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Republican officials in Texas, led by Gov. Greg Abbott, are partnering with Turning Point USA to establish chapters of the conservative youth organization in every high school across the state. The initiative was announced during a news conference at the Governor's Mansion, following a meeting between Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath and Turning Point USA Senior Director Josh Thifault. Abbott's commitment includes $1m in campaign funds to support the project. Turning Point USA, founded by the late Charlie Kirk, aims to promote conservative values among students. However, the organization has faced criticism for its controversial tactics, including a professor watchlist and accusations of fostering a hostile environment for educators.

 

San Antonio Current

HMH Into Reading Texas and ¡Arriba la Lectura! Texas added to the IMRA list

HMH’s newly updated, Into Reading Texas and its Spanish counterpart, ¡Arriba la Lectura!, have been added to the state’s IMRA list as approved ELA materials. The program boasts award-winning literature, Foundational Skills instruction based on the Science of Reading, and an easy-to-implement pedagogy with robust support options.

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The U.S. Supreme Court has directed the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit to reconsider its ruling on a New York state law that eliminated religious exemptions for school vaccinations. This decision follows the high court's previous ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor, which affirmed parents' rights to challenge public school curricula based on free exercise of religion. The case, Miller v. McDonald, arose after New York's 2019 law removed religious exemptions in response to a measles outbreak. Amish schools and parents contested financial penalties imposed for non-compliance, arguing that the law infringes on their First Amendment rights. The 2nd Circuit previously ruled that the law did not pose an existential threat to the Amish community, referencing Wisconsin v. Yoder. In a related matter, the Supreme Court declined to review a case regarding book removals in public libraries, which has implications for school libraries as well. The justices let stand a lower court's decision allowing the removal of books, including ones dealing with themes of race and LGBT identity, from its public library system. The lower court rejected the argument made by the plaintiffs that removing the books was unlawful under the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment protections against government abridgment of free speech.

 

Education Week News

New York Times

Reuters

As generative artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes the job market, concerns arise about the future of white-collar roles, particularly in knowledge work. Jennifer L. Steele, a professor of education policy, emphasizes the importance of teaching soft skills, which AI struggles to replicate. "The skills that underpin modern technology will likely continue to matter," she said. Teachers can integrate emotional awareness and problem-solving into their curricula, helping students develop skills that are vital in an AI-driven economy. By focusing on emotional intelligence and complex problem-solving, educators can prepare students for a future where human interaction and understanding remain essential, even as AI takes on more tasks. The challenge lies in ensuring that students learn these skills without relying too heavily on AI tools.

 

Midfloridanewspapers

Pearland ISD is set to potentially serve students from Walden University and Houston Christian University for teaching programs, pending approval of two affiliation agreements at the board meeting on December 9th. These agreements would designate PISD as an approved field site for various educational requirements, including teacher and principal preparation. If approved, Walden University students will have their terms automatically renewed for four one-year periods, while Houston Christian University will have a five-year term with PISD. 

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Frisco ISD's open enrollment program, Access Frisco, is set to accept students from prekindergarten through ninth grade, allowing them to attend schools within the district. Launched in the 2025-26 school year, the program aims to balance class sizes and enhance operational efficiency. "Expanding the open enrollment program to ninth graders allows students to attend the state's largest A-rated district until graduation," the district stated. Additionally, the program will include a full-day, tuition-based pre-K option for children aged four and older, with tuition set at $678 per month or free for qualifying students. Two application windows will be available: a priority window from January 12-23 and rolling applications starting January 24.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Georgetown ISD is progressing towards rezoning students and adopting a new academic calendar for the 2026-27 school year. At a board workshop on December 1, officials presented the community's preferred calendar, with 37% of nearly 600 surveyed parents and employees favoring Option A. This option proposes a school start date of Aug. 20, a fall break from October 9-13, and a spring break from March 15-19. The board will vote on this calendar on December 15, said Wes Vanicek, chief of construction services and future readiness initiatives. Additionally, the district is considering new attendance boundaries to accommodate the opening of two new schools while balancing enrollment. Chief of Strategic Operations Lannon Heflin noted: "We're trying really hard to balance these three things, but when you prioritize one it topples the others." Community input is ongoing, with several town hall meetings scheduled for further discussion.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Austin ISD has completed significant renovations at Cook and Williams Elementary Schools, with a total investment of $33.7m funded by the district's $2.44bn bond approved in 2022. The upgrades, which began in summer 2024, included adding full walls and doors to classrooms to enhance safety and student experience. "The upgrades were intended to improve students' overall safety and experience on campus," according to AISD information. Williams Elementary received $18.7m in renovations, while Cook Elementary was upgraded for $15m, including a new school mental health center and community pantry. The 2022 bond aims to modernize 25 campuses and renovate four open-concept schools, with ongoing projects at other schools as well.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

