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Texas
2nd July 2026
 

THE HOT STORY

Texas voucher program falls short

Texas families have started receiving funding from the state's billion-dollar school voucher program, which promised to prioritize students with disabilities. However, many families are finding that the average awarded amount is only around $16,000, significantly less than the promised $30,000. Dee Carney, director of the Texas Center for Voucher Transparency, noted: "For whatever reason, there's a disconnect between the voucher program and what supporters promised for students with disabilities." Despite the funding, some families still cannot afford private school tuition, which can exceed the voucher amount. The comptroller's office reported that approximately 28,000 students with disabilities from low-income households received awards, but 1,134 opted out due to financial constraints. Carney emphasized that while applications are prioritized, this does not guarantee admission to a suitable private school.

NATIONAL NEWS

Education groups sue Trump administration over withheld federal funding

A coalition of education advocacy groups, including the National Center for Learning Disabilities, has sued the Trump administration, alleging the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Department of Education unlawfully withheld congressionally appropriated funding for the Institute of Education Sciences. The lawsuit argues the administration has prevented the agency from spending funds approved by Congress, placing $793m for education research programs at risk of expiring on September 30, alongside $50m for the Comprehensive Centers program and additional funding for the Education Innovation and Research program, which expires later in the year. Plaintiffs say the funding freeze could have a devastating impact on education research, teacher support, and programs serving students with learning disabilities and high-need communities, while the Education Department said it remains committed to meeting its statutory obligations and supporting high-quality research.

U.S. House approves online child safety package

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, legislation that would require commercial pornography websites to verify users' ages and introduce a range of new online safety protections for minors. The package would also require social media platforms to implement stronger default privacy settings for children, restrict features such as disappearing messages, provide parental controls, require online gaming platforms to offer tools limiting communications and purchases by minors, and mandate that AI chatbots disclose they are not human while providing suicide and crisis hotline information to young users. The bill, which includes the SCREEN Act establishing a national age verification requirement for online pornography, now moves to the Senate. Civil liberties groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, have opposed the legislation, arguing it could undermine free speech, restrict access to legitimate online information, and increase privacy risks through expanded age verification requirements.

FINANCE

San Benito faces tough budget cuts

San Benito CISD is grappling with a significant budget challenge, facing a $5m reduction in state funding. To address this, the school board has withdrawn over $10m from its fund balance to approve a $116.5m general fund budget, described by Victoria Perez, the district's assistant superintendent for finance and operations, as "probably the toughest budget I've developed." The district anticipates state revenues of $96.6m, down from $101.9m last year, while enrollment remains steady at 8,524 students.

Comal ISD greenlights budget

Comal ISD has approved a $355m general fund budget for the 2026-2027 school year, which includes a significant deficit of nearly $28m. This situation reflects a broader trend among school districts in the state, as they grapple with challenges such as state funding that fails to keep pace with inflation and increasing operational costs. 

Temple ISD approves big budget

The Temple ISD board of trustees has approved a budget of $162.3m to support operations through the 2026-2027 school year. 

LEGAL

Judson trustee vows to fight lawsuit dismissal

Judson ISD trustee José Macias is determined to continue his legal battle after a federal judge dismissed his extensive lawsuit against the district. The complaint, which spanned 198 pages, sought to overturn sanctions imposed by the board and demanded $1m in damages. U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia dismissed the case without prejudice, allowing Macias to re-file within 14 days with a shorter document. Macias has faced multiple censures for alleged misconduct, including intimidation and sharing confidential information. He expressed that the lawsuit is not solely about monetary compensation but aims to hold the board accountable for its actions, stating: "How are they going to pay for what they took away from me, which were the graduations." Meanwhile, the district is under investigation by the Texas Education Agency for governance failures.

Tax collector accused of stealing $1m

Kristi Williams, the former tax collector for Tomball ISD, has been charged with wire fraud for allegedly stealing nearly $1m from the district. According to the FBI, Williams, who managed the tax office from 2018 to 2023, is accused of misappropriating cash deposits and using tax software to conceal her actions. After officials detected "suspicious financial activity," Williams was terminated in 2023, prompting the district to alert federal authorities. If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Williams is scheduled to appear in court on July 13.

GOVERNANCE

Houston ISD shakes up leadership structure

Houston ISD is undergoing a significant restructuring of its central office, creating four new offices to enhance oversight of elementary and secondary schools. This change, initiated by state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles, aims to streamline management by focusing on school types rather than geographic divisions. "Principals may report to these administrators in the new structure," indicating a shift in leadership dynamics. The overhaul follows the departure of several top leaders and aims to improve accountability within the district. HISD has also promoted new deputy chiefs to oversee these offices, with the number of employees earning over $200,000 increasing significantly since the leadership change. As the district continues to evolve, the implications of these changes remain to be fully understood.

