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Texas
25th September 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Texas schools tackle screen time limits

Texas school districts are introducing tighter classroom screen-time policies as Gov. Greg Abbott calls for broader restrictions on student technology use. Dallas ISD now recommends less than one hour daily for pre-K through second grade, under 90 minutes for grades three through five, and up to two hours for middle school students. Richardson ISD has separately restricted passive screen use, including devices as rewards or after students finish work early. Abbott said technology should support specific lessons and assessments, “not as a substitute for teachers or other proven methods of learning.” The debate follows a statewide school cellphone ban and comes as research raises concerns about excessive screen exposure. One study linked greater screen time with lower reading and maths scores, while an Auburn University survey found 85% of teachers believed students spend too much classroom time on screens. Several other states have also introduced or considered similar limits.

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NATIONAL NEWS

Clock change debate hits schools

The Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent and end twice-yearly clock changes, faces uncertainty in the Senate amid concerns about its effects on students and schools. The House passed the legislation 308-117 in July, but some senators have raised concerns that permanent daylight saving time could leave students traveling to school in darkness during winter mornings, particularly in northern states. The article cites sleep experts who argue that permanent standard time would better align with circadian rhythms, particularly for teenagers, and could support sleep, learning, and mental health. Supporters of permanent daylight saving time emphasize the benefits of additional evening daylight, while some educators warn that moving school start times later could conflict with sports, extracurricular activities, and instructional schedules.

Education central to American Dream

A new Gallup and Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream survey found that 92% of Americans consider a quality education important to achieving the American Dream, even as dissatisfaction with K-12 education remains widespread. Adults who are more satisfied with schools are also more optimistic about upward mobility and opportunities for future generations, while most respondents said schools are not doing enough to prepare students for the workforce or help them improve their circumstances. A separate recent poll found that just 32% of adults are satisfied with U.S. education options. However, views are more positive at the individual level, with 58% saying they received a quality education, and 57% saying they have access to good schools for themselves and their families.

LEGISLATION

Sports ruling preserves state restrictions

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling has allowed state laws barring transgender girls and women from girls’ and women’s school sports to remain in place, while stopping short of requiring such restrictions nationwide. According to the article, 27 states currently have laws restricting transgender girls’ participation in girls’ sports at publicly funded K-12 schools and colleges, while other states remain free to maintain more inclusive policies. Professional leagues and sports organizations generally establish their own eligibility rules, with several organizations, including the NCAA and International Olympic Committee, adopting restrictions on transgender women competing in women’s categories. The article notes that transgender athletes represent a very small share of sports participants and that research on potential athletic advantages remains limited. Legal experts also said the Supreme Court’s reasoning could influence future disputes involving Title IX, equal protection, and transgender rights beyond athletics.

FINANCE

Houston ISD faces financial strain amid reforms

Houston ISD (HISD) is grappling with financial challenges as it implements the New Education System, led by state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles. An investigation by the Texas Tribune revealed that HISD has been forced to cut staff and reduce spending due to significant enrollment losses, which have resulted in a loss of $190m in funding. Miles said: “We have to make responsible decisions now so the District remains financially strong.” The district's budget was based on a projected loss of 4,000 students, but actual losses have been much higher, with reports indicating a drop of 10,000 students. As a result, campuses like Lamar High School are facing shortfalls that threaten programs. Concerns are growing about the sustainability of these reforms and their impact on student achievement.

GOVERNANCE

Socorro ISD exits conservatorship triumphantly

Socorro ISD has successfully exited conservatorship with the Texas Education Agency after achieving a "stabilized" financial condition. This transition, which began on March 7, 2024, follows the district's completion of financial criteria and corrective actions. SISD addressed key issues such as governance, financial systems, and academic compliance, serving around 46,000 to 48,000 students. Superintendent James Vasquez said: "TEA's decision recognizes the hard work Team SISD has done to address challenges." The district resolved a $42m deficit and received praise from Moody's for its fiscal performance, including a balanced budget for fiscal year 2027.

LEGAL

Hazing scandal rocks Boyd ISD

Leaders from Boyd ISD confirmed that no employees were placed on administrative leave following an investigation into a hazing incident at Boyd High School. The incident, which occurred on September 3, involved a 14-year-old student who alleged that four other students restrained him and removed some of his clothing in the locker room. Boyd police have charged four students, including two who will be charged as adults, with unlawful restraint and injury to a child causing bodily injury. Superintendent Tom Woody stated, “I see appropriate supervision,” regarding the coaches' response to the incident. A Title IX investigation has concluded, but the district is finalizing its own hazing policy investigation. 

