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Texas
12th November 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Hinojosa's win sparks education reform

Texas Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa has pledged to overhaul public education, challenging state takeovers of school districts, school accountability measures, and longstanding funding shortfalls. The Austin Chronicle reports that her victory could reshape state intervention in Austin ISD, which faces potential takeover following repeated failing campus ratings. Hinojosa has promised to replace the Texas Education Agency commissioner and protect locally elected school boards. Education professor David DeMatthews supports stronger state assistance without removing local leadership, arguing that Texas must address teacher shortages, inadequate funding, and excessive reliance on standardized testing. He emphasized that the state should be “equally as responsible as school districts” for student outcomes. Proposed reforms could also affect charter school expansion, curriculum decisions, and accountability measures, although existing laws will continue to shape immediate interventions.

MATHEMATICAL THINKING

Watch Mathematical Thinking Come to Life in Texas Classrooms

Great math classrooms are filled with curiosity, conversation, and discovery. Built specifically for Texas students and educators, Texas Math for Grades 6–12 promotes deep conceptual understanding, meaningful collaboration, and personalized learning that help every student succeed. Fully IMRA-approved and built for the rigor of Texas, the program pairs TEKS-aligned lessons and structured discourse with real-time data and adaptive practice through ALEKS — meeting each student exactly where they are. See it in action: take a look inside Texas Math to watch mathematical thinking come to life — students reasoning, collaborating, and growing into capable mathematicians. Watch how Texas Math inspires confident learners and supports lasting achievement.

Watch the video

 

NATIONAL NEWS

Lawmakers seek longer school lunch periods

U.S. lawmakers have introduced the Healthy Meal Time Act, legislation aimed at ensuring students have sufficient time to eat nutritious meals and participate in recess during the school day. Sponsored by Reps. Kim Schrier (D-WA) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), the bill would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Department of Education, to study school meal and recess schedules and identify best practices. Although no federal minimum lunch period currently exists, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least 20 minutes of seated eating time. The proposed study would consider this guidance, time spent on activities other than eating, and the additional time students may need to consume minimally processed and unprocessed foods. Schrier, a pediatrician, emphasized that students sometimes skip meals to maximize recess time, arguing that better scheduling could improve nutrition, physical activity, concentration, and overall health.

STATE NEWS

Support military kids in Texas schools

Military-connected children in Texas face unique challenges due to frequent relocations and the emotional toll of having a deployed parent. Brandon Enos, superintendent of the Gunter ISD, emphasizes the importance of supporting these resilient students, stating: "If we truly want to honor our veterans, we must start by supporting their children." With over 240,000 military-connected children enrolled in Texas public schools, the need for dedicated support is critical. The Texas Education Agency's Purple Star Campus Designation aims to provide resources such as dedicated liaisons for families and specialized training for teachers to recognize stress responses related to deployment. Enos calls on school leaders to earn this designation, ensuring that military families receive the unwavering commitment they deserve.

DISTRICTS

Arlington ISD's bold legislative asks

In the wake of the 2026 midterm elections, Arlington ISD is gearing up to present its legislative priorities to the Texas Legislature. The board is advocating for significant reforms, particularly in school finance, as they face a nearly $60m budget shortfall due to declining enrollment. Key proposals include increasing public school funding to match inflation and shifting the funding model to be based on student enrollment rather than attendance. Board president Sarah McMurrough highlighted the need for funding that reflects operational costs, while trustee Justin Chapa called for direct action on universal pre-K funding. The board also seeks reforms to the Texas Education Agency's A-F accountability system, with members advocating for a more strategic partnership focused on improving failing campuses.  

Bloomington ISD greenlights Blue Energy project

The Bloomington ISD trustees approved measures related to the proposed Blue Energy project, which Superintendent Eric Cormier stated represents over $3.4bn in potential investment over the next decade. Cormier highlighted that the project could enhance district facilities and career education programs, preparing students for future job opportunities. However, concerns were raised by residents regarding environmental impacts and water consumption. Cormier acknowledged these concerns but emphasized that the project could operate safely and provide significant economic benefits to the community. He noted that while the project is still in development, it presents a chance for Bloomington ISD to strengthen its facilities and adapt to the evolving job market.

GT students shine, bilinguals lag

Fort Bend ISD's annual review highlights the performance of Gifted and Talented (GT) and bilingual students. Chief Academic Officer Matt Warford noted that while GT students excelled, scoring higher than the district average, bilingual students still face achievement gaps. The GT program serves 5,542 students, accounting for 7.4% of district enrollment, and aims to increase the percentage of students meeting GT rigor expectations from 21% to 35% by June 2027. In contrast, the emergent bilingual program, which serves 14,680 students, showed lower scores on the STAAR tests. However, these students performed above the state average in the Texas English Language Proficiency Assessment System. Warford expressed a desire to enhance parent engagement and improve English language proficiency from 68% to 80% by summer 2027.

