaco schools to tackle students’ mental health (MyRGV)
• Melissa ISD to offer virtual learning (Anna-Melissa Tribune)
• Remote conferencing, virtual learning: Is learning online returning to El Paso schools? (El Paso Times)
• Fort Bend County school districts report drop in active COVID-19 cases (Houston Chronicle | subscribers)
• Bullard FFA students hold special 9/11 remembrance event (Tyler Morning Telegraph)
• How 9/11 weighs heavy on the generation born after the 2001 attacks (PBS NewsHour)
• Florida Can't Enforce Its Ban On Mask Mandates During An Appeal, A Judge Says (NPR)

Wednesday, Sept. 8

• Public educators from Texarkana and surrounding communities receive recognition from the Region 8 Education Service Center (Texarkana Gazette)
• Gov. Greg Abbott calls special legislative session for redistricting, other conservative priorities starting Sept. 20 (Texas Tribune)
• Abbott Wanted State Lawmakers To Ban Mask Mandates In Public Schools. They Didn’t. (Texas Tribune | KUT)
• Dallas Supt. Michael Hinojosa on Why ‘Everything’s at Stake’ in His Legal Battle Over Masking, Catching Students Up, Vaccine Mandates (The 74 Million)
• Dallas Students Experiencing Homelessness Have A New Place To Go — And It’s Not One Size Fits All (KERA)
• Sabinal ISD announces school closure, one of several announced since school began (KENS)
• Burnet CISD closing all campuses due to spike in COVID cases (Fox 7 Austin)
• Abilene ISD closes Taylor Elementary classroom due to COVID-19, reports 75 new cases (Abilene Reporter News)
• Lago Vista ISD is latest Texas school district impacted by high COVID-19 spread (KXAN)
• River Valley Intermediate in Waco issues face mask ‘directive’ for 10 days (KWTX)
• McGregor ISD: District to enforce mask requirement for all students and staff (KCEN)
• Archer City ISD cancels game against Windthorst amid COVID-19 concerns (Texomas Homepage)
• UTSA Ends Use Of ‘Come And Take It’ As Football Rallying Cry (Texas Public Radio)
• Austin ISD will invest $1 million in outdoor learning spaces to stop the spread of coronavirus (KXAN)
• Bonham ISD launches mental health, suicide prevention programs (KTEN)
• Cove junior high schools transformed into STEM academies (Copperas Cove Herald)
• The 1st Trial Is Kicking Off Over The 'Varsity Blues' College Admissions Scandal (NPR)

Tuesday, Sept. 7

• At least 45 districts shut down in-person classes due to COVID-19 cases, affecting more than 40,000 students (Texas Tribune)
• COVID-19 Cases Causing Problems at North Texas School Districts (NBC DFW)
• Pflugerville ISD staff push for paid COVID-19 leave at board workshop meeting (Community Impact)
  
• Lewisville ISD approves additional COVID-19 sick days for employees (Cross Timbers Gazette)
• Fluidity at center of Killeen ISD’s approach to mitigate learning loss amid pandemic (KWTX)
• Mount Enterprise ISD to remain closed for rest of the week due to COVID-19 (KETK)
• Texas school district requiring masks after 800 students quarantined with COVID-19 (San Antonio Express-News)
• Plainview ISD authorizes mask mandate if COVID cases go high enough (Everything Lubbock)
• Jill Biden Is Heading Back To The Classroom As A Working First Lady (NPR)

Friday, Sept. 3

• GOP bill targeting how race, slavery and history are taught in Texas schools heads to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk (Texas Tribune)
• Pediatric Hospitalizations Continue To Rise Across Texas As COVID-19 Spreads Among Students (KUT)
• Belton High School teacher dies of COVID-19; teacher took leave before students in school (Temple Daily Telegram)
• Mask mandate vs. no mask mandate: Comparing COVID-19 cases at two Houston-area school districts (KHOU)
• Etoile ISD enacting mask mandate beginning Sept. 7 (KTRE)
• Coppell ISD requires masks (Coppell Gazette)
• Sweeny ISD closes high school through Labor Day (The Facts)
• Richardson ISD to spend $35 million in federal funds to combat learning loss (Community Impact)
• Fort Worth ISD hoping Saturday classes will help students overcome learning loss (KDFW)
• Former Austin ISD teacher asking for old job back after COVID-19 battle (KVUE)
• 6 Strategies To Make Classrooms Safer As The Delta Variant Spreads (NPR)
• Dallas ISD Reports Cyberattack That Could Affect Records Dating Back To 2010 (KERA)