During its November 11 meeting, the Northside ISD board of trustees discussed new security measures aimed at enhancing student safety. Jo Ann Fey, deputy superintendent for administration, presented updates including the installation of door monitoring alarms and secure entries. Starting in the 2026-27 school year, certain high schools will close campuses during lunch, requiring students to remain on-site, although those with college, career, and military readiness (CCMR) status may leave. Fey said: "We are looking at high school lunches as an opportunity to provide more safety to our kids." The district is also collaborating with the city of San Antonio to improve safety around campuses, including evaluating crosswalks and identifying hazardous routes based on crime data. A formal proposal for local standards regarding high-crime areas will be presented in the spring.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Comal ISD board of trustees has approved a low-attendance waiver for Canyon Middle and High Schools due to a significant drop in attendance on October 10, following an unfounded threat posted on social media. The waiver, recommended by district staff, aims to preserve funding by excluding the low-attendance day from calculations for Foundation School Program funding. On that day, Canyon High School recorded only 57.5% attendance, while Canyon Middle School had 72.3%, both falling below the 10-point benchmark set by the Texas Education Agency. The district typically receives a response regarding the waiver within a year, but no specific timeline has been provided.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Kara Lea Deardorff, Principal of Byron Nelson High School, has been named the 2026 Texas High School Principal of the Year by The Texas Association of Secondary School Principals (TASSP). "I’m truly humbled by this recognition," Deardorff said, emphasizing the support from her students, staff, and families. This accolade adds to her previous recognition as the Region 11 Outstanding Principal of the Year. TASSP Executive Director Dr. Billy Pringle highlighted her "commitment to professional growth" and "collaborative leadership" as key factors in her selection. Deardorff has dedicated 17 years to Northwest ISD, starting as an English teacher before advancing to her current role. NISD Superintendent Dr. Mark Foust praised her integrity and dedication, stating, “This honor is well deserved.” Deardorff will be formally recognized at the 2026 TASSP Summer Workshop in June.

 

The Cross Timbers Gazette

Brandi Hosack, the chief of talent strategy for Austin ISD, has announced her resignation effective December 19, after over 20 years with the district. Her departure comes during a significant transition period for the district, which is facing the closure of 10 schools and the implementation of state-required academic turnaround plans. "With that work now well underway, I have simply reached a point in my career where I wish to grow and explore different opportunities," Hosack said. This year has seen multiple top executives leave the district, including Jacob Reach and Stephanie Hawley, amid budget cuts that reduced staffing by $9.6m. An interim replacement for Hosack has not yet been named.

 

Austin American-Statesman

In China, children’s smartwatches, originally marketed as safety devices, are increasingly becoming tools of peer pressure and digital addiction, with some watch accounts traded online for hundreds of yuan due to their social value. Experts, including Xiong Bingqi of the 21st Century Education Research Institute, warn that these devices now function as social "hard currency" among students, fostering exclusion and distorting values. Xiong is calling for tighter regulation to limit entertainment and social features under the Law on the Protection of Minors.

 

China Daily