How Odyssey rose from tech startup to manager of Texas’ $1B school voucher program

When Texas chose a company to roll out the state’s $1 billion private school voucher program, it passed over more established vendors in favor of a four-year-old tech startup that said it could do it for almost half the cost. Now, Odyssey must execute on its promises to meet an aggressive timeline while avoiding missteps that have dogged other program launches. The New York-based company has rapidly expanded in recent years, launching programs in eight states that subsidize students’ private education costs with taxpayer dollars.
UNT is the first college in the state to get a naloxone vending machine

The University of North Texas is the first public college in Texas to get a free naloxone vending machine, and Regan Browne, director of the Recovery and Intervention Support and Education Center — called RISE — considers it a win. Browne is new to the director’s chair at RISE, and she was among locals who attended the unveiling of a naloxone vending machine at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios, a storied Denton music venue, in June. A teen survived an overdose there in April because a quick-thinking patron knew the signs and administered naloxone, the generic form of the brand-name drug Narcan. Naloxone is a nasal spray that can reverse the effects of opioids, even a potentially lethal dose.
A slate of new Texas laws go into effect December and January. Here’s what to watch.

Dozens of new Texas laws will take effect in December and January, bringing wide-ranging changes to the state’s education system, law enforcement, taxes and more. Over 800 laws from this year’s regular legislative session already took effect on Sept. 1, but more measures from that period as well as the second special session will soon activate. Some also had to wait for voters’ approval, such as more tax exemption for businesses’ inventory.
Heated Cy-Fair ISD school board race draws $370K in ...

Seven candidates and four local PACs have raised almost a combined $370,000 in funding for the heated board election for the state’s third-largest school district. A new tranche of campaign finance documents shows fundraising for Cy-Fair ISD candidates this election cycle has reached new heights, and local PAC spending is nearing $135,000 on seven candidates in three races, according to a Chronicle analysis of over 30 campaign finance records.
The best K-12 private schools in Houston

Every family has unique priorities when identifying the best private schools in Houston, but regardless of what’s on your must-have list, your perfect match may be listed here. The Houston K-12 private schools on this list were voted the Houston Chronicle’s Best of the Best Private Schools, giving them locals’ stamp of approval. These impressive schools offer students features like small class sizes, personalized attention and college preparation curricula to ensure higher test scores and post-secondary success. Review each school to find the best match for your young scholar.
Trials of two Uvalde school officers see delays amid federal lawsuit, venue change

Pete Arredondo, the district’s former police chief, and ex-officer Adrian Gonzales face charges over the slow law enforcement response to the 2022 school shooting. The trials for the two former school police officers facing charges over the slow law enforcement response to the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde will be delayed, and one will be moved out of the city where the attack occurred, their lawyers said Tuesday. Former Uvalde schools police chief Pete Arredondo and officer Adrian Gonzales have pleaded not guilty to dozens of counts of child endangerment and abandonment in connection with the massacre at Robb Elementary School. Both men were set to stand trial on Oct. 20. Gonzales’ trial will be moved to a January start in Corpus Christi, about 200 miles from the school, attorney Nico LaHood said Tuesday. Judge Sid Harle confirmed the agreement for a change of venue for Gonzales, but said no formal order had been filed yet.

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County Commissioners approve law enforcement substation at Prairie Lea ISD

October 1508:13 AM

The Caldwell County Commissioners Court has officially approved an agreement to establish a new law enforcement substation at Prairie Lea Independent School District, marking a significant step forward in local school safety efforts. The decision came during the Court’s regular meeting held last Thursday morning. The agreement, developed through collaboration between the Caldwell County Constable’s Office, Precinct 2 Constable Paul Easterling, and Prairie Lea ISD Interim Superintendent Buddy Freeman, was previously approved by the PLISD School Board. view article

Community Caravan tours aim to build support for Beaumont schools

October 1508:12 AM

While Beaumont ISD’s future hangs in the balance after low TEA ratings and a recent exploratory visit by state commissioner Mike Morath, the district remains committed to bringing the community onboard with its mission to better the future of students and staff. view article

Del Valle ISD bus involved in crash, 26 students on board

October 1508:12 AM

A Del Valle Independent School District bus carrying 26 students was involved in a minor collision Tuesday morning at the intersection of FM 1625 and FM 1327, according to authorities. The crash around 7 a.m., the Travis County Sheriff's Office said. view article

‘Shovel-ready:’ Austin ISD nears groundbreaking on affordable apartment community

