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Austin ISD in Texas has proposed the closure of 13 campuses, along with the redrawing of almost every school's attendence bounday, and the relocation of programs such as whole-campus dual language, across the city. The draft plan, published on Friday afternoon, comes in advance of a November 21 deadline for the district to submit a strategy to the Texas Education Agency, in response to a mandate requiring 23 AISD schools to either close or restart with new faculty and leadership starting next school year under what’s called a Turnaround Plan (TAP), and nine additional campuses to develop an intensive Targeted Improvement Plan (TIP). Almost a quarter of the district’s 70,000 students would move into an attendance zone for a different school. The proposal, slated for a school Board of Trustees vote November 20, could save $25.6m as the district faces a $19.7m budget deficit, dwindling enrollment and multiple schools with academic challenges. “The urgency in us protecting the school district is real, and the status quo is not possible,” commented Superintendent Matias Segura. “We cannot move forward in our current configuration. We have to make adjustments.”

 

Community Impact

The Austin Chronicle

Austin American Statesman

AI that teaches with you, not for you

What if your teachers had AI tools that allowed them to quickly create and customize resources to meet the needs of their diverse learners? What if those same tools were based on their TEKS-aligned curricula and safeguarded student data?

HMH AI Tools, included with all programs on the HMH Ed™ platform, empower teachers to create new program-based resources with superior security and privacy safeguards. Teachers can generate knowledge-building readings, generate quizzes and practice options, translate text to different languages, or get assistance writing emails, lesson plans, and much more.

Use the link below to view a demonstration and learn more.

View Demonstration

 

Community members in Liberty Hill will have multiple chances to learn about the upcoming voter-approval tax rate election (VATRE) this month. Liberty Hill ISD (LHISD) officials are hosting over a dozen Q&A events throughout October, leading up to the vote on Nov. 4, where they will seek approval for a $0.07 tax rate increase under Proposition A. This increase aims to generate $10.7m for student programs, safety initiatives, and teacher salaries.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

North East ISD is under investigation by the Texas Education Agency regarding its cellphone policy, which allows students to use phones during lunch and passing periods. This policy has drawn criticism for allegedly violating House Bill 1481, which mandates that students cannot use personal devices during the school day. NEISD Superintendent Sean Maika defended the policy, stating, "I want to make it very clear... that the policy was not the product of a knee-jerk reaction." He emphasized that the policy was developed with input from parents and stakeholders, and since its implementation, there have been no complaints from parents. The NEISD board plans to discuss the issue at a meeting, but no changes to the policy are expected.

 

Star-Telegram

Cy-Fair ISD will host a Q&A forum on October 15, featuring candidates for three trustee positions. The event will take place at the Berry Center, located at 8877 Barker Cypress Road, from 7-9 p.m., with a meet-and-greet from 5:45-6:45 p.m. Community members can submit questions until October 7, which will be randomly selected by moderator Jason Culpepper, Community Impact's Houston market president. The forum will also be livestreamed on the district's website and YouTube channel.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Two East Texas schools, Early College High School of Tyler ISD and Stanton-Smith Elementary School of Whitehouse ISD, have been honored by Gov. Greg Abbott as part of the inaugural 2025 Lone Star Ribbon Schools program. This initiative recognizes schools for their academic excellence and efforts to close achievement gaps. Early College High School Principal Amanda Hortman expressed her pride, saying, “Every single student, staff member, and parent deserves this award for making the ‘wise choice' to focus on academics.” The Lone Star Ribbon Schools program replaces the National Blue Ribbon Schools initiative, allowing for a more localized approach to recognizing educational excellence in Texas.

 

Tyler Paper

The United Family and Mrs. Baird's Bread have announced the winners of the September Teachers On The Rise program, which recognizes outstanding educators in the South Plains. Angela Murphy from Roosevelt Elementary School, Lindsey Spitzberg from Talkington School for Young Women Leaders, and Rachel Glenn from Monterey High School were honored for their exceptional contributions. Winning teachers receive a $100 United Supermarkets gift card, lunch for two at the Texas Tech Club, and a gift box of Mrs. Baird's products. Students who nominate winning teachers also receive a $50 American Express gift card.

