Daily News

The latest education news headlines of interest to TASB members:

Friday, May 26

• State budget writers strike deal on $321.3 billion two-year spending proposal, Texas Tribune
• Texas budget cuts taxes, plays up border, mental health, parks, school safety. ESAs?, Dallas Morning News
• MAP: Which school districts have increased teacher pay for the 2023-24 school year?, KXAN Austin
• Austin ISD officials say focus on vouchers has overshadowed needs of Texas public schools, KUT Austin
• USDE Shares Insights and Recommendations for Artificial Intelligence, U.S. Department of Education
• Crockett ISD Gives Fitting Farewell to Longtime Trustee, Messenger-News Grapeland

Thursday, May 25

• Districts in ‘dire straits’ as they watch school funding fights in Texas legislature, KXAN (TASB mentioned)
• “Somber day” in Uvalde as community commemorates one year since Robb Elementary shooting, Texas Tribune
• Investigators detail years of alleged misconduct by Texas AG Ken Paxton in stunning House committee hearing, Texas Tribune
• Revamp of Texas community colleges funding heads to Gov. Abbott, Dallas Morning News
• Texas Senate makes final push on school choice; frustrated House likely to reject proposal, Austin American-Statesman
• Unlicensed religious chaplains may counsel students in Texas’ public schools after lawmakers OK proposal, Texas Tribune

Wednesday, May 24

• Senate priorities on bail, Ten Commandments in schools stall out in Texas House as key deadline passes, Texas Tribune
• Bill requiring Ten Commandments in Texas classrooms fails in House after missing crucial deadline, Texas Tribune
• Texas lawmakers OK bill that aims to keep sexually explicit material out of school libraries, Texas Tribune
• Texas just got closer to passing its own 'Don't Say Gay' bill, Houston Chronicle
• Uvalde leaders urge public to stay away, victims' families disagree, San Antonio Express-News
• Uvalde school shooting: What we know one year later, Texas Tribune
• Listen: Through art, keepsakes and advocacy, families are making sure the 21 Uvalde victims are not forgotten, Texas Tribune
• Terrell grandpa attends graduations for 7 grandchildren, FOX Dallas

Tuesday, May 23

• Texas Senate committee revises school funding bill in last-minute bid to implement voucher program, Texas Tribune
• Texas Senate tacks school vouchers onto bill funding raises for teachers, Houston Chronicle
• Gun safety advocates see signs of progress in first session after Uvalde shooting even though raise-the-age bill stalled, Texas Tribune
• Texas Senate again advances proposed restrictions on lessons about gender identity and sexual orientation, Texas Tribune
• Abbott, Patrick, Phelan race to negotiate priority issues as deadlines loom, Texas Tribune
• Texas will create new database to screen child care workers after alleged abuse, expands mandatory reporting requirements, Texas Tribune
• Texas Tribune, Frontline and Futuro Investigates are collaborating on an Uvalde shooting documentary that airs May 30, Texas Tribune
• Is Teacher Morale on the Rise? Results of the Second Annual Merrimack College Teacher Survey, Education Week Research Center

Monday, May 22

• Time runs out for taxpayer-funded private school tuition bill as special session looms, Houston Chronicle
• Texas Senate committee revamps school funding bill to revive voucher-like proposal, Texas Tribune
• Texas Senate passes school safety bill that would require districts to bolster their active-shooter plans, Texas Tribune
• Economic incentives clear Senate committee as negotiations continue, Texas Tribune
• Texas House’s weekend off means key Senate bills die after missing a legislative deadline, Texas Tribune
• TribCast: Is a special session of the Texas Legislature inevitable?, Texas Tribune
• TEA officials say Houston ISD Superintendent will be picked by June 1, Houston Chronicle
• Bilingual teacher shortage compounded by burnout, non-education competition, KXAN Austin
• Commentary: Texas public schools need more counselors — not religious chaplains, Austin American-Statesman
• Editorial: Drag shows and book bans get attention while foster care disaster lingers, Dallas Morning News
• School district nursing is not just a job but an adventure, Abilene Reporter News
• ‘It feels really nice.’ Fourth graders find support, friends through Academy 4 mentorship, Fort Worth ISD

Friday, May 19

• State-appointed Houston ISD superintendent, board of managers to be named June 1, Houston Chronicle
• Rotan ISD’s Greg Decker named Region 14 Superintendent of the Year, Double Mountain Chronicle
• Lone Star Governance Exemplar Cohort SY 2023–24, Texas Education Agency
• Texas teachers would get less control of classroom lessons under bills approved by state lawmakers, Houston Chronicle
• Local school leaders respond to standstill with school choice on House floor just days after testifying before the Public Education Committee, KWTX
• Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $100 Million in Continued Support for Mental Health and Student Wellness Through Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, USDE

Thursday, May 18

• School voucher bill hangs by a thread as key deadline approaches, Texas Tribune
• Is it law yet? See how far some of the most consequential bills have made it in the 2023 Texas Legislature, Texas Tribune
• TEA to reveal Houston ISD takeover plan during Thursday’s public meeting, NBC Houston
• Texas Rangers go to bat with Fort Worth ISD to teach healthy habits to kids, Fort Worth Report

Wednesday, May 17

• Central Texas school leaders appear in ‘school choice’ public hearing at state capitol, KWTX Waco
• 'We're being given scraps': Texas teachers say Legislature is falling short on pay increases, KUT Austin
• Editorial: Texas lawmakers take special ed students hostage in voucher fight, Houston Chronicle
• What Will High Schoolers Be Learning in 2033? See the Predictions, Education Week
• These Factors Are Linked to High Student Attendance. Does Your School Have Them?, Education Week
• Rack Room Shoes awards $10K to SISD school, KTSM El Paso

Tuesday, May 16

• Why tax policy experts fear the Texas House plan to lower property taxes could have dire ripple effects, Texas Tribune
• Austin ISD will save $25 million in borrowing costs after IRS updates school bond program, Austin American-Statesman
• House waters down some of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s priorities, adding to late-session uncertainty, Texas Tribune
• Temple ISD superintendent speaks at "School Choice" Bill hearing, responds to Gov. Abbott's threat to veto, KCEN Temple

Monday, May 15

• Gov. Abbott threatens to veto a Texas ESA plan saying it doesn’t go far enough, Dallas Morning News
• Gov. Greg Abbott threatens to veto pared-down school choice bill, warns of special sessions, Texas Tribune
• Governor Abbott Statement on Critical School Choice Legislation, Office of the Governor
• Texas schools say it’s time to stop tying mental health funding to school safety money, Texas Tribune
• IRS Action Increases Bond Guarantee Program Capacity, SBOE news release
• Texas almost approved a school voucher program in the 1950s – to avoid desegregation, Houston Public Media
• Eliminating countywide voting in Texas would make the process harder on voters, cost more money, election leaders say, Texas Tribune
• Bill to protect against hairstyle discrimination sent to Texas governor, Texas Tribune