Thursday, Sept. 2

• Amarillo ISD & Canyon ISD looking for more substitute teachers, increase pay (MyHighPlains)
• Angleton ISD offering vaccine clinic as all schools close through end of the week due to COVID cases (ABC 13)
• Livingston ISD to close next week due to teacher 'staffing shortage from COVID-19 positive cases' (KHOU)
• Floresville ISD announces extended Labor Day weekend due to rise in COVID-19 cases (KSAT)
• 2 Tomball ISD bus workers die of COVID, district says (ABC 13)
• Fort Bend ISD mother says daughter got COVID at school, infected 'every member' of family (KHOU)
• Mesquite ISD offering free classes for parents of young kids to help promote verbal development (Dallas Morning News)
• As student enrollment surges in Hutto ISD, district plans for new high school (KXAN)
• These Students Grew Up Around Gun Violence. They Decided It Was Time To Talk About It. (NPR)

Wednesday, Sept. 1

• School Mask Mandates Will Be Decided by Courts, Not TEA, Commissioner Says (NBC DFW)
• Feds say TEA has failed to fix its special education problems as it had promised (Houston Chronicle)
• Education Service Center Region 12 offering grief support for students (Fox 44)
• Chapel Hill ISD implements temporary mask mandate (CBS 19)
• Abilene ISD shuts down 2nd elementary school classroom this week due to COVID-19 (Big Country Homepage)
• Brackett ISD is latest district in Texas to close schools due to COVID-19 outbreak (KSAT)
• Superintendent announces all campuses closing in Trinity ISD due to COVID-19 (KBTX)
• Rockdale ISD quarantines entire intermediate school fourth grade due to COVID-19 (KCEN)
• Winters ISD shuts down high school after spike in COVID-19 cases (Big Country Homepage)
• Axtell ISD closes due to COVID, Waco and Gatesville ISD report latest (KXXV)
• Katy ISD hit with 80 percent increase in COVID cases (Houston Chronicle)
• Hays CISD Hires More Nurses To Handle Contact Tracing, Asks Abbott To Give Districts Right To Mandate Masks (KUT)
  
• Monitor To Oversee South San ISD Board After TEA Cites Them For ‘Overreach’ (Texas Public Radio)

Tuesday, Aug. 31

• Houston Lawmaker Requests Texas AG Review Of HISD’s COVID-19 Leave Policy (Houston Public Media)
• Connally ISD closes due to increase COVID cases, two teachers die (Fox 44)
• Rep. Gonzalez discusses $131M awarded to PSJA ISD (ValleyCentral)
• East Texas school closures due to COVID-19 (KLTV)
• Onalaska ISD closes all campuses, Angleton ISD closes 2 elementary schools due to rise in COVID-19 cases (Click2Houston)
• Connally ISD closes all campuses due to COVID-19 cases (KXXV)
• Riviera ISD postpones classes due to an uptick in COVID cases (KIII)
• Texas school district shuts down due to COVID-related 'personnel challenges' (San Antonio Express-News)
• Texas' Mask Fight Boils Over Into San Antonio Schools (Texas Public Radio)
• Hidalgo ISD superintendent shares court experience in lawsuit against Gov. Abbott’s mask mandate (KRGV)
• Marble Falls ISD adopts mask mandate, starts Wednesday (KXAN)
• Katy ISD board approves 5-stage plan to respond to COVID-19 (Click2Houston)
• Hondo ISD cancels football games this week after coach, players get COVID-19 (KSAT)
• As Schools Reopen, Child Psychiatrists Expect To See A Surge Of Kids Who Need Help (NPR)
• Education Dept. Announces Civil Rights Investigations Into 5 States' Mask Mandate Bans (NPR)
• Carroll ISD Racism Controversy the Topic of New NBC News Podcast, 'Southlake' (Fort Worth Magazine)

