SAISD officially hires Adrian Bustillos as superintendent in split vote

The San Antonio Independent School District board voted 5-2 on Monday to hire Adrian Bustillos as superintendent. First named as the sole finalist for the job in June, Bustillos will replace Jaime Aquino, who joined the district in 2022. Aquino is taking on an emeritus role and plans to fully part ways with SAISD in January. Bustillos joins SAISD with 20 years of experience in public education. His most recent role was chief transformation officer in Aldine ISD, located in north Houston. There, he oversaw innovative school models and the district’s school choice program.
Texas Congressman Files Legislation To Disincentivize Birth Tourism

U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill and U.S. Sen. Jim Banks have filed legislation in their respective chambers to end the awarding of citizenship to the children of illegal aliens and foreign nationals temporarily in the country. Entitled the Citizenship Act of 2026, the bill seeks to define “any person who enters the United States illegally or for birth tourism” as an “invader,” and amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to exclude the children of individuals designated as invaders from birthright citizenship. Birth tourism is the practice of pregnant foreign nationals entering the country in order to have their children in the United States, thereby making them American citizens. This practice is especially popular in nations like China, with conservative lawmakers warning it creates a large national security risk as American-born Chinese nationals would have the ability to influence U.S. elections in the future. “I have officially introduced the ‘Citizenship Act’ with Senator Banks, under which individuals who enter the United States illegally or for birth tourism would be classified as ‘invaders’ and therefore would be excluded from birthright citizenship,” wrote Gill in an X post. Sen. Jim Banks (R–IN) has filed companion legislation in the Senate.
SAISD officially hires Adrian Bustillos as superintendent in split vote

Board President Alicia Sebastian previously said Bustillos is a leader “for this moment” and understands the issues facing urban school districts. SAISD is the third-largest school district in San Antonio, serving around 44,000 students in the city’s urban core. After cutting its budget for the fifth consecutive year, resulting in fewer positions and slashed programs, board members recently passed a budget with a $23.2 million deficit for the upcoming school year. Like most urban school districts, the budget issues are driven by enrollment decline. SAISD steadily loses students every year, resulting in less funding from the state, and expects 2,000 fewer students for the upcoming 2026-27 cycle. Meanwhile, the district has several near-century old buildings, which officials say are costly and inefficient to maintain, and several vacant campuses.
Governor candidate Hinojosa vows to end state takeovers of school districts

In her bid for the governor's seat, Rep. Gina Hinojosa is advocating against school closures and school district takeovers.
TEA Announces Houston ISD School Board Changes

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) today announced the resignation of Houston ISD School Board Member Michelle Cruz Arnold following three years of dedicated service to the district and community.
Timeline: See HISD’s major school closures over the past 20 years as more campuses face shutdowns

When Houston ISD closed 12 campuses this school year, it marked the district’s largest mass school closure in at least two decades, records show. In total, the state’s largest school district has closed at least 60 campuses since 2005, including at least 15 HISD-affiliated charter campuses. Since the 2016-17 school year, HISD’s enrollment has hemorrhaged more than 47,000 students. But the board didn’t vote to close any traditional campuses en masse — until this year. HISD did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Like HISD, many Texas school districts, including Aldine, Spring and Fort Bend ISDs, approved major school closures this year amid budget challenges and declining enrollment. Texas reported its first statewide student enrollment decline in nearly four decades this school year, outside of the pandemic, according to analysis by Texas 2036.

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Preventive Law: Lowering Costs in Construction Manager-at-Risk Agreements: Protecting Audit Rights and Other Cost-Saving Strategies

August 1008:35 AM

Subchapter F of Chapter 2269 of the Texas Government Code allows school districts to utilize the Construction Manager-at-Risk (CMAR) method of delivery for their construction projects. CMAR projects are usually built on a “cost plus fee” basis, subject to a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP). In a cost-plus-fee agreement under the CMAR method, a school district generally agrees to pay the actual documented costs as agreed in the contract (e.g. labor, materials, equipment, insurance, bonds) associated with construction of the project, plus the Construction Manager’s fee, up to the GMP. The Construction Manager is “at risk” for the amount that exceeds the GMP.

