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Texas
3rd September 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Texas property tax relief for seniors

A recent analysis revealed that 60% of seniors and the disabled in Texas, along with 40% of other homestead homeowners, pay no Independent School District (ISD) property taxes. State Senator Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, presented these findings during a Texas Senate Committee hearing, highlighting the impact of new laws he authored, including SB 4 and SB 23. Bettencourt said: “80% to 90% of Texas seniors will pay no property taxes at all” due to these changes. The analysis, which compiled data from 253 county appraisal districts, showed that the average ISD property tax bills dropped by 13.5% from 2024 to 2025, with seniors and the disabled seeing a nearly 33% reduction. Bettencourt emphasized the importance of these measures in helping seniors remain in their homes, noting, “These homestead owners will never go above zero in their lifetime.”

DIGITAL CURRICULUM

Choose the Right Digital Curriculum

How do you determine which digital courses will meet your students’ and teachers’ needs best? Get expert answers to your digital curriculum questions in the free Digital Curriculum Buyer’s Guide from FlexPoint®. While you learn how to identify quality digital courses, you’ll complete worksheets that will offer a clear path toward your goals. These insights, tips, and more are vital to making the right purchasing decisions for your school or district.

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NATIONAL NEWS

New DOJ guidance raises concerns over special education transition services

New U.S. Department of Justice guidance has raised concerns among disability advocates and researchers that schools could scale back transition planning designed to prepare students with disabilities for college, employment, and independent living. The DOJ has said it will no longer rely on Olmstead guidance when enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act, although the 1999 Supreme Court ruling itself has not been overturned. Experts warn that the change could confuse educators about their obligations and weaken expectations for community-based, independent living, while transition plans required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act must still address postsecondary education or training, employment, and, when appropriate, independent living. Three Democratic lawmakers have called on the DOJ to rescind the guidance, arguing that it risks reversing decades of progress toward greater integration for people with disabilities.

STATE NEWS

Texas schools need local control back

Brandon Enos, superintendent of Gunter ISD, argues that Texas must prioritize local control in education. He highlights how state leaders, under Gov. Greg Abbott, have undermined independent school districts by imposing mandates without adequate funding. "If Texas truly values local control, state leaders must stop manufacturing political attacks," Enos said. He points out that while districts face financial constraints, the state has its own issues, such as the Texas Education Agency's top-heavy management structure. Enos calls for respect for elected school boards and a return to the original promise of independence in education.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Alpha School's rapid expansion raises eyebrows

Alpha School has significantly expanded its presence in Texas, quadrupling its campuses to over 30, most of which are now part of a new state voucher program. Co-founder MacKenzie Price stated: “School is broken, and we're here to fix it,” emphasizing the school's AI-led teaching model that claims to deliver two hours of daily instruction. However, many state officials have expressed skepticism about the model, labeling it as “untested” and “experimental.” Despite rejections from several states for charter applications, Alpha's acceptance into the voucher program has raised concerns about oversight and accountability. Critics, including Texas State Board of Education member Tiffany Clark, noted that Alpha's approach seems to circumvent traditional educational standards. As Alpha continues to grow, experts question the efficacy of its model, particularly for diverse and lower-income student populations.

ENROLLMENT

Northwest ISD enrollment set to soar

Northwest ISD is projected to see significant enrollment growth, increasing from 32,839 students in the 2025-26 school year to 35,591 by 2030-31, and reaching 37,273 by 2035-36. Keogh noted: “The best way to characterize Northwest ISD right now [is] near-term moderation but continued long-term growth.” The district is also experiencing a housing boom, with 1,290 homes under construction and 5,850 available lots. Additionally, there are 3,000 rental units being built, with plans for over 7,300 more. Superintendent Mark Foust emphasized the importance of this data for adjusting high school attendance boundaries as they prepare for the opening of Davis High School in 2027-28, stating, “We'll start sharing [that data] with the community in September or October.”

EXAMS

Kerrville ISD boosts student scores

During the "2026 Accountability" presentation, Jason Gilbreath, the data and testing coordinator for Kerrville ISD, revealed that 25% of students whose essay scores were challenged on last year's STAAR tests saw improvements. "Last year the state put in place a process to rescore the essays," Gilbreath said, noting that 88 out of 354 essays submitted for rescoring increased by one or two points. This change allowed some students to move into higher performance levels. KISD received an overall B ranking for the 2025-2026 school year, with the STAAR tests being a key measure of academic progress. The Texas Education Agency is set to replace the STAAR test due to concerns over its high-stakes nature, with House Bill 8 phasing it out starting in the 2027-2028 school year.

