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Texas
30th September 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Texas seeks $97.3bn for schools

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is requesting $97.3bn for K-12 education over the next two years, an increase from the current budget of about $91bn. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said the TEA is "largely a pass-through vehicle to fund schools around the state of Texas," indicating that most funds will be allocated to school districts. The request includes $49.6bn for fiscal year 2027-28 and $47.7bn for 2028-29, aimed at preserving "100% of all funding for public schools" through the Foundation School Program. Morath emphasized the need for a resilient education system, stating, "Together, we can forge a path toward a more resilient and successful education system that serves the needs of all Texans." Additionally, some Texans are advocating for an increase in the basic allotment for per-student funding, which currently stands at $6,215.

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.

 

STATE NEWS

Texas curriculum changes spark outrage

Recent curriculum changes approved by the Texas State Board of Education have raised significant concerns among educators and advocates, particularly regarding the portrayal of Islam and marginalized communities. Sameeha Rizvi, the governmental affairs manager for CAIR Texas, emphasized that these standards will shape students' understanding of history and culture for years, stating, “These standards include significant changes affecting the teaching of Islam.” The new curriculum mandates that students learn about “radical Islam” in the context of the 9/11 attacks, while omitting Muslim contributions to fields like algebra and astronomy. Critics argue that this approach fosters prejudice and misrepresents history, with Jennifer Sayed noting: “A lot of history is not going to be learned.” The discussion highlighted the importance of community engagement and voting in upcoming elections to influence educational policies.

NATIONAL NEWS

DoDEA shifts toward classical education

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), which operates around 160 schools serving approximately 66,000 children of U.S. service members, is undergoing significant changes under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Pentagon is increasing its emphasis on “classical education,” expanding school choice, restricting hundreds of books, and introducing centralized reading requirements, including a mandate for teachers to teach two novels from an approved list using prescribed lesson plans. Schools have also restricted certain materials and activities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, gender identity, Women’s History Month, and Black History Month. The changes are being introduced despite DoDEA students historically performing above national averages on federally mandated tests. The system has launched an online history of the West course, plans further classical education initiatives, and is offering the Classical Learning Test to 11th and 12th graders, with the exam set to be accepted by the three major U.S. service academies beginning in the 2027 academic year.

 
CNN

EARLY EDUCATION

New rules reshape pre-K care landscape

New regulations set to take effect in the 2027-28 school year aim to enhance collaboration between public schools and private childcare providers. Under House Bill 2, school districts must seek approval before expanding pre-K programs or charging tuition. "Families have enough pressures," said Tracie Martin, executive director of Kids Community Preschool & Daycare, emphasizing the need for integrated education and care solutions. The law mandates that districts consult designated pre-K partnership intermediaries to assess the availability of high-quality private pre-K seats before expansion. This initiative is designed to ensure that community providers can meet demand while maintaining enrollment and support for families with children of varying ages.

Childcare providers take on Northwest ISD

Childcare providers, including the Texas Licensed Child Care Association and Horizon Kidz, have filed a lawsuit against Northwest ISD over its pre-K expansion. They allege that the district violated state law by not adequately seeking partnerships with local childcare providers before expanding its pre-K services. Tim Kaminski, president of the Texas Licensed Child Care Center Association, said: “The court found that the TLCCA can seek relief from the Texas Education Agency commissioner.” The district has denied the allegations, claiming it issued a request for proposals in February 2020 but received no responses. Heather DeHoyos-Williams, owner of Horizon Kidz, expressed concern over her declining enrollment, stating: “If they do decide to open another pre-K facility, I will have to close my doors.”  

ENROLLMENT

Austin schools face enrollment crisis

Austin ISD is bracing for a continued decline in student enrollment, which could exacerbate budget challenges. As of September 18, the district reported nearly 65,951 students, falling short of the projected 68,329. Chief financial officer Katrina Montgomery indicated that without an increase in enrollment, the district may need to cut up to $14.8m from its budget. Board President Lynn Boswell emphasized the severity of the situation, stating: “It's a much bigger problem than it was last year and we've cut a lot already.” The district is also facing rising costs, including a $1.9m increase in diesel expenses, despite reduced ridership. Montgomery plans to propose budget cuts in January as the district navigates these financial pressures.