THRALL ISD HIRES JIM DUNLAP OF ARROW EDUCATIONAL SERVICES TO CONDUCT SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH

August 0708:29 AM

The board of trustees of the Thrall Independent School District has contracted with Mr. Jim Dunlap of Arrow Educational Services, Inc. to assist them in their search for a new superintendent. Information and the application process is available on arrowsearchinc.com and the TASA Supersearch page. view article

Preventive Law: All in the Family: Nepotism in ISD Hiring

July 2108:35 AM

Summer in Texas means triple-digit heat, a suspicious amount of construction on every major highway, and superintendents scrambling to make sure every classroom has a teacher before school begins. Hiring season is chaotic, and given the pressure to be fully staffed, it can be tempting to hire that perfectly qualified relative of a board member who just happens to be looking for a teaching job.

Despite federal efforts to drop some children’s vaccine recommendations, Texas requirements unchanged

August 1108:43 AM

Public health officials said some parents are confused about what vaccines are required to attend Texas schools amid efforts to change recommendations. While vaccine requirements have not changed for Texas students this year — despite federal efforts to drop and space out some inoculations — Becca Harkleroad understands how many parents are confused. “Despite all the confusion that hits the news … nothing’s changed,” said Harkleroad, the executive director of the Texas School Nurses Organization. In January, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dropped the rotavirus, COVID-19, influenza, hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines from the recommended list. But a federal judge in Massachusetts — and a Biden appointee — halted that move in March, keeping the pre-2026 vaccine recommendations in place. The federal government is appealing that decision. view article

Texas THC ban continues as federal judge rejects emergency motion

August 1108:32 AM

Hemp businesses and consumers asked to block state regulations on THC, but their lawsuit remains pending. view article

Here’s how to find information about data centers in Texas

August 1108:30 AM

What information is accessible about a data center project can differ from place to place and depend on whether a project seeks out tax breaks, whether it needs local rezoning or special permits, and how it will get its power and water. view article

Affidavit reveals new details in shooting of Dallas ISD officer in North Dallas

August 1108:28 AM

Documents obtained by NBC 5 reveal new details about the shooting of a Dallas ISD police officer in North Dallas last week. According to an arrest affidavit from the Dallas Police Department, 27-year-old Jose Pantoja-Morales was arrested and charged with aggravated assault on a public servant after taking Dallas ISD Officer Justin Jones’ gun and shooting him. view article

Suspect shot Dallas ISD officer with his own gun after grabbing it during a struggle, affidavit says

August 1108:27 AM

An affidavit obtained by WFAA identifies the suspect accused of shooting a Dallas ISD officer with the officer’s own gun in a Sam’s Club parking lot. The suspected shooter has been identified as 27-year-old Jose Santiago Pantoja-Morales. He admitted to taking Officer Justin Jones' firearm and shooting him in the leg, according to the affidavit. view article

Bryan ISD to put tax rate election on November ballot

August 1108:26 AM

The Bryan ISD Board of Trustees has unanimously approved an order calling for a Voter-Approval Tax Rate Election (VATRE) to be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. The election will ask voters to consider a 2-cent tax increase to the district’s Maintenance and Operations (M&O) tax rate, moving it from $0.6769 to $0.6968. view article

Wildfire spreads north of Breckenridge, prompting emergency declaration in Stephens County

August 1108:26 AM

Stephens County officials issued an emergency declaration Monday as a fast-moving wildfire burned north of Breckenridge and threatened to worsen amid increasing winds. The wildfire ignited at about 1 p.m. Monday approximately five miles north of Breckenridge along Highway 67, according to a statement from the Stephens County judge's office. Officials said the fire was spreading rapidly to the north and had crossed FM 1800. view article

Fort Worth ISD begins school year under new leadership after state takeover

August 1108:25 AM

Nearly 70,000 students are heading back to school in Fort Worth ISD, marking the district's first day of school since the state took over. The second-largest school district in North Texas is also starting the year with a major staffing milestone: zero teacher vacancies. view article