DISTRICTS

Parents voice concerns over scripted lessons

Parents and community members in Fort Worth ISD have expressed significant concerns regarding scripted lessons and rigid instructional mandates during recent listening sessions. Superintendent Peter Licata and the state-appointed Board of Managers conducted 41 sessions, gathering feedback from 3,027 respondents. Many parents, including Angie Still, emphasized the need for flexibility in teaching, stating: "The one-size-fits-all mentality just does not work." The district's new instructional framework, Cowtown 12, aims to standardize teaching methods, but parents worry it stifles creativity. Additionally, trust and communication emerged as key values, with 21% of respondents prioritizing trust as essential for the district. Licata acknowledged the need for improved community engagement, stating, "We did not reach enough of our community." A workshop is scheduled to address feedback and implement changes.

Argyle ISD makes tough zoning decision

The Argyle ISD Board of Trustees recently voted unanimously against allowing re-zoned families the option to keep their freshmen at Argyle High School. Superintendent Courtney Carpenter stated: "Despite all of our communication... the choice option has given unnecessary uncertainty." The decision mandates that the Class of 2030, now zoned for Legacy High School, will attend the new school starting in the 2027-28 school year. The move has sparked criticism from parents who feel the decision disrupts students' social connections and extracurricular activities.

Bryan ISD unveils bold improvement plan

Bryan ISD trustees are set to discuss a new district-wide improvement plan for the 2026-27 school year on September 28, which outlines four long-term goals aimed at enhancing student achievement, college and career readiness, instructional coaching, and teacher retention. The plan seeks to boost “Meets Grade Level” performance in core subjects by 10% by 2031 and increase the percentage of graduates meeting readiness indicators by the same margin. Currently, 50% of students are performing at grade level, while 82% of graduates are deemed ready for college, careers, or military service. The plan also emphasizes a coaching framework and aims to improve teacher retention by at least 8% by 2031. Additionally, trustees will review designs for Bryan Collegiate High School and other campus improvements during the meeting.

WORKFORCE

Building a brighter future: teacher pipeline success

What started nearly a decade ago as a single university partnership has evolved into a robust teacher pipeline, reintegrating prepared educators, including Goose Creek CISD alumni, into their local classrooms. This spring, 28 student teachers completed their clinical teaching experience in GCCISD and transitioned into full-time positions for the 2026-2027 school year. The new educators were honored during the September meeting of the Goose Creek CISD Board of Trustees, highlighting the district's commitment to fostering local talent and enhancing educational quality.

Round Rock ISD faces healthcare crisis

Round Rock ISD is facing a projected $13m shortfall in its self-funded health insurance plan for employees by 2027, prompting proposed changes to healthcare costs. Chief human resources officer Eddie Curran stated: "The reality is what we have been contributing... it's just not sustainable." The district currently contributes $7,795 per employee, but rising healthcare claims have made it impossible to absorb these costs without adjustments. Proposed changes include increasing employee contributions for various health plans and potentially joining the state's Teacher Retirement System ActiveCare program, which would limit local control.  

CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION

New campuses open as growth slows

Prosper ISD opened two new campuses, Judy Rucker Elementary School and Jim Bridges Middle School, on August 11 for the 2026-27 school year, funded by its 2023 bond. "Opening a new school brings incredible energy, and I want that excitement to spread," said Alex Crosbie, principal of Bridges Middle School. However, the district has decided to delay the opening of a third campus, Dr. Drew and Kristen Watkins Middle School, to the 2027-28 school year due to a projected $25.1m shortfall in the general fund. This decision reflects a broader trend in North Texas, where several districts are experiencing declining enrollment.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Salem High School revolutionizes security

Salem High School has significantly reduced the time administrators spend reviewing security footage from hours to mere minutes by implementing a new system from Coram AI. The new technology allows staff to search recorded footage using plain language and includes alerts for visible weapons. The success of this system has attracted attention from neighboring school divisions, with plans to expand its use across Salem City Schools. Ashesh Jain, chief executive of Coram AI, emphasized that “most school administrators are not video analysts, and they shouldn't have to be.”

