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The STAAR test may continue for another year as Texas lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on House Bill 4 before the end of the 89th Legislative Session. The bill, authored by state Rep. Brad Buckley, aimed to replace the STAAR test with three shorter assessments throughout the school year and included provisions for timely updates and local indicators. However, the Senate's version sought to grant the Texas Education Agency commissioner more authority over A-F ratings and district conservatorship. Temple ISD Superintendent Bobby Ott expressed disappointment, stating: “The current assessment is an autopsy approach that is not conducive to improving teaching and learning.” Belton ISD Superintendent Malinda Golden echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the limitations of STAAR testing.

 

El Paso Times

San Antonio Express-News

Temple Daily Telegram

Stay Compliant: Your State’s K-12 Training Requirements

State training mandates can change rapidly, making it complicated for K-12 schools and districts to stay current on mandates and state compliance. Download your state's compliance guide for compliance requirements, links to related legislation or policy documentation, details on training requirements for staff and students, and more.

Download Compliance Guides

 

The Texas Legislature has approved a record $8.5 bn school funding bill, but Bryan ISD officials argue it is insufficient to meet current needs. Kevin Beesaw, the district's assistant superintendent, stated that the $55 per student increase is far below the estimated $1,300 needed to match inflation since 2019. He explained that while the basic allotment increased, other funds were frozen or reduced, resulting in a net gain of only $59,000 for the district. Superintendent Ginger Carrabine expressed concern over the exclusion of many staff from the compensation package, stating: "They've made it abundantly clear that zero- to two-year teachers will get nothing, which is alarming." With a projected $6.2m deficit, Beesaw noted that improving the district's financial situation will be challenging, requiring significant cuts. A public hearing on the budget is set for June 16.

 

Bryan-College Station Eagle

The Trump administration has published new details of its plans to wind down the U.S. Department of Education, revealing how the agency will support students with disabilities, and those from low-income families, while also cutting federal bureaucracy. The more comprehensive budget released on Friday recommends a total of $66.7bn for all Education Department activities, 15.3% down on its current funding level. “Our goal is clear: to make education better, fairer, and more accountable by ending Federal overreach and empowering families, schools, and States who best know the needs of their students,” the budget document said. Funding for Title I, Part A grants to low-income school communities is maintained at $18.4bn, while $14.9bn is budgeted for Part B state grants under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a $677.5m increase. Additionally, the budget consolidates 18 smaller programs including teacher training, school safety, and students experiencing homelessness, into one grant, cutting funding from approximately $6.5bnn to $2bn. U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon will appear before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee panel today to discuss the funding requests.

 

K-12 Dive

NPR / National Public Radio

Frisco ISD has achieved remarkable success in the National Merit Scholarship program, with 30 students awarded scholarships and 133 recognized as semifinalists and finalists, marking the highest count for any school district in Texas. The scholarship recipients received $2,500 or corporate-sponsored scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The district anticipates more winners when the college-sponsored National Merit scholarships are announced this summer.

 

Allen American

The city of Plano has allocated approximately $8.4m to acquire land from two closed Plano ISD campuses, Davis Elementary School and Forman Elementary School. The purchase includes $3m for Davis and $5.4m for Forman, as part of an interlocal agreement with Plano ISD, which closed the campuses due to declining enrollment.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath has announced an extension of the state takeover of the Houston ISD until June 1, 2027. Morath praised the district's improvements but emphasized the need for further progress, stating: "Ultimately, two years has not been enough time to fix district systems that were broken for decades." The takeover follows years of poor academic performance and leadership misconduct, leading to the ousting of the former superintendent and school board. Under the leadership of state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles, the district has seen improvements in state exam scores, but has also faced challenges such as high staff turnover and declining student enrollment.

 

The Texas Tribune

Over Memorial Day weekend, Kerrville ISD (KISD) responded to a social media post regarding Starkey Elementary School that included a video and claims about bullying. KISD emphasized its zero-tolerance policy towards bullying, stating: "We take these matters, as well as the safety of our students and employees, very seriously." The district is dedicated to maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment for all students and staff.

 

Daily Times

The El Paso ISD board is set to discuss Superintendent Diana Sayavedra's employment status during a special meeting. The meeting follows a previous gathering where community members expressed support for Sayavedra, who has led the district since January 2022. Board trustee Daniel Call criticized the potential termination, labeling it a "personal vendetta." He emphasized the positive academic gains under Sayavedra's leadership, stating: "The results are clear: with Superintendent Diana Sayavedra at the helm, El Paso ISD is making amazing gains nearly across the board." The board faces a $30m budget shortfall, complicating the situation further.

 

El Paso Times

Tonya Patterson has been appointed as the new principal of Shadow Creek High School for the 2025-26 school year, following her previous roles in Alvin ISD. Patterson served as an assistant principal at Alvin High School during the 2016-17 school year and later became an associate principal until 2019. She was the principal at Rodeo Palms Junior High from 2019 to 2022 and then moved to Victoria West High School until 2025.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is inviting public comments on proposed amendments to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 213 regarding child restraint systems (CRSs) by June 30. Key proposals include exempting school bus CRSs from side impact requirements if they meet specific labeling standards, delaying the compliance date to December 5, 2026, to avoid market disruption, and changing testing procedures for forward-facing CRSs. The NHTSA aims to address concerns raised by CRS manufacturers, stating that the amendments will "prevent market disruption resulting in reduced availability of CRSs."

 

School Bus Fleet

Larry Ferlazzo, an English and social studies teacher at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, is retiring and has shared valuable advice for new teachers. He emphasizes the importance of building relationships with students, stating, “students tend to learn more from teachers they like.” Ferlazzo encourages educators to show care, use humor, and be flexible in their approach. He advises against taking things personally and suggests that new teachers should seek help from colleagues, as asking for assistance is a sign of strength. He concludes with a reminder that “losing a teacher hurts everyone,” highlighting the collective interest in teacher success. For more insights, Ferlazzo invites readers to explore his previous posts on teaching advice.

 

Education Week News

Brownwood ISD is set to hold Pre-K and Kindergarten Pre-Qualification events for the 2025-26 school year at the Central Support Center located at 2707 Southside Drive. These events are crucial for parents looking to enroll their children in early education programs. This initiative aims to streamline the enrollment process and ensure that families are well-informed about the upcoming school year.

 

Brownwood Bulletin

Students in Quebec are calling for changes to the weighting of their ministerial exams. The province is the only one in Canada where some final exams account for 50%of high school students' final grades. While it has standardized Grade 10 and 11 exams in French, English, mathematics, history and science, all worth 25%-35% of final grades, other subjects, including basic French as a second language, count for 50%. Grade 11 student Luca Di Fiore, said the final exam feels like a judgment, adding: "To hear that one test that you do at the end of the year, irrespective of everything you've accomplished throughout the entire year, could just change everything for you [is unfortunate]." Paul Berry, a Grade 10 and 11 mathematics and history teacher at Options High School, is also advocating for a reduction in the final exam's weight. "[The government treats] these exams like they're sacred texts and like they're the be-all and end-all," he said, adding: "There's nothing really in life where you're going to be facing that type of situation … It's just not the way the real world works." However, Education Minister Bernard Drainville said that there are no plans to change the system. "Fifty percent to ensure equality, to ensure that we can compare results from one school to the next, from one region to the next," he told reporters last week.

 

CBC News