Katy ISD opens high school seats to students outside district as education landscape changes

August 1108:25 AM

Where a family lives has traditionally determined where their children attend public school. But as Texas parents gain more education options, that model is changing. For the first time, Katy ISD is launching Limited Open Enrollment, allowing some high school students who live outside the district to attend its schools. The move is one of several new initiatives the district is introducing as public school systems across Texas confront stagnant or declining enrollment. view article

Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD replaces librarians with paraprofessionals

August 1108:24 AM

Students returning to Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD this week will notice a major change inside their school libraries. Beginning this school year, certified librarians have been reassigned to other positions within the district, and paraprofessionals will now manage the district's 15 campus libraries. view article

Amazon is planning to build a massive data center in Pecos County, Texas

August 1108:18 AM

Amazon is planning to build a massive data center in Pecos County, Texas. But the company says the plant would generate its own gas power. view article

Five detained after posting picture of firearm near Fort Worth ISD high school

August 1108:15 AM

O.D. Wyatt High School in Fort Worth was placed under lockdown Monday afternoon as authorities investigated a potential firearm threat on campus. view article

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Thousands of Fort Bend ISD families apply for new education accounts

August 1108:14 AM

State lawmakers created the TEFA program in 2025, and accepted students will receive some funding for education opportunities that include: private school tuition and fees; tutoring and therapy; homeschooling; and other services. Funding is capped at $1 billion for the first year of the program, and about 122,000 students of the over 274,000 who applied have been accepted, including 85,344 participants who have received funding. view article

Back-to-school safety: What drivers, parents, and students should keep in mind

August 1107:38 AM

ABILENE, Texas — The first day of school is quickly approaching and it's important to be safe if you're on the roads or walking. KTXS spoke with the Abilene Police Department who gave us some safety tips for parents and students to know before going back to school. "A lot of people function off of a routine," Abilene Police Department's Traffic Division Sergeant, Andrew Mason, said. "And so the last two months they've been in the summertime and they've been in the routine of not having to drive through school zones and worry about schoo view article

Don’t Be Tardy to the School Bus Party, Vol. 4: Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde

August 1107:23 AM

Don't Be Tardy to the School Bus Party, Vol. 4: Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde view article

Back-to-school health: how to prevent flu and common colds

August 1106:33 AM

ABILENE, Texas — As Big Country students return to class, health officials remind families of a few simple steps to prevent flu and other illnesses in the classroom. view article

Who’s leading in Texas’ U.S. Senate race? We’re tracking poll results between Ken Paxton and James Talarico.

August 1008:40 AM

Texas’ candidates in this year’s U.S. Senate race are neck and neck, according to recent polling. Since the runoff election on May 26, state Rep. James Talarico, the Democratic nominee, has performed slightly better than his Republican opponent, Attorney General Ken Paxton. view article

Houston mothers’ bid for temporary hold on Ten Commandments posters in Texas classrooms denied

August 1008:35 AM

The parents' suit tried to leverage Texas law — versus federal First Amendment arguments — in the latest legal case involving the classroom posters. An injunction hearing is set for Aug. 17. view article

Trump calls Texas’ data center opposition a “mistake”

August 1008:31 AM

The president’s comments to Punchbowl News come just days after Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statewide pause of approval for data centers trying to connect to the power grid. President Donald Trump this week criticized Texas for being anti-data centers, just days after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott paused industry-wide approvals until the companies provide the state with more information on things like power and water use. “I saw Texas the other day sort of is against data centers,” Trump said in a nearly hourlong sit-down interview with Punchbowl News released Friday. “I think it’s a mistake. And I’m not taking positions, I just think it’s a mistake, because there are other communities that want it. When a community wants it, it means a lot of money is going to come into that community.” view article

Black-majority schools in Texas receive more Fs than A ratings, leaving parents with tough choices

