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U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon defended the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the Department of Education during a contentious House education committee hearing, arguing that the administration is returning authority over education to states, parents, and local leaders. McMahon said President Donald Trump was elected with a mandate to “sunset” the federal education bureaucracy, as Democrats accused the administration of weakening civil rights protections and destabilizing key education programs. Since 2024, the department’s workforce has fallen from roughly 4,200 employees to about 2,300, while more than 100 programs have been shifted to other federal agencies. Republicans largely praised the restructuring efforts, with some lawmakers openly supporting the department’s eventual elimination. However, questions intensified over the administration’s handling of student loans, special education oversight, and staffing cuts within the Office for Civil Rights. McMahon confirmed the administration is considering transferring oversight of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to another agency, though no final decision has been made. Disability advocates have strongly opposed any move away from the Education Department. Lawmakers also pressed McMahon over deep cuts to the Office for Civil Rights, which lost roughly half its staff during previous layoffs. McMahon said the administration is rehiring attorneys and described civil rights enforcement as important, despite the administration simultaneously proposing a 35% funding reduction for the office. On student achievement, McMahon highlighted literacy gains in states such as Louisiana and Mississippi that adopted science-of-reading reforms, while backing the administration’s proposed “Make Education Great Again” block grants.

 

Education Week News

NPR

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Students at Pflugerville and Hays school districts will soon benefit from the new Central Texas Healthcare Academy at Austin Community College (ACC), which aims to provide entry-level health certification programs. Starting next year, 300 ninth-graders from Pflugerville and 175 from Hays will participate, with the goal of earning both a high school diploma and an associate degree in fields like nursing and surgical technology. "They are holding a passport to a career," said Eric Wright, superintendent of Hays Consolidated Independent School District. The academy is funded by over $10m in grants, including $6.3m from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation. The program is designed to meet local healthcare workforce needs, addressing the 16.4% vacancy rate in registered nursing positions in Texas, as noted by Deborah King, vice president of nursing at Central Health.

 

Austin American-Statesman

Despite a federal investigation, Houston ISD leaders defended their plan to relocate up to 5,000 special education students to new campuses for the 2026-27 school year. HISD Deputy Superintendent Kristen Hole said: “We’re walking into classrooms over and over again and seeing teachers really trying to support their students, but (it’s) being very, very hard.” The plan aims to reduce class sizes and limit the number of grade levels in self-contained classrooms. However, many parents and advocates voiced strong opposition, fearing the changes could disrupt their children's education and support systems. Parents like Kristen McClintock Garson expressed concerns about the lack of transition plans, stating: “How is each child's least restrictive environment being individually protected?” The U.S. Department of Education is investigating whether the changes violate federal laws against discrimination.

 

Houston Chronicle

Corpus Christi ISD's special education program has been classified as "needs intervention" by the Texas Education Agency due to significant delays in student evaluations. The district faces staff shortages, with numerous teacher and paraprofessional positions unfilled, which hampers its ability to meet necessary timelines. As a result, families experience prolonged waits to determine if their children require special education services. Despite some academic improvements for special education students, the district's ongoing timeline noncompliance has led to this unfavorable designation. The Texas Education Agency categorizes special education performance into four levels, and Corpus Christi ISD's status has deteriorated from "needs assistance" to "needs intervention" for the 2025-26 school year.

 

Caller-Times

Houston ISD is experiencing significant principal turnover, with at least three schools announcing leadership changes for the 2026-27 school year. This turnover is partly attributed to promotions and reorganizations within the district. Lindsey Vela, principal of Pin Oak Middle School, said: "As I step away from this role, please know that Pin Oak will always be important to me," as she transitions to a new position. Similarly, Lisa Hernandez of Briarmeadow Charter expressed her gratitude for the community's support during her tenure. The district has seen nearly 40 schools change leadership for the 2025-26 school year, with a total of 177 principal changes tracked across 156 campuses. Experts warn that such turnover can lead to instability and increased teacher turnover. Additionally, many HISD officials are moving to other districts undergoing state takeovers, further contributing to the changes in leadership.

 

Houston Chronicle

Jaime Aquino, the outgoing Superintendent of San Antonio ISD, will transition to a role with reduced responsibilities as he becomes Superintendent Emeritus after the board names his successor on July 1. The board and Aquino signed a retirement agreement, allowing him to retire officially in January 2027. SAISD is currently facing a $46m budget shortfall and plans to cut 220 jobs, while Aquino earns an annual salary of $340,000. The new superintendent will have full authority over district decisions as the school year approaches, amid challenges such as declining enrollment and potential state intervention due to poor academic ratings.

 

Star-Telegram

Denton ISD employees will receive a pay increase starting in the 2026-27 school year, following approval from the board of trustees on May 12. Teachers and librarians will see a raise of 4% based on the area median teacher salary, while other staff will receive a 2% midpoint raise. The total cost for these salary adjustments is projected to be around $9m for the fiscal year 2026-27, according to Jason Rainey, the interim superintendent for human resources. After the raise, a new Denton ISD teacher's salary will rise to $63,500 from $60,500. Superintendent Susannah O'Bara said: “The reason we brought the recommendation to you to begin with [is because] 4% was to get our teacher starting pay ... closer to the midpoint of our peer group.” The new salaries will take effect in the next academic year.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Alvin ISD has appointed Rhonda Mason as the new superintendent following a 4-1 vote at a special board meeting on May 13. Mason, who has over 25 years of experience in Texas public education, previously served as a teacher, principal, and district leader in various districts, including Houston ISD and Lamar CISD.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Austin ISD is set to announce potential job changes as it confronts a $181m deficit in its $1.03bn budget. Superintendent Matias Segura indicated that around 200 positions may be cut, with a focus on noncertified staff, as the district grapples with declining enrollment and rising costs. “If we can do this and do it well, I would expect disruption to be fairly limited campus-by-campus,” Segura said. The district plans to adjust class sizes and teacher planning time, which could lead to fewer staff members. The board of trustees is expected to vote on the budget on June 18.

