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A federal judge has ordered 12 Texas school districts to remove Ten Commandments displays from classrooms by December, ruling that a state law mandating them violates the U.S. Constitution’s Establishment Clause. Judge Orlando L. Garcia called the law unconstitutional, marking a legal victory for parents who challenged it. The decision follows similar legal actions in Louisiana and Oklahoma over religious content in schools. While some Texas districts said they would comply, others have not responded. The ACLU praised the ruling as a “victory for religious liberty,” while Attorney General Ken Paxton continues to sue districts resisting the law. Fort Worth, McKinney, Frisco, Northwest, Rockwall and Mansfield school districts are among the impacted districts.

 

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According to an EdWeek Research Center survey, 60% of educators report expanded career and technical education (CTE) offerings over the past five years, driven by student demand and industry support. However, growth is hindered by shortages in teachers, space, and equipment. Diane Waite, a Minnesota business educator, highlighted that students value CTE’s practicality and career alignment. Digital tech, AI, and cybersecurity courses are expanding, with 28% of schools adding them recently. Funding, facility upgrades, and more CTE teachers are top priorities for improvement, with many calling for easier hiring of industry professionals without traditional teaching certification.

 

Education Week News

Plano ISD is set to broaden its Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program across all grade levels to enhance college and career readiness. Launched in 2006, AVID has expanded from secondary campuses to elementary schools, focusing on empowering students in leadership and academic success. Kristen Anderson, the AVID coordinator, highlighted that the program targets the “academic middle,” providing essential support for students. In the 2024-25 school year, 2,249 AVID students completed numerous honors and Advanced Placement courses. The district plans to train all principals in AVID resources to ensure a cohesive school-wide vision. Superintendent Teresa Williams proposed introducing AVID in sixth grade to facilitate smoother transitions into the program.

 

Allen American

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's proposal to eliminate local school property taxes has raised concerns among experts. Despite his experience, Abbott is aware that there is no sustainable way to remove these taxes without shifting the burden to sales tax, which could lead to a rate as high as 22%. Bob Popinski of Raise Your Hand Texas said: "Simply covering maintenance and operations taxes for local school districts would require the state to spend $35bn a year." Critics argue that Abbott's plan is a political maneuver rather than a genuine solution, as Texas ranks in the "bottom 10" nationally for per-pupil spending. The state's failure to adequately fund public education is a significant factor in high property tax bills, and experts believe Abbott's proposal could create further financial instability for schools.

 

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The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released its Financial Integrity Rating System (FIRST) grades for the 2024-25 school year, revealing that six out of eight school districts in Wise County earned an “A” rating, the highest possible grade. The ratings assess the financial management practices of school districts, categorizing them into four grades: A, B, C, or F, along with corresponding financial management ratings. Alvord, Chico, Decatur, Northwest, Paradise, and Slidell ISDs achieved superior achievement with A ratings, while Boyd received a B and Bridgeport a C. According to TEA, over 80% of Texas school districts received an A rating, with only 2% classified as substandard.

 

Wise County Messenger

The Fort Worth ISD board has decided to appeal a takeover by the state education commissioner, Mike Morath, who plans to replace the elected board with a state-appointed board of managers. The board voted 7-1 to request a review from the State Office of Administrative Hearings, marking the final step in their appeal process. Trustee Kevin Lynch opposed the appeal, while Trustee Tobi Jackson was unable to vote due to technical issues. Morath's decision follows five consecutive F ratings at the Leadership Academy at Forest Oak Sixth Grade Center, which triggered a state law requiring intervention. Morath is also searching for a new superintendent, with current Superintendent Karen Molinar as a candidate. The Texas Education Agency is accepting applications for the appointed board until November 21.

 

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Austin ISD officials are set to vote on a significant school consolidation plan today, which includes the closure of 10 schools. The plan aims to address declining enrollment and a budget shortfall, potentially saving over $20m. Changes from the initial proposal include keeping Palm Bryker Woods and Maplewood Elementary schools open for the 2026-27 school year. The board will also discuss turnaround plans for failing schools during the upcoming meeting. If approved, Segura hopes to provide updates on the process in December.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Graham ISD is implementing a strategic plan to enhance student attendance and enrollment, aiming for a district-wide attendance rate of 97%. The district is focusing on addressing chronic absenteeism by identifying students who frequently miss school and engaging with their families. The district has seen a decline in enrollment since 2015, with projections indicating a drop from 2,445 students in 2015 to 2,122 by 2026.

