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As U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, the 12th individual to hold the title, prepares to leave office, he speaks to K-12 Dive about what he sees as his greatest accomplishments over the past four years, along with the work he considers incomplete, and the advice he has for Linda McMahon, nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to take up the role in his administration. Cardona speaks of his pride in ushering in "more resources and support in K-12 schools in the four years under the Biden-Harris team than at any other point in our country’s history." He also cites the administrations work to create teacher apprenticeships in 48 states, and to add 16,000 more school social workers, but adds his regret that he was unable to ensure that "our assessments are more sensible, that we use them to enhance good pedagogy." Regarding McMahon, he urges her "to be on the ground, visit the schools, listen to the students, parents and educators," adding: "I think the closer you are to the work, the more likely the decisions you make in D.C. are going to be the right ones."

 

K-12 Dive

As the Trump administration prepares for mass deportations, K-12 schools across the U.S. are taking steps to protect undocumented students and their families. Administrators and teachers' unions are fostering relationships and providing resources to help those without legal status. Todd Quarnberg, principal of Herriman High School, expressed concern, stating: “he's scaring the living hell out of a lot of kids who are just here trying to make it.” With hundreds of thousands of undocumented students in public schools, many fear the impact of potential ICE raids. School officials emphasize that students' immigration status is protected under federal law, and they cannot disclose this information without consent. However, increased anxiety and fear have led to higher absenteeism rates among undocumented students, as noted by Viridiana Carrizales, co-founder of ImmSchools. The American Federation of Teachers is also updating resources to support schools in navigating these challenges.

 

The Hill

Galveston uses HMH partnership for student growth

According to Galveston Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Jeff Post, the district is “committed to growing our lowest performing campus to be right up at the top with our highest performing campuses and we need the partnerships that we’ve developed with HMH to be able to do that.” Galveston ISD uses multiple HMH products and services including HMH Into Reading^®, Writable, and NWEA^® MAP^® GrowthTM.

The District Literacy and Writing Specialist, Desiree Monges noted, “We’re seeing those scores double, triple – but it’s not just that. We’re seeing an increase in overall writing and performance and in reading comprehension.”

The link below includes interviews with teachers, administration, and students in the district as well as more information about HMH Writable.

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As the Texas Legislature begins its 89th session, education funding remains a critical issue. Superintendents Ginger Carrabine and Tim Harkrider, of the Bryan and College Station school districts respectively, emphasize the urgency, with Harkrider stating, “I think this would probably be one of the most critical sessions that we've had since the 2011 session.” The state has not increased public school funding since 2019, despite a budget surplus. Both superintendents are advocating for an increase in the basic allotment, which currently stands at $6,160 per student. The ongoing debate over school vouchers, which proponents argue will enhance educational opportunities, raises concerns about potential funding losses for public schools.

 

Bryan-College Station Eagle

In a recent announcement, Cy-Fair ISD officials revealed that the payment coupons sent to taxpayers contained an incorrect address for the tax office. Taxpayers are advised not to use these coupons for mailing their tax payments. The correct address is Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Tax Office, PO Box 203908, Houston, Texas 77216-3908. Those who have already mailed their payments may receive them back, and they should retain the postmarked envelope as proof of timely payment.

 

KTRK-TV

On Monday evening, ten students graduated from Henderson ISD's P.R.I.D.E. Academy during a ceremony at Henderson Middle School. The P.R.I.D.E. program offers a non-traditional, self-paced curriculum for high school students. Principal Holly Perry addressed the graduates, stating: “Each P.R.I.D.E. group that comes to us is different and they come with their own unique challenges.”

 

The Henderson News

Temple ISD is committed to enhancing student outcomes, as demonstrated by the recent approval of a targeted improvement plan for Raye-Allen Elementary. Lisa Adams, Temple's deputy superintendent of academics and school leadership, explained that the plan is based on criteria from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to address specific challenges. “The area TEA was really focusing on with Raye-Allen was with instructional materials and making sure that lessons are designed in a way that students defend their thinking,” Adams stated. The plan emphasizes strong school leadership, strategic staffing, and effective instruction, particularly in reading and math.

 

Temple Daily Telegram

The Copperas Cove ISD board of trustees convened on Monday to discuss findings from an independent auditor's report by Singleton, Clark & Company, PC. The report highlighted a significant issue: the district failed to amend budgets properly at the fiscal year's end, resulting in a technical noncompliance with legally adopted budgets. Auditors recommended that district management "closely monitor expenditure amounts" and make necessary amendments before the fiscal year concludes. This oversight raises concerns about the district's financial management practices.