Allen ISD shines with A rating

The TEA recently released performance results for the STAAR exams, revealing that Allen ISD received an A rating for the 2025-26 school year. Jennifer Wilhelm, assistant superintendent of Learner Services, said Allen ISD remains a “high-achievement district” that continues to “outpace” regional and state performance across all content areas and grade levels. The results indicated an increase in the percentage of students meeting or mastering grade-level expectations, with at least 88% of Allen ISD students approaching grade-level or higher, compared to 74% statewide.

FINANCE

Cleburne ISD scores top financial rating

Cleburne ISD has achieved an A rating, the highest possible, from the Texas Education Agency's Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas for the fourth consecutive year. The district scored 98 out of 100 points for the 2024-25 school year. Superintendent Coby Kirkpatrick emphasized the importance of financial stewardship, stating: “Every dollar entrusted to Cleburne ISD represents a commitment from our community to provide opportunities for students.” The FIRST rating evaluates districts on 21 financial indicators, assessing their financial management practices. 

Denton ISD saves $6.75m in refinancing

Denton ISD announced on September 2 that it has successfully refinanced its voter-approved bond debt, resulting in a savings of $6.75m for taxpayers and reducing the debt's lifespan by eight years. The district refinanced $15.85m of outstanding debt, which is now set to be paid off by 2030 instead of 2038.

Tax rate drops for homeowners

Alvin ISD trustees approved a tax rate of $1.13 per $100 valuation for the fiscal year 2026-27 during their Sept. 1 workshop. This rate is approximately 2% lower than last year's rate of $1.15. The new rate combines maintenance and operations (M&O) funding and interest and sinking (I&S) payments for bond debt. Homeowners with a median homestead taxable value can expect an estimated annual property tax bill of about $2,550, based on an average residential market value exceeding $365,000.

DISTRICTS

Students create yearbook project

As T.A. Brown Elementary School students prepared for summer, teacher Ronda Porter-Altema observed them signing each other's T-shirts, noting: “They don't have yearbooks.” This year, fourth and fifth graders will create their own yearbooks, learning photography, design, and interview skills. Funded by $350,000 from the Austin Ed Fund's Inspire the Future program, the project aims to provide each student with a yearbook designed by their peers. The Ed Fund has supported school projects since 2015, awarding over $3.4 million to enhance student literacy and teacher resources.

GOVERNANCE

Superintendent Cardona retires

San Marcos CISD Superintendent Michael Cardona has retired effective this month. The Board of Trustees appointed Sonya Rodriguez as the interim superintendent, starting September 14. Rodriguez, who has 36 years of public education experience, previously served as executive director and chief academic officer at Edinburg CISD, where she led initiatives that improved student achievement and campus performance.

CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Empowering futures through CTE programs

The Texas Education Agency defines Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs as structured courses that blend academic standards with technical skills for future careers. Tomball ISD offers 13 career clusters, including health and education, while Magnolia ISD provides 10 clusters, focusing on student passion and engagement. Karla Sandoval, director of the TISD CTE program, emphasized: “Ensuring that our graduates are well prepared for their lives after high school... is our highest priority.” Both districts collaborate with local businesses to enhance CTE offerings, with Magnolia's Economic Development Corporation aiming to attract new businesses. Tiffani Wooten from the Tomball Economic Development Council noted that CTE certifications lead to increased career opportunities. Future initiatives include expanding programs and introducing new ones, such as a drone program at Magnolia.

Dripping Springs students break certification record

In 2026, Dripping Springs High School achieved a remarkable milestone, with over 250 students earning a total of 286 industry-based certifications through its CTE programs. The health science pathway led with 102 certifications, including 50 Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) credentials. The most awarded certification was the AWS D9.1 Sheet Metal Welding, earned by 54 students.

SOCIAL & COMMUNITY

Beaumont ISD expands meal distribution efforts

Beaumont ISD is enhancing its food distribution efforts by delivering meals directly to the community in response to Tropical Storm Edouard. Initially, BISD planned to provide food only through a drive-through site at Caldwood Elementary, but later announced that school buses would also be used for meal delivery.

HIGHER EDUCATION

New building boosts UT Dallas campus

The Naveen Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas is set to unveil its third building, the Charles and Nancy Davidson Building, this fall, adding over 130,000 square feet to the campus. Jeremy Head, associate vice president for facilities management, said: “These projects are not driven by growth alone,” highlighting the need for additional spaces due to a 32% increase in undergraduate enrollment over the past decade. Dean Hasan Pirkul noted that the Jindal School's national visibility has contributed to this growth, with record numbers of applications. The new building will consolidate undergraduate programs, providing a dedicated space for students and enhancing collaboration. 
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