Both chambers set aside $1 billion for a voucher-like education savings account program — double what was on the table two years ago — in a sign that supporters are emboldened after recent electoral gains.   view article

A former Valentine ISD employee was sentenced in a federal court in Pecos to 27 months in prison for wire fraud and theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. Below is a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office Western District of Texas: view article

Goliad ISD is among school districts nationwide expressing concern over recent federal budget cuts targeting education and nutrition programs. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has implemented significant reductions affecting both the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Education (USDE), prompting districts to reassess their budgets and program offerings.​ view article

The Lufkin ISD board is considering the non-renewal of employee contracts in the wake of campus closures. Almost a month after the Lufkin ISD School Board voted to close Coston Elementary and Kurth Primary School, board members are back in session, with another tough decision to make. “It’s scary for people because you don’t know am I going to be affected, is somebody that I care about going to be affected,” said LISD Board President, Kristi Gay. view article

On Tuesday, the U.S. Education Department announced plans to cut nearly half of its entire workforce after President Donald Trump proposed eliminating the agency. A group of state attorneys general filed a lawsuit to stop the job cuts. The lawsuit said the terminations are dismantling the education department. With the potential elimination of the department of education, Brownsville ISD officials said they are concerned about what this could mean for the over 36,000 students they serve. view article

McKinney ISD recently informed parents that some positions and programs could be cut. view article

Manor Independent School District heard from the community Tuesday as it starts working on its budget for the next school year. It's already facing a $14 million budget deficit and needs to make major cuts and changes in order to reach a balanced budget. A couple of ideas are on the table, including having one principal oversee three high schools and increasing class sizes. view article

A multitude of factors are pushing Fort Worth ISD to close schools. None are related to the Texas Legislature’s proposal for a voucher program. The biggest factor? Declining enrollment. Another contributor? Fort Worth ISD’s dollars and staff are spread too thin to adequately meet the educational needs of students, according to district officials. view article

This is your weekly news roundup, which takes a quick look at some developments in government, politics, education, environment and other topics across El Paso. Some Socorro Independent School District employees may be able to take a $2,500 payout to resign as the second-largest district in El Paso prepares to lay off 300 workers. view article

As Houston ISD’s state-appointed board of managers considers closing an undisclosed number of campuses for the 2026-27 school year, elected trustees are asking for community members to be involved in the process. view article

Dallas ISD could lose out on thousands of dollars in funding after student absences spiked in January. More than 15% of the district’s roughly 138,900 students were absent on Jan. 21, according to records requested by KERA, and the percentage stayed in the double digits through the end of the month. view article

The Canutillo Independent School District is considering laying off employees, increasing class sizes and cutting student programs as it faces potential financial exigency — the equivalent of bankruptcy for education institutions. The Canutillo ISD school board met Tuesday to discuss the budget for the 2025-26 school year and go over cost-saving options, including eliminating elementary school music classes, canceling district-funded travel and setting a hiring freeze on non-essential employees. view article

Despite beginning the 2024-25 school year with a $30.8 million deficit, Frisco ISD officials are working toward entering the 2025-26 school year with a balanced budget. Kimberly Smith, the district's chief finance and strategy officer, told the board during its Feb. 24 work session that its deficit now sits at $3.01 million. Mike Albanese is the Managing Editor of Star Local Media and is covers Celina and Frisco. He can be found on X at @NewsyMike_SLM. view article

Two state senators have sent a letter to university boards of regents announcing the move to freeze state funding increases if they do not demonstrate compliance with state law. view article

Voters in the Socorro Independent School District in El Paso approved a $448.5 million bond issue in November 2017 that included $59.9 million for a second stadium in the district’s Student Activities Complex. Socorro voters agreed to tax themselves to pay for the bonds. Property taxes collected for those bonds go into the interest and sinking fund, and must be used to repay the bond issues. view article

San Antonio Independent School District has spent nearly a half million dollars on just one expense since 2022: a consultant, records obtained by KSAT Investigates show. After several tips from former employees and viewers, KSAT Investigates reviewed Brad Jupp’s role with SAISD and his impact on its students. view article

Days before the start of the legislative session, Texas A&M University administrators were already bracing for a hit to their budget. view article

Aldine ISD has voted to close six schools due to declining enrollment, a big change for many families in the district, but it's a decision the board members felt had to happen. The list includes Stovall and De Santiago -- both early education centers -- Eckert Elementary School, Oleson Elementary, Raymond Elementary, and Smith Elementary. view article