EARLY EDUCATION

Proposed Head Start overhaul sparks debate over bilingual instruction and school readiness

The Trump administration has proposed requiring English-only classroom instruction in Head Start, potentially affecting nearly 290,000 dual-language learners nationwide, including thousands of children in Los Angeles County. The proposal would remove requirements for staff to speak students’ predominant home languages, provide certain assessments and screenings in families’ preferred languages, translate essential parent materials, and maintain foreign-language classroom resources. The administration says the changes would give providers greater flexibility and strengthen English proficiency and school readiness, while critics argue they could hinder language acquisition, family communication, and student development. The Administration for Children and Families estimates that one-third of non-tribal Head Start programs would need to change curricula, replace materials, and retrain or replace teachers, at an estimated one-time cost of at least $99 million. The proposal is undergoing public comment through October 6.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Education Department announces $174m investment in HBCUs

The U.S. Department of Education has announced a one-time investment of more than $174m in historically Black colleges and universities, in addition to their regular annual federal funding. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the funding is intended to help HBCUs continue providing education and preparing students for a changing economy, while addressing barriers to federal and state grants and improving their competitiveness for research and development funding. The latest award follows a $438m one-time investment last year, bringing the administration’s combined one-time HBCU investment for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 to more than $612m. The administration is also providing more than $61m in additional one-time funding for tribally controlled colleges and universities. The United Negro College Fund welcomed the HBCU investment, although its president, Michael L. Lomax, said needs across HBCU campuses remain significant.

Education Department panel deadlocks over ABA’s role in law school accreditation

A U.S. Department of Education advisory committee has deadlocked over whether the American Bar Association (ABA) should retain its status as the federally recognized accreditor of U.S. law schools, leaving Education Department Under Secretary Nicholas Kent to make the final decision in the coming months. The department previously recommended against renewing the ABA legal education council’s accreditor status, arguing that it is not sufficiently separate and independent from the broader ABA and criticizing the organization for moving too slowly to revise requirements concerning law schools’ diversity policies. Critics of the ABA’s accreditation role argued that ending federal recognition would have limited immediate effects because only five law schools rely on ABA accreditation for access to federal student loans. Supporters warned that removing the ABA could disrupt U.S. legal education and create a patchwork of state lawyer licensing requirements, while also alleging that federal accreditation rules were being applied unevenly to the organization.

Education Department sued over canceled student loans still appearing on credit reports

Two student-loan borrowers have sued the U.S. Department of Education, alleging that loans canceled years ago remain listed as active on their credit reports, damaging their credit scores and limiting their ability to borrow. The Project on Predatory Student Lending, which represents plaintiffs Mandy Woods and Jorge Cortes and is seeking class-action status, says more than 300,000 borrowers still have $4.6bn in canceled debt reported as outstanding. Woods borrowed about $65,000 to attend Ashford University, while Cortes borrowed about $54,000 for ITT Technical Institute, with the Education Department later canceling loans for eligible former students after taking action against both institutions. Woods said her credit report continues to show nearly $72,000 in federal student-loan debt because of accrued interest, despite the discharge, and that she was recently denied three credit cards. The lawsuit alleges that the department is violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act by continuing to report canceled balances, amid broader disruption in the federal student-loan system and a default population that has reached more than 9.3m borrowers.

INTERNATIONAL

Italy moves to ban face-covering veils in schools and introduce 30% classroom limit

Italy’s government has approved measures banning burqas and niqabs in schools and introducing a 30% cap affecting certain students without Italian citizenship or with limited Italian-language experience in first-year primary, middle, and high school classes. The face-covering ban does not apply to hijabs, while the classroom rules vary by education level and include exemptions where students cannot be distributed among nearby schools, with additional Italian-language instruction provided instead. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the measures as tools to promote integration, while Education Minister Giuseppe Valditara said the limit is “purely linguistic” and intended to prevent “ghetto classes.” Schools would also be required to report cases where persistent parental language barriers hinder a child’s integration, with free Italian courses offered. Opposition politicians have criticized the measures as politically motivated and difficult to implement, while the government has rejected claims that it is responding to pressure from the hard-right Futuro Nazionale party. The decree can take effect immediately but must be ratified by parliament within 60 days.
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