 

Graham Leader

With Celina ISD's elementary schools nearing or exceeding capacity, district officials are evaluating various grade level configurations. Senior Chief Jason Johnston outlined five potential scenarios for restructuring. These include options such as keeping the Early Childhood School open while adjusting elementary grades to K-4 and moving fifth and sixth graders to Willard Middle School.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Cy-Fair ISD has unveiled a new virtual learning program for students from elementary to high school, set to begin in the 2026-27 school year. The program offers three pathways: the Virtual Academy, which is available for 4th to 5th graders and 9th to 12th graders, allows full-time online learning with flexible schedules. Students must log on daily but can work at their own pace, with optional on-campus study halls. Additionally, 9th to 12th graders can participate in Flex Learning, which combines on-campus and online classes, and Supplemental Courses for extra credit.

 

KTRK-TV

Liberty Hill ISD employees will see a pay increase starting in February, following the approval of a 1% pay raise and retention stipends ranging from $500 to $1,500 by the board of trustees. This decision comes after the passage of Proposition A, which raised the district's tax rate to generate an additional $10.7m in revenue. The new funding will also support safety measures and restore previously cut student programs.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

The Bastrop ISD board of trustees has named Interim Superintendent Kristi Lee as the lone finalist for the permanent superintendent position. The decision was made unanimously.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

During a recent meeting, the Belton ISD board discussed the potential termination of an assistant principal's contract and approved a Turn Around Plan for Southwest Elementary School. The assistant principal's identity remains undisclosed, and no action was taken on the termination.

 

Killeen Daily Herald

Kirk Koennecke has been named the lone finalist for the superintendent position at Eanes ISD after a thorough search process.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Darryl J. Henson has been named the lone finalist for superintendent of Hitchcock ISD, moving closer to officially taking the role after a 21-day waiting period.

 

The Galveston County Daily News

Following two significant bus crashes in Cleveland ISD, ABC13 investigated the training requirements and driver shortages affecting local school districts. The investigation revealed that many districts are struggling with staffing, with some, like Spring Branch ISD, down by 74 drivers. In contrast, Houston ISD reported being fully staffed with 592 drivers. Greg Bingham, transportation executive director at Alvin ISD, noted the critical nature of training, saying: "Statistically, kids are most in danger in that time to and from school."

 

KTRK-TV

Fort Worth ISD is providing free meals to children during the Thanksgiving holiday from November 24-26 at seven elementary schools. The participating schools include Alice Contreras, Christene C. Moss, Edward J. Briscoe, Manuel Jara, Clifford Davis, Diamond Hill, and The Leadership Academy at Maude Logan.

 

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OpenAI has introduced ChatGPT for Teachers, a specialized version of its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot tailored for K-12 educators and school districts. The tool will be available free of charge to educators in the U.S. until June 2027. According to Leah Belsky, vice president of education at OpenAI, “Our objective here is to make sure that teachers have access to AI tools as well as a teacher-focused experience so they can truly guide AI use.” The platform allows teachers to securely manage student information, receive personalized support, and collaborate with colleagues. OpenAI emphasizes that student data will be protected and not used for model training. While ChatGPT for Teachers is not designed for student use, it aims to equip educators with the necessary experience to foster responsible AI practices in their classrooms.

 

CNBC

Meta has begun notifying young Australians to download their digital histories and delete their accounts from Facebook, Instagram, and Threads ahead of a new law banning accounts for users under 16. The Australian government mandated that platforms must exclude users younger than 16 starting December 10th. Meta informed thousands of young users via SMS and email, saying: “We will start notifying impacted teens today to give them the opportunity to save their contacts and memories.” With an estimated 350,000 Australians aged 13 to 15 on Instagram, the company is taking steps to comply with the law. Meta's vice president, Antigone Davis, emphasized the need for a more accurate age verification system, suggesting that app stores should collect age information during sign-up. Dany Elachi, founder of Heaps Up Alliance, supported the age restriction, observing: “children under the age of 16 are better off in the real world.”

 

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Sydney Morning Herald

The Lilliput Church of England Infant School in Poole, U.K., has banned songs from the popular film K-Pop Demon Hunters due to concerns over its themes not aligning with the school's “Christian ethos.” Acting principal Lloyd Allington informed parents in a letter that some community members are “deeply uncomfortable” with references to demons in the film. K-Pop Demon Hunters, Netflix's most-viewed film, features a fictional K-pop girl band battling demons. Allington acknowledged the positive feedback from parents but emphasized the need to respect differing views, stating: “For some Christians, references to demons can feel deeply uncomfortable.”

 

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