 

Austin American-Statesman

A planned overhaul of the federal E-rate program is drawing criticism from schools, libraries, and broadband advocates, who warn that a new centralized bidding portal could complicate procurement and create additional compliance burdens, particularly for small and rural districts. Beginning in July 2027, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will require E-rate competitive bidding activity to move to a centralized online portal managed by the Universal Service Administrative Company. Federal officials say the change will improve transparency, strengthen oversight, and help prevent fraud by giving regulators direct access to procurement records. The FCC said the new system addresses concerns raised in a 2020 Government Accountability Office report, which found that participants largely self-certified compliance with bidding rules under the current decentralized system. Under the revised process, vendors will submit bids through the portal, while schools and libraries will upload bid evaluations, contracts, and procurement documentation. The FCC argues the changes will modernize E-rate oversight and align it more closely with other federal procurement systems. Critics warn the new federal requirements could conflict with existing state and local procurement rules, increase legal and administrative complexity, and create additional training and compliance demands for applicants. Rural education leaders also fear the portal could discourage smaller vendors from participating, reducing competition and making it harder for underserved districts to secure broadband services. 

 

Government Technology

The recent Education Scorecard report reveals a troubling trend in U.S. schools, indicating that students' performance has been declining since 2013, long before the COVID-19 pandemic. "The 'learning recession' started a decade ago," said Tom Kane, a report author and faculty director at Harvard University. The analysis, which covers reading and math scores from grades 3 to 8 across over 100 school districts, shows that eighth-graders' reading scores in 2025 are at their lowest since 1990. Factors contributing to this decline include the end of the No Child Left Behind Act, increased social media use, and a lack of testing accountability. Despite these challenges, Elaine Allensworth from the UChicago Consortium noted that the decline does not indicate a crisis, emphasizing the need for engagement strategies to support students. Some schools have seen improvements by adopting the "science of reading" phonics approach.

 

KTRK-TV

Friendswood ISD officials anticipate a decline in student enrollment for the 2026-27 school year, projecting nearly 6,100 students across all campuses, a decrease of 66 students from the previous year. According to district documents, 262 new students have enrolled for the upcoming year, including those at the elementary level, Friendswood Junior High, and Friendswood High School. Catherine, a reporter for Community Impact, noted that enrollment projections may be revised as district officials work on the fiscal year 2026-27 budget.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Molly Adams, the Assistant Superintendent of Rockport-Fulton ISD, announced the introduction of a new communication platform called “Parent Square” during the May 13 board meeting. The app aims to replace multiple existing communication tools, providing a streamlined experience for parents, students, and teachers. It features two-way messaging, activity updates, and translation options. While some issues remain to be resolved, a full rollout is planned for July 1, with staff training scheduled for August. Additionally, the board re-elected its leadership and discussed changes to the meeting schedule for the 2026-27 school year. Updates on construction projects revealed that the high school is 97% complete, with plans to convert the old band hall into a maritime program facility.

 

Killeen Daily Herald

The New Braunfels ISD board of trustees has approved its first list of new library materials since taking on a new role in the acquisition process. This decision follows the implementation of Senate Bill 13, which restricts the inclusion of materials deemed indecent, harmful, or profane in public school libraries. The board had previously updated the district’s EFB (Local) policy to comply with this law. Erica Wilson, the education and nonprofit reporter for the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung, reported on the board's actions during their regular meeting on Monday evening.

 

Herald Zeitung

The Conroe ISD board of trustees has authorized several construction contracts during its May 12 meeting to advance bond projects initiated in 2019 and 2023. Assistant Superintendent of Operations Chris McCord noted that the district has reduced the number of overcrowded campuses from 39 to six. The board approved bids for renovations and security upgrades at various schools, including The Woodlands Ninth-Grade Campus and College Park High School, with completion expected by August 2028. The total cost for these projects is estimated at $25m. 

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Participation in after-school sports significantly benefits children's cognitive, mental, and physical health, according to a study published in the journal Exercise, Sports and Movement. Senior researcher Nicole Logan, an assistant professor of kinesiology at the University of Rhode Island, stated: "We show that children and teens who participated in after-school sports consistently demonstrated better psychological and physical health outcomes than those who didn't." The study analyzed data from 782 children and teenagers in the New York City area, revealing that those involved in sports exhibited improved planning, organization, language comprehension, academic performance, and physical health metrics. Logan emphasized the importance of equitable access to sports, noting that "even after controlling for socio-demographic determinants of physical activity, we still observed widespread benefits." The American College of Sports Medicine recognized this study as a 2025 Paper of the Year for its scientific rigor and societal relevance.

 

U.S. News

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is shutting down several outdoor education programs and facilities, citing tens of millions of dollars in required maintenance and repair costs, a move critics say will disproportionately affect low-income students. The board said it will close the Warren Park outdoor education center, end leases at the Forest Valley and Etobicoke sites, and discontinue programs at the Toronto Urban Studies Centre and Island Natural Science School. Two outdoor education centers, Mono Cliffs and Hillside, will remain open. Education advocates and local officials criticized the cuts, arguing that outdoor learning provides important hands-on experiences that many lower-income students would not otherwise have access to. Experts said wealthier families can often access similar opportunities through camps and travel, while many urban students rely on school programs for exposure to nature and environmental education. The cuts follow broader cost-saving measures by the TDSB, the largest school board in Canada, including layoffs of more than 200 administrative staff positions, as the board remains under provincial supervision amid wider governance reforms introduced by the Ontario government.

 

CBC News