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The Texas Education Agency has agreed a settlement with the U.S. government over alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in the administration of a teacher certification exam. The allegations emerged following a complaint that a candidate with dyslexia and dysgraphia was denied oral administration as an alternative testing arrangement for the Science of Teaching Reading (STR) examination. The Department of Justice initiated an investigation into the complaint, leading to the settlement. As part of the settlement, the TEA has agreed to allow a qualified reader or text-to-speech technology as an alternative testing arrangement for the STR examination. This will apply to candidates who can provide appropriate documentation to establish that such modifications are necessary, including those diagnosed with dyslexia.

 

MyTexasDaily

The U.S. Department of Justice has reached a settlement with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) over a complaint regarding accommodations for a reading certification exam. The settlement requires the TEA to allow testers with dyslexia or dysgraphia to use alternative exam arrangements, such as text-to-speech technology. The complaint alleged that the TEA violated the Americans with Disabilities Act in administering the Science of Teaching Reading exam. A 2019 law in Texas requires teacher candidates to demonstrate proficiency in the program. The TEA had previously denied accommodations for a tester with dyslexia and dysgraphia but later provided the same accommodations for other teacher certification exams. The settlement aims to ensure that people with disabilities are not denied testing accommodations and access to their chosen professions. Despite the settlement, the TEA disputes the conclusion that it violated disability law.

 

Austin American-Statesman

The Biden administration has unveiled a final set of sweeping changes to Title IX, the federal civil rights law prohibiting sex-based discrimination at government-funded schools. The changes, which reinstitute protections for student survivors of sexual assault and harassment rolled back under former President Donald Trump, will take effect on August 1. The new regulations expand the definition of sex discrimination to include sexual orientation and gender identity, and aim to equip schools with clear-cut instructions to promptly and effectively respond to all forms of sex discrimination. The final update also establishes a lower burden of proof for survivors and students alleging sex discrimination. However, the administration has maintained several major provisions from the previous regulations to ensure consistency while schools update their procedures. The changes are expected to draw swift criticism from those who view the transgender student protections as an attack on protections for cisgender women and girls. The administration has yet to finalize a separate rule governing athletics eligibility.

 

The Hill

US News

Book bans in public schools have surged in the first half of the school year, with over 4,300 books removed across 23 states, according to a report by PEN America. The rise in book bans has been driven by conservative groups and new laws that limit children's access to certain books. Florida had the highest number of removals, with 3,135 books banned, many of which featured LGBTQ characters or dealt with race and racism. Legislation and policies aiming to prohibit books with sexual content have also led to an increase in book challenges, with nearly 20% of banned books addressing rape and sexual assault. However, opponents of book bans, including parents, students, and free speech organizations, are leading efforts to counter these bans. 

 

Star-Telegram

The Texas Education Agency has appointed two conservators to oversee Socorro ISD, following a state investigation that exposed widespread failings for improperly graduating students, failing to disclose a trustee’s potential conflict of interest with a vendor, and paying $283,000 in unauthorized stipends. Former Dallas ISD Michael Hinojosa and Andrew Kim, the director of research programs and outreach at the University of Texas at Austin, “The Socorro ISD family is strong, but it needs some guidance. Andrew and I’s role will be to help get things right for SISD’s students, teachers, and staff so that the district can have the positive reputation that it deserves and that the community can believe in,” Hinojosa said in a statement. The conservators will work with the district of 47,000 students to ensure it complies with statutes and regulations under a settlement approved by the school board in early March. “The conservatorship does not replace the board. The conservatorship does not replace the superintendent. Of course, if we are doing things incorrectly, inappropriately, things that would hurt the district instead of help, yes, TEA can step in,” said Socorro ISD board President Michael Najera

 

El Paso Matters

KFOX

Lake Travis ISD has announced plans to build a second high school with a lower student capacity. The new high school aims to accommodate fewer students, addressing the overcrowding issue in the district. The decision comes as a response to the growing population and increasing enrollment in Lake Travis ISD. The district officials believe that the construction of the new high school will help alleviate the strain on existing facilities and provide a better learning environment for students. The project is part of the district's long-term plan to meet the educational needs of the community and ensure quality education for all students.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Nearly 200 students transferred from Georgetown ISD into Meridian World School in the 2022-23 school year, according to data from the Texas Education Agency. The exodus of students from public schools is causing funding challenges for the district. Community Impact analyzed data showing that students transferring out of the district are overwhelmingly choosing charter schools. In the last decade, four charter schools opened in the suburbs north of Austin, and a Harmony Public Schools campus is under construction near Georgetown. TEA transfer data shows that 10% of students enrolled in Georgetown ISD in the 2022-23 school year left for charter schools or a different district. 