 

Kcbd Tv

Eli Lopez, Killeen ISD's executive director of multilingual services, will present an annual review of the district's bilingual and ESL programs during a board workshop. The review indicates a decrease in emergent bilingual students, with 5,299 enrolled this year, down by 265 from last year. Lopez's presentation reveals that KISD is serving 1,254 students in its bilingual program, a drop of 37 from the previous year, while the ESL program has grown by approximately 13.5%, now serving 3,621 students.

 

Killeen Daily Herald

On October 8, Georgetown ISD elementary students will participate in the annual Walk and Roll to School Day, joining children nationwide. This initiative, organized by The National Center for Safe Routes to School, aims to promote physical activity, enhance environmental awareness, and alleviate traffic congestion. Georgetown Mayor Josh Schroeder emphasized the importance of safe routes, stating, "These routes promote healthy lifestyles for our children and uphold the high quality of life our community enjoys as a whole." GISD Superintendent Devin Padavil added, "Walk and Roll to School Day is about more than the journey, it's about building healthy habits, connecting with our community, and starting the day on a positive note."

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Plano ISD is temporarily closing Murphy Middle School from October 6-10 for environmental remediation improvements. The closure follows two independent air quality assessments prompted by community concerns, which revealed elevated humidity levels but no black mold. Remediation efforts will include replacing carpeting, cleaning HVAC systems, disinfecting surfaces, and installing dehumidifiers and air purifiers. "An alternate learning plan" will be implemented starting October 7, and all extracurricular activities will be postponed during this period, according to PISD's website.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Allen American

In a piece for The Conversation Justin Reich, professor of digital media at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, looks at what education leaders looking at rolling out artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom can learn from the deployment of technology in the past. He argues that, despite decades of digital innovations, rapid adoption has rarely led to lasting educational benefits. Instead, meaningful impact takes years of community-led adaptation. The author advocates for a cautious, evidence-driven approach, guided by humility, experimentation, and local assessment, noting that AI is an “arrival technology” that demands thoughtful integration rather than blind enthusiasm.

 

The Conversation

In Grapevine, Texas, Hunter, a single mother of two, faces challenges in getting her children to school due to an unstable housing situation and a lack of public transport options. "If we'd changed schools every time our housing situation changed... my kids would have switched four or five times in a year," she said, highlighting the impact on their education. With traditional school buses facing driver shortages, many districts are turning to ride-hailing services like HopSkipDrive, which provides transportation under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. This shift is supported by new state laws allowing districts to use smaller vehicles for school transport. However, concerns about safety remain, as experts warn that alternatives may not match the reliability of yellow buses.

 

Texarkana Gazette

On October 1 2025, the Al Khoziny Islamic boarding school in Sidoarjo, East Java, collapsed during afternoon prayers, resulting in the tragic loss of 61 lives. The disaster, described as the year's deadliest, left the community in grief and confusion. Mohammad Syafii, chief of the search and rescue agency, announced: "Operations due to the collapsed structure of the Al Khoziny school ... are officially closed," after all bodies were recovered. The school was part of Indonesia's extensive network of pesantren, or traditional Islamic boarding schools, of which there are more than 42,000 in Indonesia.

 

NBC News

The Jakarta Post

U.S. News

Virtual learning is transforming education, particularly for neurodivergent students, through innovative projects like Gaming 4 Good led by Matthew Schmidt from the University of Georgia. Schmidt emphasizes that the pandemic has shifted perceptions about online learning, stating, "After the pandemic, I became a very popular guy." His initiative uses video game-based learning to engage students in STEAM subjects, aiming to bridge performance gaps in virtual education. Schmidt's work highlights the potential of digital tools to create meaningful learning experiences rather than merely delivering content. He believes that video games can harness students' unique abilities, stating, "Although these people may have some challenges... they also have tremendous abilities." Looking ahead, Schmidt aims to expand his project to reach a broader audience, collaborating with local schools and community organizations.

 

Star-Telegram