October 1508:11 AM

Austin ISD is one step closer to building affordable housing for its staff and community members in East Austin. At an Oct. 7 meeting, the AISD Public Facility Corporation, or PFC, approved construction of the first of two income-restricted apartment buildings near East Seventh Street and Airport Boulevard. Developers are expected to break ground on the 341-unit East apartment building in December for a projected completion date of 2028, said Nick Walsh, vice president of development for The NRP Group. view article

Navarro ISD forms historical committee to preserve Panther legacy

October 1508:10 AM

Navarro ISD is turning the page to the future –but not before preserving every chapter of its past. Chelsea Ormond, Navarro ISD director of communications, marketing, and public relations says the district is excited to announce the formation of the Navarro ISD Historical Committee. She says the initiative is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the rich history and traditions of the Panther community. view article

State Department Revokes Visas of 6 Foreigners Who Cheered Charlie Kirk’s Death

October 1505:03 AM

The State Department has revoked the visas of six foreigners after they publicly celebrated the assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk. “The United States has no obligation to host foreigners who wish death on Americans,” the State Department posted on X on Oct. 14. “The State Department continues to identify visa holders who celebrated the heinous assassination of Charlie Kirk.” The names of those who lost their visas were withheld, but their redacted social media posts were published by the department. view article

Texans could begin applying for school vouchers in February

October 1505:01 AM

Private schools looking to educate participating students may also have a chance to apply to the program before the end of the year. view article

Applications for $1B Texas school voucher program to launch in February, contract documents show

October 1505:01 AM

Texas families interested in school vouchers will be able to apply beginning in February, according to newly obtained documents outlining the rollout of the landmark $1 billion program. The window for families to sign their children up is set to run from Feb. 4 to March 20. Decisions about awarded vouchers will be finalized by May 1, with the money accessible in digital wallets beginning July 1. The timeline, detailed in contracting documents obtained by Hearst Newspapers via a public records request, is the most specific plan seen so far for the new Texas Education Freedom Accounts program, which will provide state dollars to pay a wide variety of educational expenses, including private school tuition and homeschool costs. Families had previously been told to expect applications to open in “early 2026.” view article

Opening of new Uvalde school marks “bittersweet day” for families and town

October 1505:00 AM

Legacy Elementary, which replaces Robb Elementary, where 19 students and two teachers were killed in a mass shooting in 2022, will welcome students on Oct. 20. view article

Diboll council approves inclusive playground

October 1505:00 AM

Diboll families will soon see a major addition to Old Orchard Park — a fully custom, ADA-compliant inclusive playground designed to serve children of all abilities — thanks to a $115,899.99 grant from the T.L.L. Temple Foundation’s Keeler Grant Program. The Diboll City Council on Tuesday approved the purchase of the new playground from Cunningham Recreation, finalizing a project that city officials described as “a long time coming” for families of children with disabilities and special needs. City manager Jason Arnold said the new design was developed in collaboration with Diboll ISD’s special education department and parents of students with special needs to ensure the layout and equipment meet the city’s accessibility goals and families’ specific needs. view article

One third of Texas school districts ordered Bible-infused lesson plans. Is your school on the list?

October 1505:00 AM

Just under one-third of all Texas school districts have ordered the controversial Bible-infused Bluebonnet materials, according to the Texas Education Agency. Twenty of those 367 districts are in the Houston area, and 30 more are in the Huntsville and Beaumont area, although the majority of the districts that ordered the materials are located in the Tyler area, with 35 districts in that area opting in. Amarillo and Victoria were next after Kilgore. view article

Ken Paxton sues leader of group trying to seize control of Texas’ least populated county

October 1505:00 AM

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday filed a lawsuit against the leader of a group of people who recently moved into a wealthy far West Texas county with the expressed intent to wrest political control from the current office holders. Paxton also filed a request for a temporary restraining order against Malcolm Tanner for what the attorney general asserted were environment violations on the isolated plot of land in Loving County where members of his organization, the Melanated People of Power, have erected a small encampment of RVs and tents. view article

All 20 surviving hostages freed by Hamas under Gaza peace deal

October 1505:00 AM

Hamas released all 20 living Israeli hostages on Monday morning as part of the Gaza peace deal brokered by the Trump administration. Why it matters: The Israeli hostages, most of them civilians, were held in captivity in Gaza for more than two years. Finally, all of the hostages who survived are now free. view article

Gonzales ISD seeks court order to bar 11-year-old, who confessed to 2022 murder, from school amid safety concerns

October 1408:35 AM

Tuesday morning, a local school district is heading to federal court in hopes of keeping an 11-year-old out of the classroom. The child confessed to murdering a man he didn’t know in 2022, and the school argues having the child in the classroom would endanger others. A judge will decide whether the boy should be banned from school property. Gonzales ISD is urgently requesting a temporary restraining order to keep the child off all campuses and away from school events. view article

