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A recent survey conducted by the University of Houston and Texas Southern University reveals that Texans have mixed opinions on school vouchers. While two-thirds of Texans agree that school vouchers divert funding from struggling public schools, they still support the legislation. Governor Greg Abbott has listed school vouchers as a legislative priority, causing controversy even among Republicans. The survey found that 65% of Texans support providing school vouchers to all parents, with 33% strongly supporting the legislation. Additionally, 59% of respondents would support school vouchers if only low-income Texans used the program. The survey also revealed that Black and Latino respondents were more likely to support school vouchers for low-income families. Republicans were more likely to support a voucher program for all families, while Democrats of all races supported a voucher program for low-income families.

 

Laredo Morning Times

School Leadership’s Guide to Career and Technical Education

Economic impacts are changing the employment landscape. Now more than ever it's critical to prepare students for careers in current and emerging professions through Career and Technical Education (CTE). Having developed 180+ award-winning digital courses, FlexPoint knows that CTE offerings look different for every school, based on location and student population. School and district leaders can learn how to enhance their CTE programs through the free FlexPoint guide.

In the guide, you’ll have access to:

• An overview of nationally recognized Career Clusters and Programs of Study
• Tips for selecting the best career pathways that evolve with the employment landscape
• Sample survey questions to gauge students’ interests in future career opportunities
• And more!

Download CTE Guide

 

A federal judge in Alabama on Tuesday refused to block the Biden administration from enforcing new anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ students in four Republican-led states, breaking with six other judges who have said the rules are invalid. Judge Annemarie Carney Axon said the Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina attorneys general challenging the Education Department standard, which includes sexual orientation and gender identity in the list of characteristics protected under sex discrimination regulations, failed to show a substantial likelihood of success in their lawsuit. In a 122-page ruling Axon, an appointee of former President Donald Trump, said the claims by the states and several conservative groups were conclusory and not backed by court precedent adding: "Although Plaintiffs may dislike the Department’s rules, they have failed to show a substantial likelihood of success in proving the Department’s rulemaking was unreasonable or not reasonably explained." She said nothing in Title IX limits the definition of sex to biological sex, and that the Education Department's interpretation of the law was reasonable in light of the 2020 Supreme Court decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, which held that a ban against workplace sex discrimination contained in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 covered gay and transgender workers, applied to Title IX. The case is Alabama v. Cardona, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, No. 7:24-cv-00533. 

 

Bloomberg Law

Reuters

Public school enrollment in rural areas is experiencing a noticeable decline, mirroring the trend seen in other parts of the country. While the percentage of students attending rural schools has increased slightly, many rural districts are facing significant challenges. Economic and population growth in metropolitan areas, coupled with a decrease in the number of children being born, has led to a decrease in enrollment and per-pupil funds for rural schools. As a result, these schools often have to make difficult cuts to staff and programs. The decline in enrollment is particularly severe in remote school districts, where job opportunities are limited for graduating students. While the COVID-19 pandemic initially led to a surge of interest in rural areas, the trend has not been sustained. To combat declining enrollment, rural schools need community partners and creative solutions, such as more affordable child care options and digital learning opportunities. Local businesses, community colleges, and health care systems also have a role to play in supporting rural schools.

 

Education Week News

Rick Hess, the director of Education Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, discusses the effectiveness of "grow-your-own" (GYO) teacher programs. While some argue that these programs prioritize the needs of the system over the students, Lennon Audrain, a former national student president of Educators Rising and a teacher in a GYO program, believes that they can be beneficial if executed properly. Audrain suggests reframing GYO programs as opportunities for service learning in the education field, rather than solely focusing on teacher preparation. He emphasizes the importance of exploring education roles broadly, developing education policy literacy, and providing meaningful, role-based experiences for students. While GYO programs have shown some positive outcomes, there is room for improvement to ensure that they benefit all students, not just those who become teachers.

 

Education Week News

The trend of teachers quitting has become noticeable on social media. Teachercertification.com reports that teachers are among the largest groups posting QuitToks, with over 72m videos under the topic Teacher QuitTok. These videos highlight the burnout and frustrations faced by teachers, which could impact the future of the profession. QuitTok, a social media phenomenon, gained popularity in 2023, with influencers publicly sharing their resignation stories. Former teachers often cite lack of support, overwhelming workloads, insufficient pay, and emotional toll as reasons for leaving. Stakeholders must listen to the voices of those who have left and those still within the system to shape the future of education.

 

Star-Telegram

Angelica Salazar, senior policy advocate at Public Advocates, reflects on her experiences as a teacher and emphasizes the importance of data in tackling long-standing issues in education. Despite efforts, challenges like economic instability, declining enrollment, and teacher shortages persist. Salazar highlights the Teaching Assignment Monitoring Outcomes (TAMO) data set, which reveals disparities in teacher qualifications and assignments, particularly affecting low-income students and students of color. She advocates for using this data to drive equity-focused policies and practices, citing successful examples from districts like Oakland Unified. By leveraging comprehensive data and implementing targeted actions, Salazar believes we can better recruit, train, and retain qualified teachers to enhance student outcomes.