Hamshire-Fannett ISD superintendent retires

Superintendent Dwaine Augustine has announced his immediate retirement from Hamshire-Fannett ISD, effective June 30, after a decade of service. Augustine, who previously worked with Beaumont ISD, has faced numerous challenges, including two major tropical storms that impacted the school.  

WORKFORCE

Empowering teachers for literacy success

The Permian Strategic Partnership has announced a $5.5m investment to launch the Permian Basin Literacy Initiative, aimed at enhancing early literacy instruction for over 2,900 students in Ector County ISD and Midland ISD. The program, developed by the Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk, focuses on teacher support and classroom practices rather than introducing new curricula. Keeley Boyer, superintendent of ECISD, said: “We are grateful to have a partner like the Permian Strategic Partnership, one that values early childhood literacy as much as we do.” The initiative will be implemented in phases, starting this summer, with a focus on sustainability and potential expansion, reflecting a commitment to improving student outcomes in early education.

DISTRICTS

Fort Worth fights summer slide

Fort Worth is implementing several literacy programs this summer to combat the “summer slide,” a regression in academic skills that many students face during the break. According to the Northwest Evaluation Association, students typically lose one to three months of reading proficiency over the summer. The city is offering literacy instruction at Camp Fort Worth, employing certified teachers as literacy support specialists who provide engaging, game-like activities rather than traditional classroom instruction. Thanks to a $330,000 donation from the Rainwater Charitable Foundation, the program has expanded, allowing for increased instructional hours and resources. The initiative aims to ensure that students maintain or improve their reading levels, with over 90% of participants achieving this goal in previous years.

Smooth sailing into pre-K

The transition to pre-K can be challenging for children, but Castleberry ISD's Camp Discovery: Pre-K Jumpstart program aims to ease this process. Running from late May to late June, the half-day program helps students acclimate to the school environment before the academic year begins.  

Lions roar for Comal's new middle school

Comal ISD has officially chosen the Lions as the mascot for the upcoming Dr. Jerry S. Major Middle School, set to open in fall 2027. The school, located in the Mayfair development, is named after a former district superintendent.

POLICY

Lubbock ISD faces book removal battle

Lubbock ISD is under scrutiny as community members, led by State Senator Charles Perry, voice concerns over certain books in school libraries, particularly "Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl." Perry criticized the book for containing "341 terms deemed profane or derogatory," arguing it does not align with community standards. He expressed dissatisfaction with the district's handling of complaints, stating: "If this book made the cut to go back after their process review, then I think the process that LISD has set up misses the legislative intent." Despite the School Library Advisory Council voting 3-2 to keep the book, Perry believes the process is flawed. Lubbock ISD chief academic officer Misty Rieber defended the district's compliance with Texas Senate Bill 13, emphasizing parental involvement and the establishment of a review process for challenged books.

NUTRITION

Lawmakers propose reviving LFS program

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has introduced the Local Foods for Healthy Schools Act, legislation that would restore the Local Foods for Schools (LFS) program to help schools purchase locally produced food for student meal programs. The bill would revive a federal initiative established during the Biden administration and discontinued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture last year, providing schools with funding to expand fresh, locally sourced, and scratch-made meal options as they prepare for stricter school nutrition standards.

Kids serve lemonade for a cause

Liam Tomberlain and Olivia O’Pry, soon-to-be third-graders at Hallsville North Elementary School, are running a lemonade stand to support the Nutritional Backpacks for Kids Project, which provides food and necessities to students in need.

INTERNATIONAL

Japan to overhaul education rules for students with prolonged school absences

Japan's Ministry of Education plans to introduce a flexible "special curriculum" from the 2030 school year to support elementary and junior high school students who struggle to attend school, allowing them to revisit material from earlier grades, learn at their own pace, and be assessed using individualized academic goals. The program, which has received broad backing from a government advisory panel, is designed to improve motivation and self-esteem by enabling schools to evaluate students on both learning outcomes and engagement, rather than solely against the standard curriculum for their enrolled grade. The initiative comes as the number of students refusing to attend school continues to rise, although eligibility will be limited to students using approved support centers, while privately educated or homeschooled children will not qualify. Gifted elementary and junior high school students will also be eligible for the flexible curriculum, allowing them to take classes at high schools and universities.
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