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Texas
20th March 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Islamic schools added to savings account program

Several Islamic private schools in Texas, including Brighter Horizons Academy and Bayaan Academy, were admitted to the state’s Education Freedom Account program after months of delay and ongoing litigation over alleged religious discrimination. The development followed a federal judge’s order extending the family application window to March 31 while the case continues. The Texas comptroller’s office, which administers the program, confirmed that the plaintiff schools had been invited to join. Ehsan Sayed of the Islamic Services Foundation said: “We are so happy to see it finally be applied fairly,” though plaintiffs said broader concerns remain about equal treatment for all eligible Islamic schools.

BLENDED LEARNING

An Administrator's Guide to Blended Learning  

Online learning doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing approach. Explore blended learning with this comprehensive guide from FlexPoint®, which includes:    
  • Worksheets to define your school’s needs
  • Outline of blended learning classroom models
  • List of questions to ask curriculum providers
  • Best practices for educator training
  • Instructional strategies and tips
  • Key benefits for you, students, and staff    
Download the FlexPoint guide to find the right mix of face-to-face and online instruction for your school or district.  

Download Free Guide

 

NATIONAL NEWS

Treasury to take student loans

The Department of Education has outlined a phased plan to transfer its nearly $1.7tn student loan portfolio to the Treasury Department, a significant move in the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to wind down the agency. The transition will be executed through an interagency agreement in three stages, beginning with loans already in default, followed by non-defaulted loans where legally and practically feasible, including servicing responsibilities. In the final phase, Treasury will also take on a role in enforcing school eligibility for federal student aid programs, building on its existing involvement in verifying borrower income data. Officials said the plan has been developed over several months to ensure a smooth handover, and they expect borrowers to experience no disruption, although no timeline or cost details have been disclosed.

STATE NEWS

Texas ESAs draw homeschoolers

Texas parents have applied for more than 200,000 Education Freedom Accounts, with at least 20% planning to homeschool. New Rand data suggest strong demand for public funding among homeschooling families, including in states without similar programs. Supporters say the money could help cover curriculum, tutoring and other needs, while critics warn such programs may invite regulation or unequal treatment. In Texas, homeschoolers can receive $2,000, compared with $10,474 for private school students. One parent said: “Why shouldn’t we be able to have … homeschool choice?”

TEACHING

Reading culture drives results

Windsor Park Elementary in Corpus Christi has combined a strong reading culture with student-led instruction to deliver standout literacy results. Its Millionaires Club celebrates students who read at least 1m words, helping drive motivation and schoolwide pride. The school also uses International Baccalaureate curriculum design and a “thinking classrooms” model to build reading and writing skills through collaboration and choice. Principal Kimberly Bissell said: “When you offer choice with expectations, they do a lot better.” Windsor Park’s third grade reading proficiency rose from 96% in 2024 to 99% last year.

WORKFORCE

Investment leads to improved teacher retention

A meeting of the Richardson ISD School Board has heard that several years of investments in teacher compensation and benefits have seen retention improve. Trustee Eric Eager said the district "took a leap of faith a couple years ago to do these things because these were not small investments, and they were going to take time for us to see the results", adding: "But who's going to benefit from these great teachers? Our kids." Thanks to this investment, teacher turnover fell from 17.4% to 11.54% over two years.

Grants surprise Lindale educators

The Lindale ISD Education Foundation has awarded 20 grants totaling $49,212 to local educators, enhancing classroom resources and tools. 

DISTRICTS

Cesar Chavez schools face name change

Three schools in North Texas named after Cesar Chavez may soon undergo a name change following serious sexual assault allegations against the labor leader. An investigation by The New York Times revealed claims of sexual abuse involving two underage girls and an assault on Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers. In response, politicians are calling for the cessation of Chavez Day observance and the removal of his name from public spaces. Joe Carreón, President of the Dallas ISD Board of Trustees, said he “will work with the campus community to begin the process of determining the future name of the school.”