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Corpus Christi ISD is hosting a job fair at Carroll High School on April 27th to hire teachers for next year. The district is looking for teachers and coaches for all subject areas and all grade levels. The district typically goes into the summer with about 100 vacancies, filling many of those vacancies with long-term substitutes who will be hired as teachers once they complete their teacher certification requirements. All CCISD campus administrators and athletic coordinators will be in attendance to conduct on-site interviews. Starting teacher pay in the district is $52,250. "We have been blessed with great attendance from teacher candidates over the last few years and have really had really great turnout," said chief human resources officer Debbie Cruz. "We're excited to meet our new candidates for the new year."

 

Caller-Times

Larry Gosnell is a popular figure among pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first-grade students at Adams Elementary School. He provides a helping hand during their lunch periods as a member of Cleburne ISD's Volunteers In Public Schools program. Cleburne ISD has one of the longest-running school volunteer programs in the state, dating back to the 1980s. Participants in VIPS can select the campus where they would like to serve — and many help at more than one. They can also choose the day and times they are available and the area in which they would like to volunteer. A district VIPS training is held at the start of each year, and volunteers can join the program at any time.

 

Cleburne Times-Review

Students at the University of Texas at Austin protested the recent layoffs of over 60 staff members in response to the state's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) ban. The layoffs, which affected employees in DEI-related fields, were made to comply with Senate Bill 17, a law that prohibits DEI initiatives at public universities in Texas. The students disrupted a virtual faculty council meeting to express their opposition and demand transparency and communication from the university's president, Jay Hartzell. The Texas State Employees Union organized a rally in solidarity with the fired staff members. Other public institutions in the state are also under scrutiny to ensure compliance with the law, with the possibility of losing funding if they fail to do so. The layoffs have raised concerns about the impact on programs that serve the campus community.

 

The Hill

More federal and state policymakers are focusing on addressing data privacy, especially for children, because of increasing concerns about how companies collect and sell user information and how that affects users' mental health. Congressional lawmakers have introduced several data-privacy bills, some of which deal directly with children's online privacy. At least 15 states have enacted comprehensive data-privacy laws since 2020, while other states either have narrower laws or have at least introduced data-privacy laws during the current legislative session, according to Bloomberg Law. The problem with some of those policies, according to school data-privacy experts, is they don't always consider how day-to-day school operations would be affected. Schools use student data to support decisionmaking, to personalize learning, and for better reporting as required under federal and state laws. The Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA, would require certain online platforms to provide children with options to protect their information, disable addictive features, and opt out of personalized recommendations. Those platforms would also be required to design and operate their products in ways that prevent or mitigate negative effects on children, such as mental health disorders, bullying, and sexual exploitation. The Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act, or COPPA 2.0, would amend the original Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998. The bill would build on the 1998 law and would prohibit online platforms from collecting personal information from users who are 13 to 16 years old without their consent. The current law only applies to children under 13. COPPA 2.0 would also ban targeted advertising to children, and require companies to allow parents and children to erase their personal information from the platforms. 

 

Education Week News

A Katy ISD parent has expressed outrage over a new technology policy that will prohibit students from using personal devices in the classroom starting next year, while another has welcomed it. The policy is part of the Class 1:1 program, which will provide Chromebooks to every student in third through 12th grade. The district aims to create consistency in instruction and ensure that all students have access to the same technology. Its website said the policy on cell phone usage at school will change once the computers are issued, but no specifics were immediately provided.

 

KTRK-TV

A Houston mother discovered her seven-year-old son's giftedness at an early age. Kevin Fisher Jr., known as KJ, excelled in math and science, completing middle school-level equations by the age of five. Despite suggestions to skip a grade, KJ remains in 2nd grade, where he receives advanced work. His parents enrolled him at the Stafford STEM magnet school to support his academic talents. KJ's IQ of 137 places him well above the average for his age. He is also a member of the Mensa Society. In addition to his academic achievements, KJ has a YouTube channel where he teaches algebra and science. He is also involved in acting, with an upcoming debut on ABC's "Abbott Elementary" on Wednesday at 8 p.m.

 

KTRK-TV