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Texas
12th March 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Visa changes threaten rural teachers

The Trump administration's visa changes are significantly impacting rural school districts, which rely heavily on international teachers to address staffing shortages. The new $100,000 fee on H-1B visas, aimed at reducing foreign worker employment, has raised fears among educators and administrators about losing valuable staff. With over 2,300 H-1B visa holders working in education across 500 districts, the National Education Association noted that these changes could hinder hiring efforts. As rural districts struggle to attract local teachers due to lower salaries and limited resources, many are considering alternatives like online instruction or hiring uncertified teachers.

SUPPORTING STUDENTS BEFORE THEY NEED IT

Why Great Teachers Don’t Guess When It Comes to Support

Ever feel like you’re part detective, part reading coach, and part superhero? You’re not alone. Teachers everywhere are asking, “Where exactly does this student need support?” and “How do I find it fast?” — because those answers unlock real progress.

Whether it’s helping a kindergartner decode their first sight words or guiding a 10th grader through complex text, pinpointing what a student really needs makes all the difference.  

Great instruction shouldn’t feel like a puzzle with missing pieces. High-quality instructional resources grounded in the Science of Reading make supporting students your superpower.   

Hear from Leading Experts on the Evidence-Based Practices That Support Your Instruction and Advance Student Achievement.

 

NATIONAL NEWS

Democratic states sue Trump administration over college race-data reporting mandate

Attorneys general from 17 Democratic-leaning states have filed a lawsuit challenging a Trump administration policy requiring colleges and universities to submit detailed admissions data, including applicants’ race, gender, test scores, and grade point averages. The administration says the requirement is intended to ensure institutions comply with the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling restricting race-conscious admissions. Education Secretary Linda McMahon has argued the data collection will increase transparency and help determine whether universities are still using racial preferences in admissions decisions. However, the states claim the mandate was implemented too quickly and imposes a significant administrative burden on colleges, requiring them to compile seven years of admissions data, much of which institutions may not have readily available. The lawsuit also argues the policy could politicize the National Center for Education Statistics, a traditionally nonpartisan agency, by turning it into a tool for enforcing political objectives. Critics say schools are being forced to spend significant time and resources gathering data that may ultimately have limited practical value, while the administration maintains that taxpayers deserve greater transparency about how universities handle admissions following the Supreme Court decision.

Schools face ongoing uncertainty over federal funding

Schools are increasingly concerned about potential funding disruptions despite Congress's recent approval of a federal budget without major education cuts. The Trump administration is revising grant rules to limit prioritization of racial equity and support for undocumented immigrants, which may complicate access to federal funds. Catherine Pozniak, a school finance consultant, remarked: "The theme here for me is: [The Trump administration] got stopped in one way, and this is another way they're trying to do it." The administration's past actions have already disrupted over $12bn in federal education funds, leading to delays and cancellations of grants. As the administration continues to implement its political priorities through grantmaking, many school districts are left uncertain about their funding future and are preparing for potential financial shortfalls.

WORKFORCE

Austin ISD staff find new roles amid changes

Austin ISD has successfully placed 65% of the over 1,450 staff members affected by campus closures and academic program changes. Denisha Presley, AISD's interim officer of talent strategy, said: “It's a hard time for our employees, our teachers, our folks who are on the campuses serving our employees.” The district has hosted hiring fairs and created an online job dashboard to assist staff in finding new positions. Despite the challenges, Trasell Underwood, president of Education Austin, expressed optimism, noting that the majority of disrupted employees have found new roles.

LEGAL

Court delays release of DPS records

The Texas Fifteenth Court of Appeals has postponed the release of Department of Public Safety (DPS) records related to the Robb Elementary School shooting, citing potential impacts on ongoing investigations. Justice April Farris stated: “Reasonable and fair-minded persons could certainly conclude that releasing 2.8 terabytes of information... might interfere with the investigation.” The records include critical footage and communications from the incident on May 24, 2022, when 19 children and two teachers were killed. A coalition of media organizations, including the Texas Tribune and ProPublica, is suing for access to these records, alleging violations of the Public Information Act. The court's decision reverses a previous ruling and requires DPS to justify withholding the information. The investigation into the law enforcement response continues, with future indictments possible, as noted by Justice Farris.

STATE NEWS

Texas schools shine on Honor Roll

The Educational Results Partnership (ERP) has unveiled its 2025 Texas Honor Roll, highlighting the state's top-performing schools. South Texas ISD has been recognized on the Honor Roll Districts list, with four of its campuses making the Honor Roll Schools list. “We are proud of our district and campus communities for achieving this recognition,” said Marco Antonio Lara, Jr., Ed.D., superintendent of schools for STISD. The Honor Roll identifies schools that excel in student achievement and closing achievement gaps, particularly for underserved populations. This year, 1,076 schools and 84 districts across Texas received Honor Roll recognition, representing about 15% of all Texas schools. The initiative aims to engage business leaders in promoting effective educational practices that enhance student outcomes.

TECHNOLOGY

Evidence gap in classroom tech

An analysis by Instructure and InnovateEDU found that most digital tools used in K–12 classrooms lack research showing they improve student learning. Reviewing 150 widely used technologies from August to December 2025, researchers found that 60% of education-specific tools and 98% of general consumer tools failed to meet ESSA evidence standards. Only 2% reached the top evidence tier, while just 21% showed clear positive outcomes above the lowest level. The findings also point to uneven performance on privacy, interoperability, and accessibility benchmarks.

