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The White House has announced a plan to dismantle the Education Department by transferring its core responsibilities to other federal agencies, aligning with President Donald Trump’s long-term goal of closing the department. Duties for elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education will shift to the Labor Department, while child care grants and foreign medical school accreditation will move to Health and Human Services. Meanwhile, Fulbright and international education programmes will go to the State Department, and the Office of Indian Education to the Interior Department. “The Trump Administration is taking bold action to break up the federal education bureaucracy and return education to the states,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a statement Tuesday. “Cutting through layers of red tape in Washington is one essential piece of our final mission.” Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) responded by calling the proposals "outright illegal," adding that the Education Department's programs are being spun off "to agenices with little to no relevant expertise." She also noted that federal law requires an act of Congress to close the department.

 

Education Week News

New York Times

Politico

Washington Post

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Susan Popkin and David Bateman highlight the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in education, recalling a time before significant reforms in the 1970s. With recent cuts to the federal Department of Education, advocates fear a regression in the support provided to students with disabilities. Denise Marshall, chief executive of the Council of Parents Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), expressed concern, stating: “It does seem like so far ago, but right now we’re witnessing all we accomplished could go away in the blink of an eye.” The National Center for Education Statistics reports that the number of students receiving special education accommodations has increased to 7.5m. However, experts warn that the reduction in the Department's workforce will hinder the distribution of essential resources, leading to disparities across states.

 

EdSurge

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed lawsuits against the Galveston, Round Rock, and Leander school districts for allegedly failing to comply with Senate Bill 10, which mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms. This law was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott despite a federal appeals court ruling a similar law as "plainly unconstitutional." The districts received donated posters but have delayed their display pending legal challenges. Galveston officials stated: "We will closely monitor any possible litigation," while Leander ISD expressed confusion over the lawsuit, asserting compliance with the law. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery previously ruled against the law, emphasizing it undermines the separation of church and state. Paxton stated: "America is a Christian nation," arguing for the law's necessity. 

 

The Gilmer Mirror

Austin American-Statesman

Half of U.S. teachers have now received at least one professional development session on using artificial intelligence (AI), up from 42% in 2024 and 13% in 2023, per a new EdWeek Research Center survey. Pat Yongpradit of Code.org noted: “We’re getting out of the early-adopter phase.” Despite progress, most sessions are still one-time events, and experts stress the need for sustained training. Former Atlanta schools superintendent Lisa Herring emphasized: “We must urgently invest in their training” to integrate AI into modern classrooms. School leaders currently receive more training than teachers, often due to greater flexibility and system-level responsibilities.

 

Education Week News

A $2.53m grant from the Gates Foundation will support initiatives aimed at enhancing the skills of new teachers and educational leadership within the La Vega ISD. This funding is part of a broader effort to improve educational outcomes in the area. "The goal is to strengthen beginning teachers," said a representative from the Gates Foundation, highlighting the importance of effective teaching in shaping student success.

 

Wacotrib

Fort Worth's education landscape shows promising results despite concerns from local leaders. The report highlights four campuses that excel academically, even with high numbers of economically disadvantaged students. For instance, Alice Contreras Elementary School, with 92% of its students economically disadvantaged, achieved 55% on grade level in reading and 51% in math on the STAAR exam. Other schools like IDEA Edgecliff College Prep and Cesar Chavez Primary School also demonstrated strong performance, showcasing effective strategies and collaboration among educators.

 

Star-Telegram

Following the rejection of a $63m bond proposal, Boyd ISD trustees are exploring short-term solutions to address overcrowding in elementary schools. During a recent meeting, board members reviewed the election results, which showed a defeat of 683-607, or 53% to 47%. Principal Jana Clark noted that the current enrollment of 538 students at the 350-capacity campus is projected to exceed 600 by the 2028-29 school year. Board president Kyle Erwin emphasized the ongoing need for solutions, stating: “The need is still the need today.” Possible alternatives discussed include moving kindergarten classes to the repurposed Boyd Primary School and renovating existing facilities. No decisions were made, but the board plans to compile a budget for additional staffing at their next meeting on December 15.

 

Wise County Messenger

Austin ISD has finalized its school consolidation plan, which includes closing 10 campuses by the 2026-2027 academic year. The decision follows nine months of community engagement and aims to address a $19.7m budget deficit and declining enrollment. The closures will impact 3,796 students and eliminate 6,319 empty seats. Schools affected include Becker, Barrington, and International High School. The plan also includes the relocation of programs such as dual-language and Montessori to other campuses, with the aim of prioritizing neighborhood students during the transition. Segura stated that the objective is to preserve the growing bilingual population while ensuring sufficient room for new initiatives.

