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Texas
28th September 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Cameras in special education classrooms raise safety and privacy debate

Schools are increasingly considering cameras in special education classrooms to protect students who may be unable to report abuse or misconduct themselves. Supporters say recordings can provide evidence in investigations involving abuse, restraint, or seclusion, while also protecting educators from unfounded allegations. Critics, however, warn about privacy and argue that cameras cannot replace adequate staffing and training. Frederick County Public Schools in Maryland is expanding cameras across specialized classrooms, with full implementation expected by 2030. Recordings are not continuously monitored and can generally be reviewed only following safety incidents, emergencies, or misconduct allegations, with strict rules limiting access. Experts say cameras can provide accountability but should be accompanied by efforts to address staffing shortages, improve behavioral-management training, and reduce inappropriate restraint. Frederick County is evaluating its program through parent and staff feedback, investigation outcomes, and reporting patterns.

INSTRUCTIONAL COHERENCE

No More Patchwork Literacy: TX Teachers Need Cohesive Resources

How can you spend more time teaching instead of countless hours scouring the internet looking for engaging, authentic texts, supplemental worksheets, foundational skills support, TEKS-aligned activities, or assessments that pinpoint student progress? Piecing together fragmented resources isn’t just exhausting; it creates inconsistent learning experiences for students who need steady, structured growth. When instructional tools lack alignment across grade levels, critical skills fall through the cracks during key transitions. You shouldn't have to act as a curriculum designer on top of everything else you do.

Texas educators deserve a unified, evidence-based instructional approach that meets every learner, from PK through high school, at their precise point of need. Consistent, high-quality materials free teachers to focus on what matters most: delivering impactful, engaging instruction.

Discover how a unified PK-12 literacy strategy empowers teachers and elevates student reading outcomes.

 

LEGISLATION

Galveston ISD stands firm on lawsuit

Galveston ISD is actively contesting a lawsuit initiated by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, which seeks to enforce a law mandating the display of Ten Commandment signs in classrooms. During a recent board meeting, trustees voted 5-2 to delay action until a court hearing, with Trustee Elizabeth Beeton stating: "For the many parents, teachers, and administrators who very much do not want to be forced to post these religious messages in their classrooms, I'm proud of the stand that Galveston ISD has taken." The district argues that the law, Senate Bill 10, is unconstitutional and could lead to negative implications for students. Despite the Fifth Circuit Court ruling the law constitutional, Board President Tony Brown emphasized the obligation to uphold the law while expressing personal opposition. The case is set to be heard by Judge Jeth Jones in the 122nd Judicial District Court.

DISTRICTS

Parents push back against school closures

Matias Segura, Superintendent of Austin ISD, expressed his support for a parent petition aimed at closing two failing middle schools, Burnet and Webb, to prevent a state takeover. During a discussion with Austin Current Editor Melissa Taboada at The Texas Tribune Festival, Segura emphasized the importance of community involvement, stating: “I believe strongly that families should have a voice in what happens to their students.” The Texas Education Agency is considering intervention due to five consecutive failing ratings for these schools. Parents have mixed feelings about the petition, viewing it as an unfair burden on their community. Segura acknowledged the district's challenges, stating: “It is a real issue, it's something that we're working through.” The district's appeal of the schools' ratings is part of its strategy to avoid state intervention.

Argyle ISD makes bold school decision

Argyle ISD has decided that freshmen and sophomores will not have the option to choose their school when Legacy High School opens for the 2027-2028 school year. The district's board voted to fill the new campus with students from its zoning boundary to ensure accurate enrollment numbers and facilitate staffing. Superintendent Courtney Carpenter said: “The transfer option has created unnecessary uncertainty, speculation and confusion among families.” Concerns about class offerings and extracurricular activities were addressed, with the board emphasizing that all organizations would have the opportunity to thrive. The decision aligns with past practices when opening new schools, aiming to reduce stress for families. Legacy High will initially serve grades 9-10, with plans to expand to grades 9-12 by the 2032-2033 school year, projecting an enrollment of about 860 students. The search for the school's first principal has also begun.

Lubbock ISD names new schools

Lubbock ISD's Board of Trustees has approved names for three new elementary schools after reviewing over 300 community suggestions. The schools will be named Curtis and Hattie Gipson Elementary, Anthony Peppers Elementary, and Velma Ruth Shambeck Elementary. The board president said: “I think there was strong [interest] in our facilities meeting... in naming these after educators that have made a significant difference.” Additionally, District 5 Trustee John Weddige announced his resignation to focus on family, expressing gratitude for his time on the board. Weddige has served since 2024, with his term set to end in 2028.

Leander ISD celebrates AP Scholar surge

Leander ISD students achieved a remarkable 2,806 AP Scholar recognitions based on the May 2026 exam results, marking an increase of 351 from the previous year. The district reported that 55% of the class of 2026 earned this prestigious recognition, showcasing the academic excellence within the school. "Leander ISD is proud of our students' achievements," said a district representative, highlighting the commitment to fostering a strong educational environment.