FINANCE

Frisco ISD Board takes bold steps

During the latest Frisco ISD Board of Trustees meeting, key decisions were made regarding unlimited tax bonds and student grievances. The board approved a $400,000 budget amendment for a temperature monitoring system and updated the library materials list. They authorized the issuance of unlimited tax bonds, which are typically issued each spring to meet financial requirements for the upcoming year. The board also denied two Level III grievance appeals, maintaining prior administrative decisions. Additionally, they approved contracts for staff and purchased E-Rate-eligible network equipment, benefiting from a 40% discount. The board entered an agreement with Lexia Learning Systems LLC to support K-12 emergent bilingual students and partnered with the Region 4 Education Service Center for digital services. Lastly, a contract was approved with Metro Elevator to modernize the stadium press box's hydraulic unit, originally installed in 1999.

Quinlan ISD Education Foundation breaks funding record

The Quinlan ISD Education Foundation has announced a historic funding increase to $55,000 for the 2026–2027 school year. This investment aims to enhance educational opportunities, with Foundation President Rusty Case stating: “Our teachers are the heartbeat of this community and our students deserve every opportunity to excel beyond the standard curriculum.” The funding will support Instructional Enhancement Grants, now totaling $40,000, and Student Enrichment Grants, increased to $15,000. Educators can apply for individual grants up to $3,000 or collaborative grants up to $5,000, with a "blind" review process ensuring fair selection based on educational impact. 

Boerne ISD pays off bond early

In February, Boerne ISD marked a significant achievement by paying off $45.6m on the 2022 bond ahead of schedule. The $165.64m bond, approved by voters, financed the construction of Viola Wilson Elementary School, enhancements to district high schools, library renovations, and the Aquatic Learning Center, among other projects.

Bond projects near completion in Comal

Comal ISD officials reported that around 94% of the 2021 bond projects and approximately 97% of the 2023 bond projects are either underway or completed. 

DISTRICTS

Killeen school board sells property

The Killeen ISD Board of Trustees has approved the sale of the former Bellaire Elementary School property to the City of Killeen for $803,000. Adam Rich, KISD's assistant superintendent for facilities services, presented the proposal, noting that the city intends to use the site for a new fire station to replace Killeen Fire Station 5. The property spans about 6 acres and includes a 54,700-sq-ft school building, which is approximately 60 years old, along with a 4,000-square-foot activity building. The board unanimously passed the resolution in a 7-0 vote. In other matters, the board postponed a decision on a three-year contract with Third Future Schools for Manor Middle School, with further discussions planned for the next meeting.

Liberty Hill ISD shifts to five-day weeks

Liberty Hill ISD has approved a new academic calendar for the 2026-27 school year, transitioning to five-day school weeks for 61% of the year.

Killeen team wins 34 honors

Killeen ISD’s communications department earned 34 TSPRA awards, including two Best of Category honors and a Crystal Award. District leaders said the recognition reflects the team’s creative excellence, professionalism, and commitment to telling Killeen ISD’s story across multiple formats.

Waco school roofing project stalled

A reroofing project for the newly expanded South Waco Elementary School is currently on hold after the Waco ISD trustees rejected the contractor bid recommended by staff. 

POLICY

Lubbock ISD revises library review process

Lubbock ISD is updating its review process for the School Library Advisory Council in response to Texas Senate Bill 13, which sets new content guidelines for school libraries. This law allows parents and community members to challenge books, leading to their immediate removal from circulation until reviewed. Kim Callison, LISD assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, emphasized that the council's review considers more than just the book's content, stating: “We look at the circulation of that book to determine if kids are even checking it out.” Currently, 35 books are under review, and the district has not received complaints about new content in its libraries for 2026. Callison reassured the community that librarians are trained to curate collections that reflect students' needs and interests.

INTERNATIONAL

Naplan launch hit by glitch

The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (Acara) has apologized after a technical glitch disrupted the first day of the 2026 Naplan tests for students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9, preventing a “significant number” of students from logging into the online writing assessment platform. The outage lasted around two hours, according to technology provider Education Services Australia. While some schools resumed testing, others postponed assessments to the following day, raising concerns about fairness. Experts warned the situation could be perceived as inequitable if some students completed the test while others were delayed, with critics also questioning whether the disruption could affect the reliability of this year’s Naplan dataset. About 1.4m students are expected to complete this year’s Naplan tests, which transitioned to fully online in 2022 after trials away from paper began in 2016.

U.K. MPs reject social media ban for kids

British MPs voted 307-173 against a proposal to ban children under 16 from using social media, which had been added to the children's wellbeing and schools bill. Lord John Nash, a supporter of the ban, stated that parents are in "an impossible position" to protect their children online. Despite the defeat, the House of Commons has granted Science Secretary Liz Kendall additional powers to limit children's access to social media and chatbots. The Labour government's education minister, Olivia Bailey, proposed a consultation to explore setting a minimum age and disabling addictive features. This decision follows similar actions in Australia and France, where bans for under-16s are being considered.
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