Harrison vs. higher ed: How one lawmaker is weaponizing social media to eradicate LGBTQ+ curriculum

October 1408:30 AM

State Rep. Brian Harrison has been on a crusade against Texas universities, scouring course catalogs and university websites for examples of “gender ideology” or LGBTQ+ curriculum, and riling up his X followers about “liberal indoctrination” on campuses. few days after Charlie Kirk was assassinated, a video was posted on social media of a Texas State University student mockingly re-enacting the conservative activist’s death. Rep. Brian Harrison saw the video and got to work. He pulled up the university’s online course catalog and found a class called LGBTQ+ Communication Studies, where students were to learn about how “communication sustains both discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and their resistance,” according to the course description. Within the hour, Harrison shared the video of the student on his X account alongside the image of the offending course description. view article

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Casino Lobby Bets Big on Huffman in North Texas Senate Race

October 1408:30 AM

With more than $9 million in cash on hand, Las Vegas Sands has become a big spender in Texas politics. As voters prepare to select a new state senator for Texas Senate District 9, one candidate is receiving a flood of support from the casino industry. Former Southlake Mayor John Huffman reported a $500,000 contribution from the Texas Sands PAC, the political arm of Las Vegas Sands, in the latest campaign finance report covering the period through September 25. The casino lobby has also funded advertising through the Texas Defense PAC, a committee wholly funded by Sands. view article

UT-Austin Students Protest Trump Initiative

October 1408:30 AM

More than a hundred students gathered in front of the UT Tower to “stop the compact.” AUSTIN—University of Texas students staged a protest on Monday in opposition to university participation in the Trump administration’s new higher education reform initiative, the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. The rally, organized under slogans like “Our Campus Not Trump’s” and “Rally for Academic Freedom,” drew a crowd of around 100 in front of the UT Tower. While decrying President Donald Trump as a “fascist” and comparing conservatives to “Nazis,” protestors called for the university to reject the compact. Trump has condemned such language, stating, “This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today and it must stop right now.” view article

Voters in Belton, Temple ISDs To Determine Upcoming Bond Elections

October 1408:30 AM

Trustees from both Belton and Temple independent school districts have placed bonds on the November ballot, with Temple also putting forth a voter approval tax rate election. According to Belton ISD’s bond election call, trustees approved a bond package that would add $161,835,000 to the district’s debt, not including interest. Documents released by the school district show that bond interest will cost tax payers an additional $186 million, making the total cost of the bonds nearly $348 million. The total bond amount is divided between four propositions view article

Houston Announces New $16 Million Low-Barrier Homeless ‘Super Hub’

October 1408:30 AM

The City of Houston is spending $16 million to turn a former migrant shelter into a homeless “super hub”—a facility officials say will streamline access to services, but critics warn will damage the city’s image ahead of international events. view article

Paxton Expands Investigation Into Discord After Platform Linked to Charlie Kirk’s Assassination

October 1408:30 AM

The attorney general had previously announced an investigation to determine whether Discord is effectively safeguarding children onlin The attorney general had previously announced an investigation to determine whether Discord is effectively safeguarding children online. The move broadens Paxton’s ongoing probe under the Securing Children Online Through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act, which authorizes investigations into digital platforms accused of endangering minors. Paxton said the expansion responds not only to Discord’s reported connection to the assassin but also to growing concerns that the platform exposes children to sexual exploitation and extremist content and contains addictive features designed to keep minors engaged. view article

Central Texas high school seniors sound off on cell phone ban: ‘There’s a lot more conversation in class’

October 1408:26 AM

Cell phones have officially been banned in classrooms during this legislative session, and all public schools have their own rules on what to do with the phones, like lockers or pouches. While some school districts have funding for pouches for their students, most school districts we spoke with adopt their own rules and disciplinary actions when funding isn’t readily available. view article

San Antonio: What’s on the ballot for NEISD on Nov. 4? A breakdown of five bond propositions

October 1408:25 AM

In the Nov. 4 election, North East Independent School District voters will determine whether to approve a $495 million bond package designed to address the district’s aging infrastructure and pay for safety, security and technology improvements. view article

Investigation leads to second arrest of Celina ISD teacher on child pornography charge

October 1408:25 AM

The Celina Police Department today announced an update on the investigation of a Celina ISD teacher/coach who was first taken into custody on Friday, October 3, 2025. view article

More Texas kindergarteners are coming to school without measles vaccination proof or exemptions