CURRICULUM

AP courses adapt for AI

The College Board is redesigning AP Computer Science Principles and AP Seminar beginning in the 2027-28 school year as artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly affects teaching and student work. AP Computer Science Principles will incorporate AI and machine learning across its curriculum and introduce an AI Create Project requiring students to develop an application using AI. AP Seminar will teach appropriate uses of generative AI but require students to draft and edit essays submitted for AP scoring in a secure environment without access to the technology. The changes follow feedback from thousands of AP teachers, who broadly recognize the importance of AI literacy while expressing concerns about critical thinking, independent work, and unreliable AI-detection tools. The College Board also plans additional professional development to help educators implement the redesigned courses.

GOVERNANCE

Women face superintendent leadership barriers

Women continue to face additional hurdles in reaching superintendent positions, according to data cited by Julia Rafal-Baer, chief executive and co-founder of ILO Group. Women lead 170, or 34%, of the nation’s 500 largest school districts, despite representing the majority of the educator workforce, and 35% of female superintendents reached their roles after serving as interim leaders, compared with 25% of men. Among interim superintendents since 2018 who pursued permanent appointments, 62% of women went through a formal search process, compared with 55% of men, a disparity Rafal-Baer describes as an “audition tax.” The article argues that subjective judgments around leadership style, commitment, and fit can create additional barriers for women, and recommends that school boards establish clear priorities and assess all candidates against consistent, evidence-based criteria.

Candidates clash for Fort Bend ISD seat

In the upcoming November 3 election, Fort Bend ISD residents will select from six candidates for the Position 4 seat on the board of trustees. Candidates were asked to provide concise responses to key questions, focusing on their priorities and strategies for addressing pressing issues. One candidate emphasized the need for "honest, forward-looking budgeting" and a commitment to "protect the classroom" while addressing declining enrollment. Another candidate highlighted the importance of community engagement, stating, "Parents and residents should be informed and involved before major decisions are made." The election is crucial as it aims to address challenges such as declining enrollment and budget constraints.

DISTRICTS

Round Rock discipline report shows positive trends

A recent report on disciplinary actions in Round Rock ISD indicates a significant decline in out-of-school suspensions, which dropped by 43% between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. Zach Oldham, area superintendent, attributed this positive trend to targeted efforts to keep students in the classroom and new legislative requirements. "This is a passion area of mine—keeping students on campus and making sure that they're in the classroom," Oldham said. The district has implemented multiple approval processes for out-of-school placements and utilized data to address common misbehavior patterns. While in-school suspensions increased by about 10%, administrators believe this is a necessary trade-off to maintain student connections with their teachers.  

Davis High School to debut in 2027

Davis High School, set to open in 2027 in North Fort Worth, will feature the Diamondback as its mascot. The school, which can accommodate 3,200 students, will initially serve only freshmen and sophomores to avoid disrupting existing schools. Principal Dr. Ron Myers expressed pride in the mascot choice, stating, "The clear choice from our students to select the Diamondbacks as our mascot shows the unified voice and identity they want to build together." Over 1,000 middle school students voted, with 83.5% favoring the Diamondback over the Aviator.  

TECHNOLOGY

Meta adds new Instagram tools for nearly 17,000 participating schools

Meta has expanded Instagram’s school partnership program in the U.S., introducing additional features designed to connect schools and students as the company faces increased scrutiny over teen safety. Nearly 17,000 schools have joined the program, and Meta is creating a centralized hub for school-related accounts. Verified students at participating schools will gain access to features including directories for clubs and teams, school-specific Stories, and Notes for announcements, while verified schools will receive new Channels and Notes tools to communicate with students, parents, and the wider school community. The expansion follows Meta’s agreement in August to pay up to $18bn over the next decade and impose restrictions on teenagers’ use of Facebook and Instagram to resolve claims that its platforms were designed to addict children.

NUTRITION

White House resistance slows RFK Jr.’s food overhaul

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s efforts to overhaul the U.S. food system have faced growing resistance from White House officials concerned about the legal, economic, and practical implications of his proposals. Officials have delayed a proposed definition of “ultraprocessed food,” fearing it could cover much of the food sold in U.S. grocery stores, expose the government and food companies to litigation, and affect trade and the wider industry. The tensions have also stalled stricter school-meal standards and a proposed safety review of certain refined carbohydrates. The disputes highlight a growing divide between Mr. Kennedy’s team, which is pushing for rapid action on its “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, and White House officials seeking greater review of policies they fear could be costly, difficult to implement, or legally vulnerable.