LEGAL

Judson ISD investigation clears trustees

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) concluded its investigation into Judson ISD trustees, finding no evidence of wrongdoing or "systemic violations" of state laws. Richard Segovia, TEA's director of special investigations, stated: "The agency now considers the matter closed." The investigation was prompted by concerns from three board members regarding governance and child abuse reporting. They accused Board President Monica Ryan of overstepping her authority and mishandling the former superintendent's termination. Ryan responded to the allegations, calling them a "relentless campaign of baseless attacks," emphasizing that taxpayers should not bear the costs of political grievances. Despite the investigation's outcome, trustee José Macias expressed no regrets about seeking state intervention, prioritizing accountability for the community.

GOVERNANCE

Fort Worth ISD board halts proposal

The Fort Worth ISD school board postponed a proposal to reduce the district advisory committee's size from 21 to 13 members, which would have shifted appointment power to the superintendent. Public opposition was significant, leading state-appointed Superintendent Peter Licata to recommend delaying the vote. “Hearing from the public, I just don't think it's in anyone's best interest for me to select who I think should go on there,” Licata said. Parents expressed concerns about diminishing community representation in decision-making, with Taylor Church stating: “That is not a minor administrative change, that is a fundamental change in who has a seat at the table.” The board also postponed votes on various campus improvement plans, which are now set for discussion in December.

Pilot Point ISD leaders face scrutiny

Shannon Fuller, the superintendent of Pilot Point ISD, has been reinstated following an independent investigation led by attorney Scott Cummings. The investigation concluded that Fuller acted in accordance with district policy when she placed Police Chief Eric Dortch on administrative leave after he filed a complaint against her. The school board stated, “Based on Mr. Cummings' findings, the allegations involving Dr. Fuller were not sustained.” Meanwhile, Chief Dortch resigned shortly after the investigation's findings were announced. Officer Dee Carter has been appointed as the acting police chief during this transition. Pilot Point ISD serves approximately 1,850 students across four campuses in Denton County.

Hernández's retirement talks spark speculation

Eduardo Hernández, the superintendent of Edgewood ISD, is set to discuss his retirement with the school board following the recent election that saw three incumbent trustees defeated. The board will consider a voluntary retirement agreement during a closed session. If he departs this year, Edgewood would be the sixth San Antonio school district to experience a leadership change in 2026. The recent election resulted in a shift towards an anti-establishment board, with challengers unseating incumbents in three of four contested races. Edgewood, with fewer than 8,000 students, currently holds a D rating from the state.

Trustees delay decision on Bailey

The Elgin ISD Board of Trustees has postponed a decision regarding Superintendent Christopher Bailey's future following his recent DUI charge. The board met privately on November 5 to discuss Bailey's employment but did not announce any disciplinary actions or a timeline for future discussions.

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION

Killeen ISD to buy new buses

Killeen ISD plans to purchase 18 new school buses to comply with Texas Senate Bill 546, which mandates three-point seat belts for all passengers by September 1, 2029. During a recent school board workshop, trustees unanimously approved the acquisition of 15 diesel buses with 72 seats and three buses with 47 seats, including wheelchair-accessible spaces. The estimated cost of $3m will be covered by the Transportation Department's budget, remaining within the $3.5m allocated for fiscal year 2026-27. KISD currently operates a fleet of 278 buses, with 119 lacking the required seat belts. 

STEM

NASA launches $1m student moon challenge

NASA has launched a $1m Moon Base Student Challenge, inviting U.S. high school and postsecondary students to design technologies supporting sustained human exploration near the lunar South Pole. The competition focuses on six technical areas: power generation and storage, habitat construction, life-support systems, surface mobility, communications, and astronaut safety. Open to students from academic, technical, and vocational backgrounds, the challenge requires no prior specialized engineering experience and aims to develop practical STEM skills while supporting NASA’s long-term lunar exploration ambitions. Teams must register by January 25, 2027, and submit initial concept papers by February 22. Up to 100 finalist teams will receive monetary awards and advance to a second phase, developing recorded presentations that demonstrate their designs and technical solutions. Finalists will be announced on March 11, with final submissions due April 19 and winners revealed May 6.

INTERNATIONAL

Bomb threats disrupt European schools

On Wednesday, hundreds of schools across Italy, Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland have received bomb threats in an apparent coordinated campaign to disrupt education and public services. Italy's education ministry reported that more than 300 schools received emails warning of imminent explosions, prompting the evacuation of thousands of students. Similar threats triggered evacuations at schools in Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland, although UK authorities have assessed the warnings as hoaxes. Police Scotland confirmed that threatening emails had been distributed widely across the UK and Northern Ireland but were not considered credible. The incidents follow a separate wave of bomb threats targeting airlines the previous week, which forced several aircraft to make emergency landings and disrupted European air travel.
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