Monday, Aug. 30

• Not Every Texas School District Can Mandate Masks, Judge Rules — But Some Can (Texas Tribune | KERA)
• Texas House moves to fund limited virtual learning as delta variant thwarts return to normalcy in schools (Texas Tribune)
• Let's Get Connected: Dallas ISD Offers Free High-Speed Internet To Qualifying Students (KERA)
• More Texas students tested positive for COVID-19 last week than at any time last school year (Texas Tribune)
• Lampasas County school district temporarily closing due to increase in COVID-19 cases (KXAN)
• Round Rock ISD to close three classrooms for 10 days due to COVID-19 cases (CBS Austin)
• Midway ISD parents urging school district to adopt mask mandate (KWTX)
• Retired Texas teachers closer to getting a “13th check” after House endorses legislation (Texas Tribune)
• These Back To School Tips Can Help Parents Support Their Kids This School Year (NPR)

Friday, Aug. 27

• Fronteras: Ethnic Studies Classes Can Be Taught In Texas Schools. The Controversy Over Critical Race Theory May Complicate Things. (Texas Public Radio)
• 'For him, Allen was his dream': New assistant football coach at Allen High School dies after weeks-long COVID fight (WFAA)
• Lumberton ISD, north of Beaumont, closes due to illnesses and the need to deep clean, sanitize (KHOU)
• Eanes ISD Starts Stricter Mask Enforcement In Schools Amid Tensions Over Rules (KUT)
• Face Masks and Kids: Separating Fact From Fiction (Education Week)
  
• Children's Mental Health Gets Millions In Funding From The Biden Administration (NPR)
• Copperas Cove ISD awarded $225,000 for 'blended learning' to boost math scores (KCEN)

Thursday, Aug. 26

• Woman Carried Out Of Northside ISD Meeting For Refusing Mask Order (Texas Public Radio)
• SAISD Moving Forward With Vaccine Mandate Despite Gov. Abbott's Ban (Texas Public Radio)
• Round Rock ISD students will need to show proof of health issue to ‘opt out’ of mask requirement (KXAN)
• Houston-area schools now report more than 5,000 active COVID cases (ABC 13)
• Kaufman County school district latest to pause classes due to COVID-19 (WFAA)
• Conroe ISD now one COVID threat level from closing campuses (The Courier)
• Fort Stockton ISD to start requiring masks (News West 9)
• Robstown ISD issues mask mandate (KRIS)
• 'A recipe for disaster': Texas Medical Center president says 18% of new COVID cases are kids (Houston Chronicle | subscribers)

Wednesday, Aug. 25

• With a full plate of controversial bills to go, Texas House committee OKs funding for virtual learning (Texas Tribune)
• Huntington ISD OKs COVID-19 leave, $2,000 bonuses (Lufkin Daily News)
• Leander ISD board votes to continue mask requirement, extend staff COVID leave (KXAN)
• Texas extends pandemic benefits for families whose kids have lost access to free or reduced-price meals (Texas Tribune)
• Several Dallas-area Week 1 football games are canceled for COVID-19 reasons (Dallas Morning News)
• AISD's Virtual Learning Program Begins With Staff Shortages, Large Classes (KUT)
• Wells ISD closes campuses for rest of week (KTRE)
• Woden ISD cancels classes for rest of week (KTRE)
• A Vaccine For Children Is Not Likely To Be Approved Until The End Of Year (NPR)

Tuesday, Aug. 24

• “I wanted to teach differently than I had been taught”: How some Texas educators practice anti-racist teaching (Texas Tribune)
• Grapevine-Colleyville ISD board approves additional pay increase (Community Impact)
• Houston Schools Report More Than 150 Active COVID-19 Cases On First Day (Houston Public Media)
• Leander ISD board approves mask mandate, extends COVID-19 leave for staff (Community Impact)
• FDA Approval Clears Way For San Antonio ISD’s Employee Vaccine Mandate (Texas Public Radio)
• AG Paxton sues San Antonio ISD over employee vaccine mandate (Star Local Media)
• Richardson ISD board discusses vaccine incentive for employees, opts not to move forward (Community Impact)
• Midlothian ISD board hears ESSER spending plan (Midlothian Mirror)
• Masks to be required in Hutto ISD starting Monday (KXAN)
• AP-NORC poll finds school mask, vaccine mandates supported in U.S. (PBS NewsHour)

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