August 1005:00 AM

Black Texas families weigh whether to send their children to schools with more academic resources — but potentially fewer of their values. Jaleel is attending his first day of classes this month at a middle school opening its doors for the first time that specializes in air traffic control, commercial drones and engineering. His parents decided not to send him to the majority-Black, F-rated campus closer to their home in Fort Bend ISD. Still, they fear their sixth grader may lose out on the community and support that come with receiving an education alongside kids in his neighborhood. “This is a very difficult thing,” Mikole Montgomery, Jaleel’s mother, said of the choice to bypass Missouri City Middle School. “I don’t take the decision lightly.” Black children attend schools labeled as failing by the Texas Education Agency at a far higher rate than any other racial or ethnic group. Majority-Black schools are the least likely to achieve the state’s highest academic rating. view article

The ‘Houston Miracle’ Shell Game

August 0608:50 AM

hen Aubrie was a freshman in the Houston Independent School District (ISD), she was assigned to an Algebra I class. On the first day of school, her teacher recognized her talent and moved her into pre-AP Algebra I, where she thrived.Two years later, at the beginning of the last school year, Aubrie was excited to take pre-AP Algebra II. She had always loved math and imagined a bright future in science. But three weeks into the school year, she and nearly 2,000 other juniors across Houston ISD’s 16 New Education System (NES) high schools were abruptly pulled out of Algebra II and placed into a remedial math course called Algebraic Reasoning/Texas College Bridge. This move was not made to help students grow academically. Instead, we believe students were moved into this less rigorous course to artificially inflate campus accountability ratings, at the expense of student learning. Just sitting through the Algebraic Reasoning course and clicking through the online modules increases a school’s A-F rating, even if students never pass the state’s college readiness assessment attached to the class. It’s a loophole that state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles is exploiting at an unprecedented scale. view article

Here’s what we know about the 85K Texas students who received private school vouchers

August 0608:40 AM

The state has released the first in-depth look at the more than 85,000 students participating in Texas’ voucher program, shedding light on who will benefit from the state’s new $1 billion initiative. The report, which was required by the Legislature, provides high-level demographic data on recipients and where they live. But it leaves some questions about the program unanswered, and some data required by law wasn’t released. view article

Fracas over Tarrant County voting sites highlights public distrust over how elections are run

August 0608:32 AM

Residents questioned whether officials in the closely watched purple county will make election decisions fairly in a “hyperpartisan environment.” view article

Texas HB 8 funding changes will cost Alamo Colleges millions in state funding

August 0608:30 AM

Alamo Colleges District, once a top earner under Texas’ House Bill 8 finance formula rooted in student outcomes, is now expecting to receive $3.9 million less for the upcoming 2027 fiscal year. Community colleges across Texas outperformed the state’s expectations, exceeding the funding allocations — $441 million for fiscal year 2026 and 2027 combined — which prompted changes and new limits to the funding formula. “They just thought we weren’t going to meet the projections, which is completely the opposite of what happened,” said Priscilla Camacho, Alamo Colleges chief legislative, industry and external relations officer. “Everybody lost money compared to what they got last year, and certainly lost money compared to what they were projected to get for fiscal year 2027.” view article

At least 3 school districts vote to display Ten Commandments allowed by new Tennessee law

August 0608:30 AM

A northeast Tennessee school board this week became at least the third in the state to approve the display of the Ten Commandments in its public schools since a new GOP-backed law giving districts the option took effect July 1. With little debate, the Washington County Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday in favor of the text’s display in a “prominent” place in each of its 15 schools, alongside the preamble to the U.S. Constitution and an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence, in accordance with the new state law. Last month, the Wilson County Board of Education voted to post the same documents in common areas of its schools. In anticipation of the then-bill becoming law, the Rutherford County Schools in April also voted to approve displaying the documents in all of the county’s K-12 public schools. On Wednesday, only one member of the Washington County Board expressed reservations about the measure, but said he felt compelled to cast a “yes” vote after an “overwhelming response” from constituents in favor of it, including “a couple personal visits to my front door.” Vince Walters, another board member, said he had no reservations. view article

Families brace for change as Third Future takes over more struggling Texas schools