About 300 Socorro ISD employees will be laid off in the coming weeks, the starkest of a number of actions the school board approved Wednesday to cut $38 million from next year’s budget. Socorro’s dire financial situation – officials said the district would be insolvent next year without the steep cuts – has a number of causes. But the primary cause is simple: The district has been spending more money than it takes in for a decade. And each year in that time, the Socorro ISD board voted to knowingly spend more than it was taking in, according to a presentation the school board received during the meeting. view article

The Canutillo Independent School District is grappling with a severe budget deficit that could lead to bankruptcy, according to Superintendent Dr. Pedro Galaviz. In a message shared on social media, Galaviz warned of "a serious financial challenge" facing the district, necessitating further cuts to address the shortfall. view article

Denton ISD wants to pay talented, skilled teachers more. Administrators said they plan to apply to the Teacher Incentive Allotment, a program created by the 86th Texas Legislature meant to put educators on a path to a six-figure salary. view article

While the Lottery Commission says it can’t regulate sales to couriers, lawmakers want changes after two major jackpots were won using those services.   view article

Parents in the Socorro Independent School District (SISD) are expressing shock and concern over potential cuts to fine arts programs in elementary schools, which could take effect next year. Union officials and fine arts teachers have indicated that most elementary students may lose access to these programs. view article

A dual language enrichment program in Conroe ISD will continue after the superintendent had previously moved to end the program. The program's uncertainty had some parents upset. Some of the parents who support the program are breathing a sigh of relief, but the program's future is still unclear. view article

Budgeting and the 89th Texas Legislature were high on the list of priorities at College Station ISD’s Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday. As the legislative session progresses, one of the district’s big concerns is the basic allotment not increasing. The basic allotment is the minimum amount of money a school district receives per student from the state. It’s remained stagnant at $6,160 since 2019. view article

Budgeting and the 89th Texas Legislature were high on the list of priorities at College Station ISD’s Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday. As the legislative session progresses, one of the district’s big concerns is the basic allotment not increasing. The basic allotment is the minimum amount of money a school district receives per student from the state. It’s remained stagnant at $6,160 since 2019. view article

New funding requests, compounding costs and lower-than-projected property tax revenue has pushed the Austin school district’s budget deficit from $92 million to $110 million, prompting officials to implement a spending and hiring freeze, interim Chief Financial Officer Katrina Montgomery told board members. view article

New funding requests, compounding costs and lower-than-projected property tax revenue has pushed the Austin school district’s budget deficit from $92 million to $110 million, prompting officials to implement a spending and hiring freeze, interim Chief Financial Officer Katrina Montgomery told board members. view article

New funding requests, compounding costs and lower-than-projected property tax revenue has pushed the Austin school district’s budget deficit from $92 million to $110 million, prompting officials to implement a spending and hiring freeze, interim Chief Financial Officer Katrina Montgomery told board members. view article

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The quality of education a child receives in the early years sets the stage for future learning and academic achievement. Many students, at every level of education, need additional supports such as tutoring, special education, or language services to be successful academically. Our analysis of campus-level spending on educational programs found that when Texas cut education funding, low-income students and those in need of additional support lost the most.  view article

New funding requests, compounding costs and lower-than-projected property tax revenue has pushed the Austin school district’s budget deficit from $92 million to $110 million, prompting officials to implement a spending and hiring freeze, interim Chief Financial Officer Katrina Montgomery told board members. view article

The Socorro Independent School District (SISD) in El Paso is preparing to lay off employees as it grapples with a $38 million budget deficit. Interim Superintendent James Vasquez announced the impending layoffs in an email to teachers and staff, stating that the district must make these cuts to ensure financial stability for the 2025-2026 school year. view article

The Austin Independent School District (AISD) announced a districtwide spending and hiring freeze starting March 1 as it grapples with a worsening financial crisis. The decision follows the approval of the 2024-25 budget in June and aims to address a projected budget deficit that has ballooned from $78 million to $110 million, despite $26 million in cuts. view article

The Socorro Independent School District is planning to lay off employees, increase class sizes and cut programs in an effort to save itself from financial ruin. SISD employees late Friday received an email from Acting Superintendent James Vasquez informing them the district needs to reduce its budget by $38 million for the 2025-26 school year and will need to cut staff to do so. view article

fficials in the Fort Worth Independent School District are looking to turn over operations at a struggling middle school to Texas Wesleyan University as a part of an six-year-old partnership with the college. Fort Worth ISD’s board will consider a proposal to renew its partnership with the university to run the five campuses currently in the district’s Leadership Academy Network, and also to add Leonard Middle School to the network. view article