 

CultureMap Austin

Grapevine-Colleyville ISD is facing a significant funding loss of $10m due to declining enrollment, prompting a committee of parents and district officials to recommend closing Dove Elementary School and Bransford Elementary School. District chief financial officer David Johnson noted that enrollment has dropped by about 1,500 students since 2019, leading to this financial shortfall. The proposed closures aim to save approximately $2.7m and will be discussed further at the December 10 board meeting, with potential implementation for the 2026-27 school year.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Frisco ISD recently celebrated 77 educators as the 2025-26 campus teachers of the year. Christy Fiori, chief academic officer, emphasized their importance, stating, "These teachers represent the heart of who Frisco ISD is as a district." Their dedication to students and learning fosters an environment where everyone can thrive.

 

Allen American

Clear Creek ISD achieved an impressive score of 94 out of 100 in its annual Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas (FIRST) report, based on fiscal year 2023-24 data. The FIRST program, established by the Texas Education Agency following Senate Bill 218, evaluates school districts on various financial indicators, including solvency, budget practices, and debt management. CCISD's score reflects strong financial practices, although it received a 4/10 on Indicator 11, which assesses long-term financial stability.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

The Hays CISD board of trustees has adopted a revised tax rate of $1.1546 per $100 valuation, maintaining the same rate as the previous year. Chief financial officer Deborah Ottmers explained that this is the maximum rate allowable without voter approval. Although the tax rate remains unchanged, increased home values will lead to higher taxes for maintenance and operations. However, homeowners with an average homestead valued at $100,000 will not see a change in their tax bills, thanks to a recently approved homestead tax exemption.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Friendswood ISD's board of trustees reviewed the results of the rejected $165m bond election during their latest workshop. Nolan Correa, FISD's executive director of facilities and capital projects, mentioned that a new bond election could be proposed in May, pending board approval in February. The district is currently assessing which maintenance projects are deemed "critical" for inclusion in the potential bond proposal. To gather community input, a survey will be distributed to FISD residents by November 21, according to Lauren Traina, FISD's executive director of communications. The board will reconvene on January 12 to discuss feedback and plan the next steps for the bond proposal.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Round Rock ISD officials are set to discuss funding for maintenance vehicle purchases and various campus renovations at an upcoming meeting. The board will review contracts totaling over $2.3m from the 2024 bond approved by voters. Key projects include replacing eight district vehicles, resurfacing tracks at Canyon Vista, Chisholm Trail, and Cedar Valley Middle Schools, and hiring construction managers for several renovations. The board will consider these items on Nov. 20.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Lamar Consolidated ISD is inviting community members to submit name nominations for several new facilities and one existing stadium. The online survey seeks names for Elementary Schools No. 40 and 41, and Secondary Complex No. 8, which includes a middle, junior, and high school. These facilities are part of the district's expansion plans, with Elementary Schools No. 40 and 41 funded by the 2025 bond approved by voters.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Laredo ISD conducted a large-scale active shooter drill at Mirabeau B. Lamar Middle School, evacuating around 1,100 students to the Sames Auto Arena. Veronica Castillon, executive director for communications at LISD, said: “Law enforcement went through every classroom, every hallway, making sure we evacuated and put them on the buses.” The drill aimed to enhance emergency response readiness, with local hospitals involved in case of medical emergencies. Counseling staff were available to support students experiencing anxiety during the event.

 

Laredo Morning Times

Star-Telegram

School bus driver employment has grown modestly over the past year, supported by a 4.2% inflation-adjusted rise in median hourly wages to $22.45, yet overall staffing remains 9.5% below 2019 levels, reflecting ongoing shortages. Across K-12 jobs, employment is up just 1.4% from 2019, with steep declines in custodian roles and strong growth among paraprofessionals. Over the past year, state and local schools added nearly 9,900 bus driver positions while the private sector lost 8,200, yielding a net gain of about 2,300 jobs.

 

K-12 Dive

The Argyle ISD board of trustees has approved the purchase of 16 new buses for the 2026-27 school year. The total cost for the buses is approximately $2.55m, funded by the 2022 bond. The buses are expected to arrive in spring 2026, with a mix of 14 77-passenger buses and two 14-passenger buses from Thomas Built Buses and International. The AISD transportation department has also developed a bus route schedule to accommodate this growth.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

The New Zealand Government has advanced the Education and Training (System Reform) Amendment Bill, aiming to improve teacher education, school property management, curriculum standards, and attendance enforcement. Key measures include transferring initial teacher education standards and teacher registration oversight to the Ministry of Education, establishing a dedicated school property agency, requiring schools to participate in PISA assessments, and expanding charter school provisions to support school choice.

 

The National Tribune