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Lawmakers seek answers over delayed COVID-19 vaccine access for children

Top Senate Democrats are pressing federal health officials over an apparent monthlong delay in making COVID-19 vaccines available through the Vaccines for Children Program, which provides free immunizations to more than half of U.S. children, including those covered by Medicaid and those who are uninsured or underinsured. The vaccines received FDA approval on August 27, but states were not able to begin ordering doses through the program until September 23. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sens. Edward Markey (D-MA) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT) have asked the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to explain the delay and ensure distribution continues without further interruption. HHS said the vaccines are now available for states to order and argued that COVID-19 vaccine procurement does not follow the same deadlines as vaccines for more predictable seasonal illnesses because the virus circulates year-round.

RECRUITMENT

Global teacher shortages worsen as schools struggle to recruit qualified educators

Teacher shortages are becoming an increasingly widespread global challenge, with nearly 40% of 15-year-olds attending schools where principals said staffing shortages hindered instruction in 2025, up from 27% in 2018, according to OECD data. The share of teachers working without full certification has also increased in two-thirds of countries reporting data, with nearly one in 10 primary and secondary teachers across OECD countries not fully qualified in 2025. Schools are struggling particularly to recruit qualified STEM educators, while growing demand for special education and multilingual-learner support is adding to staffing requirements despite declining student enrollment in many countries. In the U.S., teachers generally work longer hours and spend more time teaching than the OECD average, but report comparatively strong morale and satisfaction with employment conditions beyond salary. The U.S. also draws more heavily on career changers, with 16.3% of teachers having previously spent at least a decade in another profession, nearly double the OECD average of 8.4%. The OECD argues that improving working conditions, leadership, career opportunities, and how teachers’ time is structured will be important to attracting and retaining educators.

SPORTS

Senate advances college sports overhaul

The U.S. Senate has passed the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act by 77-22, advancing legislation that would give the NCAA a limited antitrust exemption to establish rules covering athlete eligibility, transfers, and compensation. The bill would also increase the annual revenue-sharing cap from roughly $20m per school to nearly $50m, introduce additional funding for player retention and non-revenue sports, restrict power-conference realignment for six years, and cap Power 4 conferences at 20 members. The legislation must now pass the House by a simple majority before it can be signed into law, but the article says no House votes are expected until after the November 3 midterm elections, with the election outcome, congressional scheduling, and opposition from some lawmakers potentially affecting its progress.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Ken Griffin donates record $3bn to Carnegie Mellon

Citadel chief executive Ken Griffin is donating $3bn to Carnegie Mellon University, the largest individual gift to higher education in U.S. history, including $2bn to establish a new campus in Miami and $1bn for the university’s main Pittsburgh campus. The 35-acre Miami campus, located in Wynwood, will focus on technology and innovation, including artificial intelligence, health and biological discovery, national security, energy and climate resilience, and advanced manufacturing. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027, with the first students expected in 2028, and the campus is eventually projected to support more than 3,500 students, nearly 300 faculty members, and more than 600 staff. Griffin will also join Carnegie Mellon’s Board of Trustees, while its Pittsburgh computer science building will be renamed the Kenneth C. Griffin School of Computer Science.

Education Department extends student loan interest rate discount deadline

The U.S. Department of Education has extended the deadline for federal student loan borrowers to enroll in automatic payments and receive a one percentage point interest rate reduction until December 31, with the benefit lasting through June 30, 2028, once borrowers enroll. Nearly 2m borrowers have signed up for autopay since the discount became available over the summer, compared with the typical 0.25 percentage point reduction offered for automatic payments. The discount applies to eligible Direct Loans, including Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, Direct PLUS, and Direct Consolidation Loans, provided they were disbursed on or after July 1, 2012, and are in good standing. FFEL and private student loans are not eligible.

INTERNATIONAL

Hundreds detained as school protests escalate across France

High school protests across France have escalated over concerns including teacher shortages, overcrowded classes, demanding schedules, inadequate facilities, and overheated classrooms, with demonstrations or disruptions affecting hundreds of schools. Some protests turned violent, with students setting fires and throwing objects at police, who responded with batons and tear gas; Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 440 people were detained nationwide, most of them minors, while 10 students and staff members were reported injured. The demonstrations coincided with nationwide public-sector strikes and protests over the government’s budget, adding to political tensions between the government and La France Insoumise, whose politicians have supported the student movement. 
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