Edgewood considers charter takeover

Edgewood ISD is contemplating transferring control of Brentwood Middle School to Third Future Schools, a charter network. The school has received three consecutive unacceptable grades from the Texas Education Agency, culminating in an F rating. If the board approves the takeover, it would provide a two-year "pause" on accountability measures. Third Future, founded by Mike Miles, has a history of improving academic performance in Texas schools, though critics argue it overly emphasizes standardized testing.

UISD's new plan: Two schools to stay open

United ISD is revising its consolidation strategy, now considering the closure of only two elementary schools instead of five due to a budget shortfall. The district is implementing an early notification incentive program for long-term employees, offering up to 15% of their salary for voluntary resignations. This program aims to save an estimated $13.7m if all eligible employees participate. United chief financial officer Laida Benavides highlighted projected deficits and the need for cost-saving measures, including the consolidation of Amparo Gutierrez and Matias De Llano Elementary schools. 

Denton ISD board race heats up

In the upcoming May 2 election, Greg Petolick and Vicki Byrd are vying for the vacant Place 6 position on the Denton ISD board of trustees.

CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION

Transforming libraries, transforming lives

Ector County ISD and the Education Foundation of Odessa have initiated a $1m library renovation project aimed at revitalizing four school libraries, starting with Murry Fly Elementary School.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Social media risks rise

The 2026 World Happiness Report highlights growing evidence that heavy social media use is contributing to declining mental health among teenagers, particularly girls, with passive consumption of algorithm-driven content linked to higher levels of anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, and online exploitation. The report, published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, in partnership with Gallup and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, suggests that platforms centered on curated influencer content may be especially harmful, while also noting that the relationship between social media and wellbeing remains debated, with some regions showing limited positive effects.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

'Expensive gadgets' won't stop school shootings

In an opinion piece, Nicole Golden, executive director of Texas Gun Sense, warns that the $4bn "school safety technology market", which is projected to grow to $6bn by next year, will do little to keep children safe. While school shootings are preventable, she says, "none of these expensive gadgets are designed to prevent them", at best promising "to respond once a shooting is already underway", while there is also "little evidence that they work", including "disturbing reports of false alarms". "Spending limited public resources on flashy, unproven technologies instead of proven solutions", she writes, "benefits only one group: private companies eager to profit from our fear."

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION

School transport startup Zum hits $333m revenue amid expansion push

Zum Services has reported 2025 revenue of $333m, up 35% year-on-year, as demand grows for its technology platform that modernizes school bus routing, operations, and electrification. The company, which serves more than 4,000 schools and has secured over $2bn in contracted revenue, is continuing to expand its customer base and electric fleet rollout, while maintaining plans for a future IPO without specifying timing.

INTERNATIONAL

UNESCO, UNICEF, and ITU set standards for inclusive digital learning systems

UNESCO, UNICEF, and the International Telecommunication Union have jointly launched a new Charter aimed at helping governments design and manage digital learning platforms as public goods, reinforcing education as a universal right. Announced on the International Day for Digital Learning, it is based on seven principles. Platforms should be public, inclusive, pedagogically driven, complementary to in-person learning, open and interoperable, focused on educational needs, and trustworthy in their use of data and artificial intelligence. The initiative also stresses the importance of international collaboration, building on the existing Gateways program, which has supported dozens of countries in developing digital education systems.

AND FINALLY...

Deodorant days don’t add up

A TikTok video by Amanda (@amandasindallas) showcases a humorous classroom incident where a student bluntly stated: "It [stinks] in here," leading to a discussion about deodorant use. The teacher suggested students shower, but one student claimed his "72-hour deodorant" only needed application every four days. The teacher then asked another student to calculate how many days 72 hours covers, which was revealed to be three. The situation escalated when the student inquired about how many wishes he would get if he rubbed his head. Commenters on TikTok resonated with the scenario, with one stating, "This is EXACTLY how it is being a middle school teacher."
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