Education
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How the government shutdown could hurt low-income students in Texas
The US government officially shut down at midnight on Oct. 1 after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement. Federal workers said it’s already impacting education funding.
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Fort Worth ISD adopts Bible-infused curriculum
Fort Worth ISD is now one of the largest districts in Texas to implement Bluebonnet Learning, and will receive millions of dollars from the state for adopting the new materials.
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Texas ranks second in the US for book bans
It’s Banned Books Week, which means PEN America—a nonprofit that fights censorship—has updated its database of banned books in public schools throughout the country.
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5 Texas school districts face state takeovers. Here’s what to know.
Several Texas school districts, including Fort Worth, are at risk of takeover by the Texas Education Agency. Here’s a look at what that means.
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Educators rally behind James Talarico at Dallas campaign event
State Rep. James Talarico, a 36-year-old Democrat and former teacher, is running for US Senate in Texas.
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Texas educators applaud increased public school funding, but question if it’s enough
Texas lawmakers provided $8.5 billion in new funding for public schools this year, including a pay raise for teachers.
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‘This is not right’: Texas students, educators criticize Ten Commandments in classrooms
Some Texas students and educators are criticizing new laws that added prayer time, Ten Commandments to public schools.
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Texas A&M fires professor for discussing gender identity in class
Texas A&M fired a professor and disciplined two administrators over backlash from right-wing lawmakers following a viral video showing a professor discussing LGBTQ+ topics in class.
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‘More stressed, more unsure’: Texas educators start school year under new DEI ban
Educators speak out on new laws they face in classrooms, including a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion and a “Parental Bill of Rights” that makes it easier for conservatives to interfere in public schools.
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Why books shouldn’t be controversial: Welcome to your Texas banned reading list
Banned books have been hugely controversial when it comes to Texas education. Literature is fundamental to learning—and when the government is trying to dictate what students can and can’t read, important, diverse voices can be lost.
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Houston ISD hits milestone: No failing schools in new state scores
Houston ISD scored a dramatic turnaround under the latest ratings from the Texas Education Agency, including 74% of its campuses receiving an A or B grade.
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Classroom doors open, but wallets stay empty for Texas teachers
A study found that Texas teachers spend about $100 of their own money on school supplies.
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Texas private schools hire relatives and enrich insiders. Soon they can do it with taxpayer money.
An investigation by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune found more than 60 instances of nepotism, self-dealing and conflicts of interest among 27 private schools that likely would have violated state laws had the schools been public.
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Teachers and parents face record-breaking back-to-school costs in 2025
Another back-to-school season has arrived, bringing with it the familiar scramble of supply lists, clothes shopping, and, of course, financial stress. But this year hits different. There’s an elephant in the classroom that’s becoming impossible to ignore, and its crushing financial pressure is squeezing teachers and parents alike.
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3 back to school drives to help Houston-area families get prepared for the year
Back to school can be a tough time for any household. As summer break winds to a close, early mornings, homework, and the tedium of packing lunches loom over parents’ heads.
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Two schools, one law: Texas A&M, Texas Southern University navigate NCAA shakeup
Texas A&M and Texas Southern are navigating a landmark shift in college athletics compensation following the passage of Texas House Bill 126.
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‘An all-out assault:’ Texas educators stand up to Trump, Abbott attacks on public education
From President Donald Trump’s dismantling of the US Education Department to school voucher plans from Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. Ted Cruz, Texas educators are standing up to a Republican war on public education.
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Cell phones, DEI, prayer: 5 bills Texas lawmakers are using to reshape public schools
From banning DEI and cell phones to forcing prayer and the Ten Commandments into classrooms, Texas lawmakers passed several bills impacting public school students. Although private school vouchers and public school funding dominated the headlines this legislative session, several other education-focused bills are headed the Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk. Here’s a rundown of where those…
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Greg Abbott boosts Texas public school funding after years of holding it hostage
Gov. Greg Abbott signed an $8.5 billion boost to Texas public school funding into law on Wednesday after blocking increased school spending for years.
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Texas lawmakers targeted school and public libraries this legislative session. Here’s what happened
Right-wing Texas lawmakers targeted books in public schools and access to public libraries during the legislative session.
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14 Houston-area school districts offering free summer meals for children
For parents looking to get meals for their children this summer, many Houston-area school districts offer free breakfast and lunch at various campuses.
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Texas graded its public schools. Critics call the results a ‘politically motivated attack’
When the TEA released the scores on April 24, some school districts and a coalition of state lawmakers called the methodology “deceptive, harmful, and a blatant attempt to discredit neighborhood public schools to justify school privatization schemes.”
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At UT, a Day of Drag and Defiance
Students gathered for a joyful protest of the university system’s drag show ban.
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Trade pre-apprentice program is ‘no-brainer’ for Texans looking for a new career
This state-funded program gives cohorts from Austin, Houston, and DFW a pathway into green construction jobs, while paying them to learn.
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VIDEO: Texas graded its public schools. How did yours fare?
Texas public school ratings — which grade how well districts and campuses educate their students and prepare them for the future — were made public for the first time in two years. Results across the state have dropped after the Texas Education Agency implemented stricter scoring standards, and one North Texas school district is at…
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Student loans in default will be sent for collection. Here’s what to know for borrowers
By ADRIANA MORGA and WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPS Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Starting next month, the Education Department says student loans that are in default will be referred for collections. Roughly 5.3 million borrowers are in default on their federal student loans and soon could be subject to having their wages garnished. Referrals for collection…
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The number of 18-year-olds is about to drop sharply, packing a wallop for colleges—and the economy
This so-called demographic cliff has been predicted ever since Americans started having fewer babies at the advent of the Great Recession around the end of 2007—a falling birth rate that has not recovered since, except for a slight blip after the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
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She’s not faking it: How this Texas bill would excuse period pain absences in school
A Texas bill would excuse school absences for menstrual disorders—advocates say it’s a crucial step toward reproductive health and dignity in schools.
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Texas House passes $1 billion school vouchers bill in historic vote
The Texas House passed a $1 billion school voucher bill early Thursday, a measure that provides $10,300 to students to attend private schools.
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Fort Worth prioritizes literacy effort as 2 in 3 students cannot read proficiently
Mayor Mattie Parker issued a resolution April 15 declaring literacy as one of the city’s priorities. The document emphasized Fort Worth’s promise to help the 12 school districts serving the city achieve universal grade-level reading among students.
