Become more informed in minutes....

Between March 11, when the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) began reducing its staff levels, and June 27, the agency dismissed 3,424 complaints, according to court documents filed by Rachel Oglesby, who has been chief of staff at the Education Department since January. By contrast, the office dismissed 2,527 cases in the three-month period between November 2024 and January 2025 under the Biden administration. “A dismissal rate this high suggests a fundamental shift in how OCR is triaging and processing complaints,” said Jackie Gharapour Wernz, an education civil rights attorney who worked for the OCR under the Obama and first Trump administrations. “It raises serious concerns about whether civil rights issues are being meaningfully evaluated and whether the agency is adhering to its own case processing manual and relevant law in dismissing cases.” In response, Education Department spokesperson Julie Hartman said the OCR is taking actions according to federal law, regulations and the OCR case processing manual, which outlines the steps the agency must take to process complaints. 

 

K-12 Dive

Austin ISD has approved a $1.58bn operating budget for the fiscal year 2025-26, facing a $19.7m shortfall. The district reduced its initial shortfall estimate of $127m by implementing $44m in budget cuts, including $9m from additional state funding. Interim chief financial officer Katrina Montgomery said: "This is not a stop gap," emphasizing ongoing efforts to address the deficit. The budget includes $992.1m in expenditures and anticipates $715.5m in property tax payments to the state. AISD is also set to receive $35.9m from House Bill 2, with plans for teacher raises and potential campus consolidations due to declining enrollment. Montgomery noted: "If we get additional state funding we can reduce another line item." The board will vote on the compensation plan on August 21.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

In Lewisville ISD, home values are increasing while new construction is declining, leading to a drop in student enrollment. According to Jennah Ciers, a local real estate agent, "First-time [homebuyers] are priced out of these established neighborhoods," which affects the number of school-age children. The slowdown in new families moving into the district is partly due to homeowners choosing to age in place, as interest rates hover around 6%-7%. Bob Templeton, vice president of Zonda Demographics, noted that "Folks aren't going to sell and relocate" due to higher mortgage rates. The decline in home sales, which fell by 14% between 2023 and 2024, further exacerbates the issue. As enrollment decreases, LISD faces reduced state funding, prompting Superintendent Lori Rapp to state, “While this shift does impact our funding, we are proactively adjusting our budget.”

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Cale Beissner, an impact counselor at Denton ISD, has received the ESS Impact Award for his exceptional service at Savannah Elementary School, winning a $5,000 cash prize. He was recognized for his dedication to helping students navigate challenges both at school and at home. "School is a place that I think, most of the year, kids spend their time," Beissner commented, emphasizing the importance of mental health support. Despite facing challenges in securing full-time counseling positions, he remains committed to pursuing a career in public education and advocating for mental health services. Beissner's nomination for the award came from the district's social-emotional learning coordinator, who witnessed his impactful work. He hopes to further his education and continue making a difference in the lives of students.

 

Denton Record-Chronicle

The Comal ISD board of trustees has approved an agreement with LPA, Inc. for architectural services for the design of Elementary School #22 in the Meyer Ranch development. This new 110,000 sq-ft school is expected to accommodate around 800 students, with construction set to begin in January 2026 and completion anticipated by June 2027. The board previously approved the purchase of a 13-acre property from Meyer Ranch for $3.5m, funded through the district's 2023 bond Proposition A. This initiative is part of the district's strategy to manage enrollment growth. The exact location of the school has yet to be confirmed, but it will be situated near S. Crane Mills Road and Hwy. 46 W.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Recent STAAR test results show that Texas elementary and middle school students have improved their reading scores, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Notably, Dallas ISD reported that approximately 47% of third graders met grade-level expectations, close to the statewide average of 49%. DISD, which serves a predominantly economically disadvantaged student population, saw a three-point increase in overall grade-level achievement, with economically disadvantaged students achieving a four-point rise. The district's focus on supporting emergent bilingual students also yielded positive results, with a one-point gain in reading standards. The STAAR test emphasizes mastery of grade-level skills, providing educators with a clearer understanding of student learning. The success of DISD's Teacher Excellence Initiative in retaining high-performing teachers has contributed to these gains. However, the editorial warns that without continued support, progress may stall or reverse.

 

Dallas News

Gabriela Pereira-Salazar, a recent graduate of Texas City High School, showcased her children's book "Lili La Mariposa" at the Educators Rising National Conference, where she placed in the top 10 among over 200 participants. The event, held from June 25-29 in Orlando, Florida, gathered around 3,500 aspiring educators from across the nation. Christina Hartsfield, the district's Ready, Set, Teach instructor, emphasized the competitive nature of the conference, explaining: "It's a very, very competitive competition as far as the number of students that have come across the entire nation." Other notable achievements included Hayden Milner winning a blue ribbon for an interactive project and Aubree Newland receiving a white ribbon for her service project. The conference also provided networking opportunities and memorable experiences for students, many of whom flew for the first time.

 

The Galveston County Daily News

Plans for a charter school in Bastrop, proposed by Valenta Academy, have been halted after the Texas Education Agency (TEA) denied the application. Ashley Storms, a spokesperson for Valenta Academy, confirmed that the school would not open as planned. The proposed two-hour learning model aimed to provide personalized lessons in the morning, allowing students to engage in hands-on projects in the afternoon. The TEA's decision followed standard reviews by the agency and the State Board of Education. Currently, charter schools serve about 8% of Texas public school students, with 188 open-enrollment schools across 958 campuses in the state.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

School boards have become central to heated debates over issues like mask policies and LGBTQ+ rights. Research from a June 2025 study by Ohio State and Emory universities reveals that incumbent school board members win over 80% of the time, often in uncontested races. Despite high reelection rates, turnover occurs mainly due to incumbents choosing not to run again. The study also found that lower student performance does not lead to increased electoral competition. Additionally, electing educators to school boards tends to raise teacher pay but does not correlate with improved student achievement. Notably, endorsements from teachers' unions significantly influence election outcomes, often more than other endorsements. The demographic makeup of school boards remains predominantly white, despite a diverse student population. While most school board meetings are civil, tensions have risen, particularly during the pandemic and debates over critical race theory. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for grasping the current educational landscape.

 

Education Week News

New teachers often struggle with challenging conversations with students and parents. To address this, two former K-12 teachers have developed mixed-reality simulations at North Carolina Central University's School of Education. These simulations allow preservice teachers to practice social-emotional skills and navigate difficult situations in a virtual environment. Megan Lyons, an assistant professor, emphasized the importance of these exercises, adding that they help future teachers “realize their own skill sets and how to improve those competencies." The program has received positive feedback from students, who have expressed a desire to tackle more complex issues, such as bullying and sensitive family matters. Freda Hicks, the clinical experience and partnership director, noted that the simulations help teachers avoid common pitfalls, like sharing confidential information during parent meetings. Overall, the initiative aims to better prepare future educators for real classroom challenges.

 

Education Week News