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Texas
10th February 2026
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THE HOT STORY

House Dems seek answers on Education Department’s civil rights backlog

Dozens of House Democrats have urged Education Secretary Linda McMahon to explain a growing backlog of civil rights complaints at the Department of Education, raising concerns that staff cuts have stalled investigations meant to protect students. Led by Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), 70 lawmakers sent a letter questioning how the Office of Civil Rights is handling tens of thousands of complaints after hundreds of attorneys and staff were laid off at the start of the Trump administration. The lawmakers cited reports that more than 22,000 complaints were filed in 2024 and that the office is now grappling with about 25,000 cases and 7,000 open investigations, with some staff rehired only temporarily. They claimed no racial harassment or discrimination investigations have been resolved since President Donald Trump took office, and are seeking information on the size and nature of the backlog, staffing levels and the standards being used to determine discrimination.

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GOVERNANCE

Prosper ISD extends super's contract

Prosper ISD officials have extended Superintendent Holly Ferguson's contract until 2031, following a 4-1 vote by the district's board of trustees, with Trustee Garrett Linker opposing the decision. Ferguson's contract was originally set to run from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2030, but has now been extended by a year. Full details, including salary, will be disclosed in July when the contract takes effect. Ferguson has been with PISD since 1998, serving in various roles before becoming superintendent in July 2020.

Grapevine-Colleyville seeks new superintendent

Grapevine-Colleyville trustees have engaged the Walsh Gallegos law firm to assist in finding the district's next superintendent following Brad Schnautz's resignation.

FINANCE

Lufkin ISD proposes major bond election

During a recent meeting, the Lufkin ISD board of trustees discussed a bond election scheduled for May 2, featuring two propositions. Prop A, totaling $98.25m, aims to address infrastructure issues, including renovations to Lufkin High School and safety upgrades for elementary campuses. Prop B proposes a new stadium to replace Abe Martin Stadium for $42m. Board vice president Matt Knight emphasized the urgency, stating: “These projects have to be done. Every year that we wait could potentially cost us $14m more annually.” The board unanimously voted to call the bond election, with plans to enhance educational facilities and safety for students.

Friendswood ISD proposes $81.5m bond

Friendswood ISD's board of trustees has called for an $81.5m bond election. The bond package includes four propositions: Proposition A focuses on critical infrastructure and safety, Proposition B involves replacing Westwood Elementary, Proposition C is for a career and agricultural science center, and Proposition D addresses technology needs. This new proposal costs about 51% less than the previously rejected $165m bond package. The tax rate increase for homeowners is projected to be up to $0.0349 per $100 valuation, translating to approximately $125.64 annually for a $500,000 home.

DISTRICTS

Killeen ISD considers charter school partnership

The Killeen ISD administration is expected to give a presentation during it's board workshop meeting to back a charter school partnership with Third Future Schools, as part of plans to deliver improvements at Manor Middle School through a Senate Bill 1882 partnership. Superintendent Terri Osborne said recently that evaluators "will do due diligence to ensure that information that's been provided to us is accurate" before moving forward.

Virtual teaching delivers for Hallsville ISD students

The Marshall News Messenger talks to Kyla Pickrell, executive director of Hallsville ISD's Texas Virtual Academy, a partnership between the district and online learning system K12, which now supports almost 25,000 students who learn better in an online setting. Pickrell says the school has "a lot of kids that are struggling with mental health issues or physical health issues". "We've got kids with cancer", she said, "they need something that allows them to learn from their bed, or they need something that allows for frequent doctor's appointments, or maybe they need to learn at grandma's house or different things like that. [Online learning] is something that just gives that flexibility."

Parents back McKinney ISD school closures

A committee of McKinney ISD parents has backed plans to close Eddins, McNeil and Wolford elementary schools following the 2025/26 school year, with district officials committing to working to support impacted students and families. Superintendent Shawn Pratt said the top priority is "taking care of our students and our staff that are going to be in transition".

CHARTERS

BASIS Leander opens doors to 1,400 students

BASIS Leander is set to welcome over 1,400 students this fall, becoming the fourth charter school in the Austin area operated by BASIS Texas Charter Schools. The campus will serve kindergarten through eighth grade, with plans to expand to twelfth grade in subsequent years. Head of School Christopher Lester, previously at BASIS Mesa in Arizona, will lead the new campus. "The building will be the largest BASIS-constructed building in our entire network," Lester said. The 94,125-sq ft facility will include 31 classrooms, science rooms, art and music spaces, a gym, and outdoor play areas.

