Individual school districts in the state will have the choice of whether or not to implement it. But it comes with a financial incentive of about $60 per student. view article

Some of the 2023 law was allowed to take effect, including a section that empowered the state board to draft new library standards, which the board used to instruct school districts not to stock sexually explicit books. Currently, it's up to school districts to comply with those standards.  A new bill would give the State Board of Education the power to ban books from Texas public schools that board members deem sexually explicit. view article

A majority of the panel voted to call on the Texas Legislature to pass a state law giving members the authority to determine age-appropriate books for students. view article

Members of the Texas State Board of Education met this week for a preliminary vote on the new Texas Bluebonnet Learning curriculum. view article

The Texas State Board of Education gave preliminary approval to new state-developed reading and math textbooks Nov. 19. Members are poised to green-light them later this week. The debate: Supporters of the proposed state curriculum say it would provide students with rigorous, age-appropriate content and help close achievement gaps, while critics argue frequent biblical references in the materials verge on proselytizing and could isolate students with different religious beliefs.   view article

So far Trump has looked elsewhere for his earliest cabinet and high-level staff appointments, in some cases passing over Texans who were in the mix. view article

Critics say the curriculum overemphasizes Christianity. The board is expected to officially vote on whether to approve the materials later this week.  A majority of the Texas State Board of Education signaled their support Tuesday for a state-authored curriculum under intense scrutiny in recent months for its heavy inclusion of biblical teachings.  Ahead of an official vote expected to happen Friday, eight of the 15 board members gave their preliminary approval to Bluebonnet Learning, the elementary school curriculum proposed by the Texas Education Agency earlier this year.  The state will have until late Wednesday to submit revisions in response to concerns raised by board members and the general public before the official vote takes place Friday. Board members reserve the right to change their votes. view article

Texas may change how your child understands biology when taught in a public high school classroom. The Texas' Board of Education tentatively approved changes to portions of the states Biology curriculum. Instead of asking Texas public school students to “evaluate” scientific explanations for the origins of DNA and the complexity of certain cells, the state will now ask that the students "examine" the scientific explanations for the origins of DNA and complexity of certain cells. In the past, some educators have argued that the word "evaluate" encouraged students to challenge the scientific theory of evolution and opened the door to teaching creationism. view article

The Georgetown Board of Trustees has hired Fred Brent as the district's newest superintendent. view article