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The U.S. Department of Education has mandated that states and school districts certify they are not using diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, in order to continue receiving federal funds. A letter from the Trump administration gives state education chiefs 10 days to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits race-based discrimination. The letter states that DEI practices are considered “impermissible” and could lead to funding cuts. “Federal financial assistance is a privilege, not a right,” Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, said in a statement. He added that many schools have flouted their legal obligations, “including by using DEI programs to discriminate against one group of Americans to favor another.” Michael Pillera, director of the educational opportunities project for the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, remarked: “The goal here is increased threats and intimidation to cause a chilling effect.” The Education Department's actions have sparked confusion among educators regarding what constitutes a violation of the orders, with many working to address racial disparities since the murder of George Floyd in 2020.

 

AP News

Education Week News

Los Angeles Times

NPR

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 200+ 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

 

Texas’ controversial school choice program advanced after Senate Bill 2 passed the House Public Education Committee, proposing up to $10,000 per student for private school tuition and $2,000 for public school families, capped at $1 billion over two years. Critics slammed the process for lacking transparency. The bill must now pass two House floor votes. Advocates argue school choice empowers families and improves public schools through competition. Opponents, including teachers' unions, warn of funding loss and lack of services for special education students. Over 100,000 students could leave public schools by 2030, potentially straining public school budgets statewide.

 

CBS 4 Local

Texas Border Business

FOX 7 Austin

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) can now release its 2023 school district ratings following a ruling by the 15th Court of Appeals, which overturned a previous injunction. TEA Commissioner Mike Morath's authority to change performance metrics was upheld, allowing the agency to share school grades after a 19-month legal battle. The new ratings come after a five-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and stricter benchmarks for high schools, which now require 88% of seniors to pursue post-graduation paths. Texas school districts, however, argue that the rapid changes are too much too soon. Nick Maddox, an attorney for the districts, stated, “The trend for all school districts is that scores have decreased fairly significantly.” The outcome of a separate lawsuit regarding 2024 ratings is still pending.

 

Denton Record-Chronicle

Caller-Times

Dallas News

Austin American-Statesman

Temple Daily Telegram

With 60 days left in Texas' legislative session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is advocating for increased salaries for public school teachers, expanded tax exemptions for homeowners, and funding for dementia research. He underlined the need to close the $10,000 pay gap between rural and urban teachers, commenting: "Teachers need to be paid like professionals." The Senate is pushing for a separate funding path to ensure that money designated for teachers directly benefits them. Patrick also addressed concerns about potential revenue loss for public schools due to education savings accounts, asserting that funding for education has significantly increased, from $43bn in 2015 to nearly $96bn this year. He aims to make housing more affordable and reduce property taxes while promoting a new Dementia Prevention and Research Institute to tackle Alzheimer's disease.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

The Seguin ISD Board of Trustees has initiated the process of finding a new superintendent following the retirement of Veronica Vijil. In collaboration with a selected search firm, the district has released a survey to gather public input on the search. This move aims to ensure community involvement in selecting the next leader for the district.

 

Seguin Gazette-Enterprise

A teacher from Abernathy High School, Aaron Peralez, is among 10 finalists for the 2025 H-E-B Excellence in Education Awards, which recognize outstanding educators in North and West Texas. H-E-B representatives surprised the finalists with cash prizes for both themselves and their schools, totaling $24,000 awarded to educators. The complete list of statewide finalists will be revealed later this spring.

 

Fort Bend Herald

Austin ISD is grappling with a significant budget crisis, with the deficit rising from $60m to $110m over the past year. District leaders, led by consultant Greg Gibson, are now considering closing and consolidating schools to save costs. Gibson highlighted that AISD has smaller schools compared to similar districts, identifying 49 elementary schools with fewer than 500 students and 10 middle schools with fewer than 750 students. Closing these schools could potentially save about $43.6m annually.

 

The Austin Chronicle

Denison ISD is preparing for a town hall meeting to discuss a $22m school bond proposal ahead of the Grayson County election. Superintendent David Kirkbride emphasized the need for the bond, commenting: "We need to continue to monitor our growth on an annual basis." With a projected 50% increase in enrollment, the funds would be allocated for replacing old school buses, providing artificial turf for athletes, and upgrading classroom technology.

 

Fort Bend Herald

Dr. Courtney Carpenter, superintendent of Argyle ISD, has announced a bond election scheduled for May 3, 2025, with a proposed $423.17m bond. This initiative, developed by the community-led Bond & Growth Planning Committee (BGPC), aims to address rapid enrollment growth and infrastructure needs while maintaining the current tax rate. The BGPC, comprising 30 members from the community, has reduced the bond amount by over $88m from the previous election. The bond includes two propositions: Proposition A for $393.7m focuses on new schools and capital improvements, while Proposition B allocates $29.4m for enhancements at existing facilities.

 

The Cross Timbers Gazette

Corpus Christi ISD has secured grant funding to enhance dual credit and early college programs in partnership with Del Mar College. The initiative aims to increase the number of graduates enrolling in college by encouraging students to complete 15 college credits while still in high school. The grant will also introduce a new college and career exploration course for high school juniors and improve technology to track student readiness for college and careers. Currently, 47% of CCISD graduates are deemed college-ready, with the goal of increasing this figure through the new programs. 