August 0605:00 AM

The Waco school district is one of the latest to partner with the Third Future charter network as a last-ditch effort to stave off state intervention. WACO — Laneisha Latimer has heard about the strict way Third Future Schools plans to run South Waco Elementary School, where her son started the fourth grade. School began Tuesday at South Waco and Dean Highland elementary schools under the control of the charter school operator Waco Independent School District chose to turn them around. Latimer learned in May how tightly scheduled her son’s day will be. He will have to walk in silence in between one-minute transitions. Several times per class period he will have to demonstrate through writing or peer discussions that he understands the lesson. view article

Abbott threatened Corpus Christi over its water crisis but hasn’t intervened with a troubled river authority

August 0508:36 AM

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott responded with fury after Corpus Christi officials announced in March that this Gulf Coast region of more than 500,000 people could face unprecedented restrictions as its water supply dried up. The state had already committed over $750 million in low-interest loans to the city’s plans for a desalination plant, a project that would add 30 million gallons a day to the region’s water supply. But the project had gone nowhere. “You know what they did? They squandered it, and then they changed their plan and then they were indecisive about what to do,” Abbott said of city officials in a heated response to a reporter’s question at an unrelated March press conference. view article

Obituary: James T. Davis

August 0508:34 AM

James T. Davis, 86, a longtime resident of the Centerville community in Trinity County, Texas, passed away Sunday, August 2, 2026, in Lufkin. James T. was born December 25, 1939, in Pennington, Trinity County, Texas, to Lois T. Davis and Eula Mae Wright Davis. He loved East Texas and the Centerville community where he was raised, often speaking fondly of its beauty and of the freedom and adventure of his youth—riding horses through its pastures and piney woods and spending time at his grandfather Charlie T.’s home. During his years at Centerville High School, he excelled in both basketball and baseball and remained proud of those experiences throughout his life. He graduated in 1958 and later earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in education from Stephen F. Austin State University. On October 17, 1959, he married Dorothy Lee, and they shared more than 66 years of marriage. view article

Celebrate Dyslexia streamlines teacher training with San Antonio universities, public schools

August 0508:33 AM

San Antonio’s Celebrate Dyslexia, known for championing dyslexia services for children, is now working directly with educators who want to help students with the learning disability in the classroom. The Academic Language Therapy Association, a national group that sets standards for language therapy certifications, recently granted Celebrate Dyslexia’s train program an “independent course approval.” This means educators who go through Celebrate Dyslexia can now earn college credits for related masters or doctorate degrees, and the nonprofit can train students in teacher preparation programs at local universities and school districts. view article

Texas A&M’s Fort Worth campus opens Wednesday. Here’s what to know

August 0508:30 AM

The downtown campus, which broke ground in 2023, opens its first building Wednesday and starts classes this fall. The campus will house degree-granting programs from Texas A&M University and Tarleton State University, which is part of the A&M System. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Center for Advanced Aviation Technologies will have a research presence, and six state agencies will be on campus as well. view article

Balmorhea ISD shares why the Texas Education Agency is actively investigating its superintendent

August 0508:28 AM

Balmorhea ISD's Board of Trustees has released new details regarding an investigation into Superintendent John Massey. According to a letter from the board president, the allegation against Massey had already been reported to and investigated by the Child Protective Services division of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, and the Texas Rangers. view article

Professors sue Texas A&M System over limits on teaching race, gender

August 0508:27 AM

This is the second Texas university system sued over teaching restrictions in recent weeks. Four professors and a national faculty group asked a federal judge Monday to block the Texas A&M University System’s restrictions on teaching about race, gender and sexuality and to reinstate courses canceled under the policy. The university system bars professors from “advocating” race or gender ideology or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity. The policy applies to all 12 universities in the system. It requires presidential approval to address those subjects in certain courses and, according to the lawsuit, prohibits them in core courses. view article

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TexasISD.com was the brainchild of Joe F. Smith. Joe retired early from a successful career as Superintendent of Schools for Hudson ISD, deep in the Piney Woods of East Texas. Due to a long battle with Post-Polio Syndrome the doctor made him hang it up and rest for six months. Never being the kind of person to sit still and also not being the person to listen to his doctor, Joe logged lengthy sessions in front of his PC researching school issues, reading papers and corresponding with his friends and colleagues in the education business.

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