October 1408:25 AM

Before the pandemic helped fuel the growth of vaccine politicization across the country, less than 1% of Austin school district’s kindergarteners in the fall of 2019 failed to comply with the state’s vaccine reporting requirements. Five years later, Austin ISD had some of the state’s highest number of kindergarteners who neglected those state requirements — about 1 in 5 kindergarteners had not proven they were fully vaccinated against measles and did not file an exemption. view article

Austin ISD to hold virtual Q&A on plan to close 13 schools

October 1408:23 AM

Austin ISD announced a preliminary plan earlier this month to close 13 schools and redraw boundaries. It comes as the district faces a nearly $20 million budget shortfall and a decline in enrollment, leaving some schools under capacity. view article

HISD’s board is powerless. Here’s why we’re endorsing anyway. | Endorsement

October 1408:23 AM

Earlier this year, Houston ISD got four new faces on its Board of Managers. It happened without a single voter casting a ballot. That’s because the state’s largest school district is still in the hands of Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, who announced in June that the state takeover of HISD would last at least another two years. Still, this November, voters in three districts will get to decide who they want waiting in the wings for the moment Morath begins the transition back to local control. view article

Klein ISD notifies parents after students were contacted by 30-year-old man on parole, police say

October 1408:23 AM

A 30-year-old man in Spring is accused of trying to entice a 12-year-old girl by sending messages to her school-issued laptop. Shamone Sanford has been charged with the felony of enticing a child. In court documents reviewed by ABC13, the girl's parents first alerted Klein ISD Police when they noticed messages from an adult to their daughter on the school-issued Chromebook. view article

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD board president confirms school closures

October 1408:23 AM

Subscribe Grapevine-Colleyville school board president Shannon Braun said the district will close elementary campuses, but no decisions have been made on how many will be on the chopping block. The district’s Education Master Planning Committee will submit recommendations to the board later this fall. view article

Anna ISD teacher arrested, charged with felony child injury after classroom incident

October 1408:20 AM

An Anna ISD teacher is off the job and facing charges after an incident at school. The teacher was removed from her classroom at Hendricks Elementary School last week when the investigation began. view article

Home: Information sessions about proposed school closures and consolidations seek community feedback

October 1408:18 AM

Austin Independent School District revealed plans on Oct. 3 to close 13 schools and consolidate academic programs due to growing budget concerns. In anticipation of the changes, which will take effect for the 2026-27 school year, the district is hosting open houses to answer questions and offer a deeper look into consolidation plans. view article

Gun fired in Pridgeon Stadium parking lot after Cy-Fair ISD game

October 1408:17 AM

A shooting incident occurred in the parking lot of Cy-Fair ISD's Pridgeon Stadium on Friday, October 10, 2025. At the conclusion of the varsity football game at approximately 10:00 p.m., administrators and law enforcement were notified that a firearm had been discharged in the parking lot. view article

Leander ISD Selects Erika Cruz, Ed.D., to Lead Early College High School

October 1408:12 AM

Leander ISD has named experienced campus leader Erika Cruz, Ed.D., as the next principal of Early College High School (ECHS). “I am thrilled to welcome Erika Cruz as the new principal of Early College High School,” said Leander ISD Superintendent Bruce Gearing, Ed.D. “Erika brings a wealth of passion and dedication to her new role along with a continued commitment to her students, staff and community. With her leadership, Early College High School is sure to continue thriving as a place where students can grow and excel.” view article

Community members push back against Katy ISD’s celebration of ‘Columbus Day’

October 1408:12 AM

Katy ISD community members are condemning the district for a post published on its Facebook account on Monday in commemoration of "Christopher Columbus Day." "In 1492, Christopher Columbus set sail across the Atlantic, beginning a voyage that would connect distant worlds and change the course of history," the social media post read. "Today, Columbus Day commemorates that journey of exploration and discovery that shaped the modern era." view article

Richardson ISD voters to decide on $1.4B bond package next month. Here’s what to know

October 1408:06 AM

Voters in Richardson ISD are set to vote on a $1.4 billion bond package in next month’s election, nearly double the amount of the most recently approved bond package in 2021. The package is split into three propositions, which voters can decide separately. Proposition A will set aside $1.34 billion for construction projects and updated instructional material for middle schools, a career and technical education center and an environmental studies center. Proposition B allocates $54 million to update technology devices in the district, while Proposition C will provide $7.4 million to the two largest stadiums in the district for various improvements. view article

San Angelo ISD, La Esperanza Clinic host vaccine clinic

October 1408:01 AM

Kids and their families turned out in droves, meeting with medical professionals to help make sure those kids stay safe and healthy for the rest of the school year. view article

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