SOCIAL & COMMUNITY

Lubbock students face financial struggles

Lubbock ISD is addressing the financial hardships faced by many of its students, with 17,318 classified as “economically disadvantaged,” according to the Texas Education Agency. Martha Dodge, who leads the district's student behavior support team, emphasized the importance of meeting students' basic needs, stating: “When kids have those basic things go unfilled outside of school, it definitely can have a ripple effect inside the school building.” The district employs a three-tiered system, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, to identify students in need and allocate resources accordingly. Valerie Longoria, Executive Director of Echo West Texas, highlighted the challenges faced by homeless youth, noting gaps in services for older teens.

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WORKFORCE

Jomeka Gray earns prestigious teaching honors

JoMeka Gray, a kindergarten teacher at Kennedy-Powell Elementary School, has been named the 2025 Region 12 Elementary School Teacher of the Year and is a finalist for the 2025 Texas State Teacher of the Year. Recently appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott to the State Board for Educator Certification, Gray will be one of 11 voting members overseeing educator standards. “They value my voice, and they value the expertise that I can bring to the table,” Gray said, highlighting her commitment to high-quality instructional materials.

Pearland ISD weighs teacher partnerships

Pearland ISD trustees will consider partnerships with the University of Houston and the 240 Certification Program to expand clinical teaching opportunities. The proposed five-year agreements would support student teachers through field supervision, instructional coaching, and mentoring.

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Students rally against ICE actions

Chance Howell, a senior at Saginaw High School, has become a vocal advocate for immigrant rights, inspired by his childhood friendship with Jose, an immigrant. Howell stated: “It's always impressing people when I say I can speak Spanish. That's because I grew up with immigrants.” Recently, he has led protests against ICE, joining hundreds of students across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. These protests have sparked tension with school administrations, particularly at Boswell High School, where students face disciplinary actions for participating in walkouts. Principal Ryan Wilson initially supported the protests, emphasizing the importance of student safety and expression. However, confusion arose when students received warnings about potential punishments, including losing prom and graduation privileges. The Texas Education Agency has also issued guidance regarding school responses to protests, marking students absent for walkouts.

LEGAL

Social media giants face landmark trials

The world's largest social media companies, including Meta and YouTube, are facing significant legal challenges this year regarding their impact on children's mental health. Opening arguments in a landmark trial begin this week in Los Angeles County Superior Court, where claims suggest that these platforms intentionally design features that addict children and exacerbate mental health issues. Sacha Haworth, executive director of the Tech Oversight Project, stated: "This was only the first case — there are hundreds of parents and school districts... bringing Big Tech to court." The case centers on a 19-year-old, referred to as "KGM," whose experiences may influence numerous similar lawsuits. The outcome could reshape how these companies manage child users and may challenge their legal protections under the First Amendment and Section 230.

Judge tosses Keller election suit

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by Claudio Vallejo, a Hispanic parent in Keller, calling the case “baseless” and “frivolous.” Vallejo, represented by Brewer Storefront, argued the school board’s at-large election system disadvantaged minority voters, noting there are no Hispanic trustees despite a 26% Hispanic student population. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor said Vallejo did not establish voter suppression under the current rules. Vallejo said: “I believe lack of diverse representation on the school board negatively impacted Hispanic and African-American student outcomes.”

HIGHER EDUCATION

Texas lecturer fired over social media rant

Texas State University terminated lecturer Bret Byron after he sent a derogatory message to Dhivya Srinivasa, a social media influencer, expressing a wish for her deportation. Srinivasa, who has 267,000 Instagram followers, shared the message, prompting significant online backlash. "Internet, do your thing," she captioned her post, which garnered nearly 12,000 likes. Following the uproar, Texas State University stated it was investigating the matter and confirmed Byron's termination within 48 hours. This incident marks one of at least three firings at the university this academic year due to controversial speech. Srinivasa praised the university's prompt response, saying, "the response was profound and far greater than I anticipated." The university's policies prohibit personal attacks and inappropriate language, which Byron's actions violated.

INTERNATIONAL

Inclusive education gains ground in Japan

Inclusive education in Japan is steadily expanding, with more students with disabilities studying alongside their peers as schools adapt facilities, teaching methods, and overseas programmes to meet “reasonable accommodation” requirements. The trend follows Japan’s commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and a 2024 legal revision obliging private institutions to provide greater support. In secondary education, joint classes and shared activities between mainstream and special needs schools are increasing understanding of diversity and collaboration. Additionally, the number of students with disabilities in higher education has quadrupled over the past decade, underscoring Japan’s gradual shift away from segregated education toward more inclusive learning environments.
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