FINANCE

Eanes ISD staff to receive bonus

Eanes ISD staff will receive a one-time payment of $1,306.32 after the board of trustees voted 5-2 in favor during the September 22 meeting. Trustees John Troy and Catherine Walker opposed the decision, with Troy expressing concerns about the district's financial health, stating: "If we have a dollar, I want to put it to our staff." Trustee Jennifer Blackman countered that investing in staff is crucial, saying, "If we invest in the teachers and the staff that we have now, I feel very confident that that investment is going to compound." The board's decision follows a budget surplus of $80,000 and aims to maintain a fund balance of 24.1% for the 2026-27 budget. Superintendent Kirk Koennecke emphasized the ongoing need for state support, noting: "Our general fund and what we're paying attention to is as tight as it's ever been historically."

Denton ISD cuts property tax rate

Homeowners in Denton ISD will benefit from a reduced property tax rate of $1.1528 per $100 of taxable value for FY 2026-27, down more than 5 cents from the previous year. This change will save the owner of a median-valued homestead approximately $345. Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Stewart noted that certified property values increased nearly $4bn, primarily due to new commercial properties. Despite the tax rate decrease, the district's $380m general fund budget remains unaffected, allowing for a 4% pay raise for teachers. “Our job as trustees is to be careful with what this community entrusts to us and unwavering about what our students need,” said DISD Board President Barbara Burns. The tax rate adjustments are influenced by state-driven maintenance and operations compression and a steady interest and sinking rate.

Brazosport ISD tax rate drops slightly

Brazosport ISD has approved a new property tax rate of 89.07 cents per $100 of taxable property value, a slight decrease from last year's rate of 89.75 cents. Despite this reduction, the district will collect more property taxes for daily operations.

NUTRITION

School meal programs face strain

AASA, The School Superintendents Association, has surveyed 429 school district leaders across 43 states, finding widespread financial and operational challenges in school meal programs. Among respondents, 67% said current federal funding levels present a moderate or significant challenge, while 40% reported diverting money from elsewhere in their budgets last year to cover meal program costs. Beyond funding, 69% identified compliance with federal nutrition standards as a challenge, and 37% cited student acceptance and participation as their greatest operational difficulty under current regulations. Infrastructure and staffing are also limiting districts’ ability to expand scratch cooking, with only 44% reporting full kitchens at every school, and 64% and 61% identifying staffing and funding, respectively, as barriers. AASA said insufficient reimbursement, staffing shortages, procurement difficulties, limited kitchen capacity, and low student acceptance are putting pressure on districts and, in some cases, forcing them to choose between absorbing rising meal costs and funding other educational priorities.

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION

CTE growth drives transportation changes

School districts are developing new transportation strategies as growing demand for career and technical education and work-based learning requires more students to travel between high schools, technical centers, community colleges, and workplaces during the school day. Transportation can become prohibitively expensive when relatively few CTE students need to travel from widely dispersed locations, with costs potentially reaching $30,000 to $50,000 annually per student in difficult cases. Districts are responding by aligning school schedules, consolidating bus stops, combining buses with smaller vehicles, and collaborating on transportation services. The Western Maricopa Education Center, which serves more than 37,000 students from 48 high schools in the Phoenix area, has moved from grant-supported transportation to agreements under which it shares driver costs with partner districts. West-MEC is also building campuses closer to students, including a site near Agua Fria High School that opened in 2025 and will add four more CTE programs in summer 2027, reducing the need for students to travel long distances.

CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Taylor ISD gears up for tech

Taylor ISD has partnered with Austin Community College (ACC) to establish a dual-credit program in electronic technology, aimed at preparing students for careers in the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors. Superintendent Jennifer Garcia-Edwardsen said: “This is a transformational moment for our students and our community.” The program will enable students to earn an Automation, Robotics and Semiconductor Technology Advanced Specialization Level 1 Certificate. The initiative is part of a broader commitment to enhance college and career readiness through apprenticeships and engineering programs. With Williamson County emerging as a semiconductor hub, the program aims to provide students with essential skills and experiences for high-demand careers. The first ACC courses will commence in the 2026-27 school year, covering topics such as digital fundamentals and nanoelectronics manufacturing technology.

INTERNATIONAL

Ontario education unions schedule November strike votes as contract talks stall

Ontario’s public high school teachers will hold a strike vote from November 6-16, joining the province’s other major education unions in scheduling votes for November as negotiations over new contracts remain stalled. The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation said unions are seeking greater government investment in public education, and that a strong strike mandate could strengthen their position at the bargaining table. A successful strike vote, however, would not necessarily lead to a walkout. Education contracts expired at the end of August, but negotiations have been delayed while the Ontario Labour Relations Board considers a dispute between the unions and the provincial government over which issues should be negotiated centrally and which should be handled by local unions and school boards. The government said it is ready to negotiate new agreements once the labor board process concludes. A spokesperson for Education Minister Paul Calandra criticized the strike discussions as premature, saying the government’s priority is reaching an agreement that keeps students in classrooms.

AND FINALLY...

U2 marks 50 years with concert at school where its story began

U2 returned to Mount Temple Comprehensive School in Dublin, where the band formed 50 years ago, to surprise hundreds of students with a 30-minute performance. The seven-song set included “I Will Follow,” “One,” and an encore of “With or Without You,” with 32 students joining the band on string instruments for “One.” The group traces its origins to the school, where 14-year-old drummer Larry Mullen posted a notice seeking musicians in 1976. Bono, The Edge, and Adam Clayton subsequently joined the group, which was initially called Feedback before eventually becoming U2. The performance also promoted the band’s new album, “Carnaval De Luz,” and Bono paid tribute to the school’s teachers and wider community, reflecting on the lessons the band learned there and their importance throughout its career.
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