 

Caller-Times

Prosper ISD is experiencing significant growth, gaining approximately 3,000 students annually, despite statewide enrollment declines. In 2023, voters approved a $2.7bn bond package to support this expansion. However, the district faces challenges from a shadowy political action committee (PAC) called Accountable Leadership Committee, which is attempting to influence school board elections without revealing its backers. Candidates Janette Church and Scott Bray, supported by the PAC, have distanced themselves from its activities. Church expressed her dismay, stating she was “mortified” by the PAC's support. The Dallas News editorial recommends voters scrutinize the PAC's motives and emphasizes the importance of transparency in the electoral process. The editorial ultimately endorses Garrett Linker for Place 6, citing his experience and commitment to the district.

 

Dallas News

The Midland ISD Board of Trustees recently reviewed the 2023-24 Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR), which highlighted concerns regarding student reading performance. Trustee Tommy Bishop questioned the meaning of performance indicators, to which Erin Bueno, chief academic officer, confirmed that students not meeting grade level can still read. The report indicated that only 16% of students mastered grade level in ELA/reading, while 84% require some form of intervention.

 

Star-Telegram

The Northside ISD board has approved the 2025 summer school program, which will feature 32 offerings for various age groups, including kindergarten through fifth grade and adult education. The elementary programs aim to assist students in reading and math remeiation, particularly those identified as Tier 3 in MTSS and emergent bilingual students. Classes will run from June 3-26, with transportation and meals provided for eligible students. Middle school programs will focus on students who have failed multiple core courses, while high school programs will help at-risk students recover credits.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

The Round Rock ISD board of trustees has approved the academic calendar for the 2026-27 school year Development of the 2027-28 academic calendar is currently on hold pending legislative updates and university schedules.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Katy ISD is set to spend $3.8m on 11,000 FlipLok devices to enhance classroom security for the upcoming school year. Despite the significant investment, documents indicate that the district could have saved over $1m on the devices. The installation cost is approximately $1.1m, with the district opting for professional installation due to the specialized nature of the devices.

 

KTRK-TV

Laneville ISD board members convened to address an ongoing Title IX grievance investigation, a pressing issue for the community. After entering Executive Session, board VP Kevin Doss proposed hiring a private investigator to assess the Title IX allegations, which were brought to light by Tori Lowry, a concerned parent of seven students. Doss also suggested engaging the law firm Spaulding, Nichols, Lamb, and Langlois (SNLL) to conduct the investigation. The motion received unanimous support from the board.

 

The Henderson News

U.S. Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) have introduced legislation which would continue to exempt new school bus drivers from the “Under-the-Hood” Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) testing requirement to help alleviate the nationwide shortage of drivers. Companion legislation is being led in the House of Representatives by Congressman John Carter (TX-31). “Young Americans are our nation’s most valuable resource, and it is essential that they have safe and reliable transportation to their schools,” Cornyn commented. “This legislation would help ensure there are school bus drivers available in every neighborhood across the country by removing an antiquated and unnecessary obstacle to their certification.” Baldwin added: “Children in Wisconsin and across the country should be able to take the bus and get to school safely and on time. Unfortunately, many communities are struggling to find school bus drivers, and that’s why I am working with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to cut red tape, get good drivers behind the wheel, and ensure kids can get to school safely.”

 

Odessa American

The recent implementation of tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China is poised to impact the school bus industry significantly. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on auto imports and a 10% baseline tariff, which could lead to increased production costs for manufacturers. Blue Bird, a prominent school bus manufacturer, said: “We closely monitor developments related to U.S. trade policies, including tariffs, and their potential impact on our business.” Curt Macysyn, executive director of the National School Transportation Association, commented: School bus manufacturing remains an American success story, but we are concerned because individual bus components could be subjected to proposed tariffs. We will continue to observe and react appropriately to developments." As the situation evolves, industry stakeholders are closely observing the developments and preparing for possible price adjustments.

 

School Bus Fleet

Georgetown ISD is collaborating with local authorities to install a traffic signal at the intersection of Parkside Parkway and Hwy. 29, aimed at improving safety for school buses making left turns. The project, which includes a $72,500 contribution from GISD, addresses visibility issues and the speed limit in the area, which have been deemed unsafe for bus operations. This initiative is expected to benefit students, staff, and parents at San Gabriel Elementary School and Benold Middle School.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Steubenville, Ohio, has emerged as a national model for reading success. Despite high poverty and low per-student funding, the district routinely posts third-grade reading proficiency rates above 95%. It’s achieved this through long-term consistency: using the same phonics-based program (Success for All) for 25 years, early preschool, and a community-wide focus on literacy. All teachers, including PE instructors, lead reading classes, and students are grouped by skill level. The emphasis is on active reading practice rather than silent reading. Though economic outcomes remain modest, Steubenville proves high achievement is possible with strategic, sustained efforts — not just more money.

 

The 74 (Online)

The Yael Foundation has launched a leadership exchange program, with the aim of strengthening connections and collaboration among Jewish educators globally. The initiative links Jewish school leaders from Europe and Latin America with their peers in the United States, and offers a six-month mentorship and knowledge-sharing opportunity aimed at enhancing Jewish education worldwide. “For too long, Jewish schools around the world have been islands working on their own without significant collaboration," explained Yael Foundation founder Uri Poliavich. "This program is an expression of our belief that strong, inspired leadership and partnerships are the key to a vibrant Jewish future. By creating meaningful peer-to-peer partnerships, we are fostering a strong sense of global Jewish solidarity.”

 

The Jerusalem Post