 

EdSource

Dallas ISD is working to fill approximately 100 teacher vacancies before the start of the school year. The vacancies are mainly in critical shortage areas such as math and bilingual education. The district has reduced the number of vacancies compared to the previous year, thanks to efforts to recruit and retain teachers. Dallas officials increased the starting salary to $62,000 and implemented a pay-for-performance model to incentivize effective teaching. Despite the challenges, Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde is confident that they will be ready to start the year. The district had around 220 vacancies at the same time last year. Elizalde emphasized the importance of creating a supportive environment to retain teachers.

 

Dallas News

Austin ISD is facing a budget crisis, with a projected deficit of $78m even if a property tax increase is approved. The district is considering various cost-cutting measures, including eliminating planning breaks for elementary school teachers, closing and consolidating schools, reducing bus service, eliminating staff positions, and laying off nurses. The district wants to avoid large across-the-board cuts but acknowledges that further cuts could impact the quality of instruction. Superintendent Matias Segura stated that the 23 possibilities presented are just options and that the public will guide the decision-making process. The district plans to bring fiscal recommendations before the board in late September or early October. The community's input will be considered, and the district is also auditing its operations to identify potential savings. The deficit could be even worse if the property tax increase is not approved. The district is preparing for tough decisions and hopes to identify at least $30m in cuts this fiscal year and $40m the following year.

 

The Austin Chronicle

Harper ISD trustees are preparing the budget for the 2024–25 school year. Superintendent Bonnie Stewart presented a preliminary version of the budget, projecting just over $8m in revenue, an increase from $7.5m. Stewart also proposed increasing the health insurance contribution for the district. Trustee Paul Anderson expressed support for the potential increase, emphasizing the district's investment in its staff. The board set a public hearing for the final official budget. The HISD board also approved action items related to the upcoming school board elections. In accordance with Texas House Bill 3, HISD schools are responsible for setting student achievement goals. Harper Elementary School aims to have 60% of third-grade students meet or exceed grade level scores on STAAR Reading and Math tests by 2028. Harper High School aims to reach 95% preparedness for the class of 2028 in college, career, and military readiness. The district has also worked with Texas Strategic Leadership to set goals for the student experience. The board recognized Harper High School principal Julie Fiedler, who received an award from the Texas Association of Secondary Schools Principals. The board also approved the purchase of attendance credits, known as recapture, and set a date for a special meeting to set the proposed tax rate. All teaching positions for the district have been filled, with one more custodial position remaining to be filled.

 

Fredericksburg Standard Post

The Region 16 Education Service Center has announced the 2025 Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year. Kristi Leff from Amarillo ISD is the Elementary Teacher of the Year, while Christian Hernandez-Ocasio from Highland Park ISD is the Secondary Teacher of the Year. These winners will represent Region 16 at the state level, competing for the title of 2025 Texas Teachers of the Year. Brenda Foster, Assistant Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Region 16, expressed pride in the dedication and excellence of the winners. The Texas State Teacher of the Year program, facilitated by the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA), recognizes and rewards teachers who exhibit exceptional leadership and teaching excellence. In addition, Wade Callaway of Gruver ISD was named the 2024 Region 16 Superintendent of the Year, and the Wellington ISD Board of Trustees was named the Outstanding School Board of the Year. Both will represent Region 16 at the 2024 TASA/TASB Convention in September in San Antonio.

 

Amarillo Globe News

The Orangefield ISD school board has approved a new salary schedule that includes a 3% raise for district employees. Superintendent Shaun McAlpin stated that the board's goal is to support the staff and provide them with additional income. The updated salary schedule was the result of a lengthy workshop and meeting between the board and the superintendent. The 3% raise ensures that all employees in the same position receive an equal increase in pay. This year's raise is slightly higher than the previous two years, which saw a 2.5% increase. The salary schedule also includes the addition of a new Child Nutrition Secretary position and a change in the rate for long-term substitutes. The board also proposed annualizing pay for support staff to simplify the payroll process. Overall, the new salary schedule aims to benefit both the staff and the students of Orangefield ISD.

 

Orange Leader

Winning the Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year was unexpected for Denise De Loera, who has been in education for seven years. She will now serve as a principal fellow at Pease Elementary. De Loera started as a classroom teacher and then became an assistant principal at Buddy West Elementary School. She is excited to join Pease Elementary, which is becoming a primary years International Baccalaureate school. The principal fellowship program at ECISD is preparing aspiring principals, and De Loera will be shadowing the principal at Pease to learn the responsibilities. Sydney Garcia, who was an assistant principal at Pease, is going to West as a principal intern.

 

Odessa American

This month marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the historic Milliken v. Bradley case, which turned back the clock on efforts to desegregate schools. The court's decision overturned lower court rulings that would have implemented a cross-district busing plan to integrate schools. The ruling sparked controversy and protests, with the court stating that while Detroit schools were segregated, there was no evidence that suburban schools were responsible for the segregation. The case highlighted the challenges of achieving integration in a district affected by white flight and redlining. The ruling had a significant impact on school desegregation efforts and continues to be a topic of discussion today.

 

Chalkbeat