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Democratic senators introduced a bill Thursday to cancel all school meal debt. The measure, led by Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), states the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) would pay off outstanding meal debts, and empowers the agency to purchase food for food banks. School meal debt sits at around $176m each year, with more than 20m students being unable to afford meals in schools. Multiple states have already made school breakfast and lunch free to their students, a trend that accelerated after the pandemic. “Our students should be focused on learning—not worrying about whether they can afford school lunch. Ensuring our children don’t go hungry at school shouldn’t be a partisan issue. We have an obligation to ensure that all students—in red states and blue states—are supported and respected,” commented Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), who joined Fetterman in devising the legislation.

 

The Hill

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The Texas House has introduced a significant school funding bill aimed at addressing the increasing number of unprepared and uncertified teachers. The legislation proposes restrictions on the subjects that uncertified instructors can teach and outlines pathways for them to obtain proper credentials. The bill also includes financial incentives for teachers, with potential bonuses of up to $10,000 for those who meet certification requirements. The urgency of this reform is underscored by the fact that 38% of teachers in Texas are currently uncertified, highlighting the need for immediate action to improve educational standards.

 

Longview News-Journal

On March 16 at approximately 1:50 a.m., a fire was reported at the Liberty Hill ISD transportation facility. The Liberty Hill Fire Department responded promptly and successfully extinguished the blaze, which was confined to a portable building adjacent to the facility. The quick action of the fire department ensured that the situation was managed effectively, preventing further damage.

 

Killeen Daily Herald

This week marks Sunshine Week, an annual event dedicated to promoting access to public information from government entities at all levels. Launched in 2005, this initiative aims to educate citizens on the significance of government transparency. Temple ISD is actively committed to this principle, emphasizing the importance of open communication and public access to information.

 

Killeen Daily Herald

The Keller school board has decided to abandon its controversial plan to split the district, citing the challenge of managing a $700m bond debt as a key obstacle. Board President Charles Randklev and interim Superintendent Cory Wilson informed parents via email, but the decision was criticized for its lack of transparency and democratic process. The board's abrupt reversal raised concerns about the motivations behind the split, with many residents suspecting racial and class issues.

 

Star-Telegram

Star-Telegram

Star-Telegram

Katy ISD recently received a substantial rebate of $878,570.33 from CenterPoint Energy, recognizing its commitment to energy efficiency. The district was named the Top Performing School District, thanks to its innovative energy management program, which emphasizes preventative maintenance and resource management. Ted Vierling, Chief Operations Officer of Katy ISD, remarked: “Katy ISD’s energy management program is an integral part of our overall Operations structure.” The district has made significant upgrades to its facilities, contributing to the qualification of 40 schools under the Energy Star program last year. The ongoing energy savings initiative benefits the district financially and promotes environmental stewardship.

 

Katy Times

Todd Williams, chief executive of the Commit Partnership, emphasizes the urgent need for evidence-based policies to enhance Texas public schools, where less than half of third- to eighth-graders meet state standards. He highlights the importance of additional instructional time, noting that students who attended over 25 extra days improved their math proficiency by 17%. Williams advocates for expanding the Early Education Allotment to support young learners and investing in high-quality educator preparation programs. He states, "the importance of investing strategically today in our children couldn't be greater." Recent polling shows 87% of Texas voters support targeted investments in public school funding, indicating a strong desire for improvement in educational outcomes.

 

Dallas News

Writing in the Daily Times, Bill Blackburn former mayor of Kerrville and founding president of Partners in Ministry, discusses how the Texas Legislature is considering a $1bn expenditure to provide an incentive of around $10,000 for students to leave public schools, enabling them to pay private school tuition, tutoring costs, and miscellaneous costs. About 8% of this $1bn will go to five corporations named in the bill to serve as navigators for families leaving public schools. Blackburn claims that the push for vouchers is funded in Texas and other states by billionaire Jeff Yaas, who has donated millions to Gov. Greg Abbott's effort to defeat legislators who refused to vote for school vouchers.

 

Daily Times

Children going without mental health supports, schools laying off nurses, and increased taxes on local communities are some of the outcomes feared by K-12 school districts, should Congress proceed with cuts to federal Medicaid funding. Eighty percent of respondents to a nationwide survey of 1,440 K-12 district leaders and administrators, carried out by organizations including the Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC) and ASBO International, said that if Medicaid is cut, their district would have to reduce specialized instructional support personnel, including school nurses, school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and occupational and physical therapists. Additionally, 90% said that Medicaid cuts would lead to reductions across their school district’s budget, outside of health services. “Medicaid offers districts critical funding and flexibility for determining how best to support all students’ needs, including students with disabilities,” said James Rowan, ASBO International chief executive and executive director. “Cutting Medicaid would limit district options for providing student mental and behavioral health services, care coordination and referral services, and more.” his comments were echoed by Jessie Mandle, HSC national program director: “Cutting Medicaid is equivalent to cutting school district budgets. Schools will not be able to provide the level of care and services that families and communities depend upon.”

 

Healthy Schools Campaign

Killeen ISD is evaluating whether to implement metal detectors at all secondary campuses. As the district seeks to enhance student protection, community opinions are divided. Some argue that metal detectors could significantly improve safety, while others express concerns about their effectiveness and the potential impact on the school environment. The district aims to gather feedback from parents, students, and staff to make an informed decision.

 

Killeen Daily Herald

Keeley Boyer has made history as Ector County ISD's first female superintendent in over a century, following in the footsteps of Cora Goodwin, who led the district in 1921-22. Boyer commented: "I'm very excited about it, honored about it, and hope I make her proud." Having served as chief of schools since September 2021, she is well-acquainted with the district and its community. Boyer aims to enhance student performance and expand academic opportunities, emphasizing the importance of student engagement. Despite some board members expressing concerns over her contract, they voiced full confidence in her leadership. Boyer plans to continue initiatives that yield positive outcomes for students and is hopeful for additional state funding to support these efforts.

 

Star-Telegram

As President Donald Trump's executive orders target campus activism, international students like Madalin from Northwestern University express deep concern over potential deportation. Madalin, who participated in pro-Palestinian protests, stated, “This could actually be a very substantial material problem for me.” The recent arrest of Khalil, a Palestinian activist from Columbia University, marks the first known deportation effort under these orders. Educators and students fear a chilling effect on academic freedom, with Jacqueline Stevens, a political science professor, urging Northwestern to challenge the executive orders in court. Genevieve Lakier, a University of Chicago professor, emphasized that deporting individuals based on their protests constitutes viewpoint discrimination. The administration's actions have sparked anxiety among international students, who feel increasingly vulnerable in their academic pursuits.

 

Chicago Tribune

A Swedish government inquiry has recommended that Sweden bring in a national ban on mobile phones in schools, with schools required to collect pupils' phones at the start of the school day at all primary and lower secondary schools in the country. Inquiry chair Björn Hansson noted that around 80% of primary and lower secondary schools in Sweden have already brought in mobile phone bans voluntarily, while six out of 10 head teachers supported a national ban. "The crucial thing is to have clear and effective routines for collecting and returning [the phones]," he said, adding that the inquiry had decided that the ban should also be extended to after-school activities or fritids, operated within the school building. He also noted that if Sweden pushes ahead with the ban, it would be ahead of the other Nordic countries but following in the footsteps of France, Spain, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Hungary. 

 

The Local