 

Killeen Daily Herald

The El Campo ISD facilities committee is set to hold its final meeting tonight before making a recommendation to the school board on January 22nd regarding a proposed bond for renovations and expansions. The bond, estimated at between $81m and $83m, aims to improve El Campo High School and three elementary schools. Superintendent Bob Callaghan has been actively involved, seeking the expertise of Parkhill, an architectural and engineering firm specializing in educational facilities, since the committee began its regular meetings in the summer of 2024.

 

Wharton Journal Spectator

Young adults in Dallas County face significant financial challenges, with only one in three able to earn a livable wage, according to a report by Commit Partnership. The report highlights that raising a child in the area requires a salary of at least $61,000, yet only 33% of young adults aged 25 to 34 meet this threshold. Todd Williams, CEO of Commit Partnership, stated: “Far too many of our young people are still unable to earn a wage with which they can support themselves and their families.”

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Dallas News

Fewer children in Tarrant County are receiving vaccinations against whooping cough, with the rate of kindergartners up-to-date on their DTaP vaccines dropping from 95% in 2019 to 92% in 2023. In Fort Worth ISD, the decline is even more pronounced, falling from 94% to 83%. Dr. Robert Frenck, director of the Vaccine Research Center at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, commented: “Of the vaccine preventable illnesses we have, pertussis is the one that causes the most outbreaks.” The decline in vaccinations is attributed to various factors, including disruptions in pediatric care during the COVID-19 pandemic and changing parental attitudes towards vaccines.

 

Star-Telegram

Thousands of parents are turning to mental-health chatbots to allow their teenage children to share their concerns and stresses. Bill Brady, CEO of Troomi Wireless, which makes smartphones with a restricted internet browser, text-message monitoring and controls over contacts and screen time said of the firm's Troodi chatbot: “We believe online safety is inextricably linked to positive mental health. The goal with Troodi is to help kids work through any negative mental-health issues they’re having before they fester.” Parents have said the bot gives advice similar to their own, with the added advantage of coming from what teenagers perceive as a neutral party.

 

Wall Street Journal

The Food and Drug Administration has proposed a new rule under which food manufacturers would be required to identify key nutrition information on salt, added sugar and saturated fat in products. A new label described as a “nutrition info box” would be attached to packages, breaking down information about sodium, added sugar and saturated fat content by saying whether the food contains “Low,” “Med” or “High” levels of the nutrients. A few different design options were tested in a representative sample of U.S. adults to see which type of packaging allowed consumers to make “quicker and more accurate assessments” of products. “Participants provided more correct answers regarding the helpfulness of the product than the other schemes tested and also spent significantly less time evaluating the nutrient profile of the product,” said Dr. Robin McKinnon, acting director for the FDA’s Nutrition Center of Excellence. If the proposal is approved, food manufacturers who make $10m or more in annual food sales will have three years to add the labels to their packaging, while businesses with less than $10m in annual food sales will have four years to comply.

 

CNN

USA Today

New York Times

Wall Street Journal

The 2023-24 Texas Academic Performance Report presented during the Northeast ISD board meeting highlighted the district's achievements in various areas, including student attendance and graduation rates. Merriman BranDe, director of performance and accountability, noted that the report reflects past data and does not cover the 2024-25 school year. The report revealed that the district outperformed the state in the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) scores for 2023 and 2024.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

ExxonMobil has made a contribution of $15,000 to the Goose Creek Consolidated ISD robotics program, aimed at enhancing STEM education. This funding will enable students to gain practical experience in robotics, fostering skills in design, collaboration, and problem-solving. Connie Tilton, ExxonMobil senior advisor of Public & Government Affairs, emphasized the importance of such initiatives, stating, "The program encourages creativity and problem-solving through innovative activities that prepare students for STEM-focused careers."

 

The Baytown Sun

Amarillo ISD has appointed Carley McCracken as the new head coach for Tascosa volleyball, following April Bolen's resignation. McCracken, who served as an assistant coach last season, was recognized for her qualifications and received positive feedback from students and parents. AISD athletic director Brad Thiessen stated, "We felt very fortunate a year ago to bring in someone with coach McCracken's qualifications."

 

Killeen Daily Herald

Amarillo Globe News

Melissa Barrett, the principal of Chandler Intermediate, part of Brownsboro ISD, was selected by the Charles Butt Foundation for the “Raising School Leaders” program, which allowed her to attend an all-expense-paid trip to Harvard this past summer. During this experience, she focused on enhancing her leadership skills to benefit the school district. Barrett expressed her gratitude, stating, "This opportunity will help me improve our school community."

 

Athens Daily Review

Alyssa Boyett, a teacher at West Mesquite High School, has been awarded the 2024 Yale Educator Award, joining a distinguished group of 75 educators selected from 320 nominees across 39 states and 24 countries. Nominated by 2024 graduate Karla Ramirez Gonzalez, Boyett is recognized for her significant influence on students' aspirations for higher education.

 

Allen American