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Educators nationwide report rising anxiety, reduced attendance, and learning disruptions among immigrant students due to intensified immigration enforcement. According to an EdWeek Research Center survey, 50% of educators working with immigrant families observed student fear this school year, and 75% said it interferes with learning. “Fear or anxiety is interfering with student learning ‘some’ or ‘a lot,’” particularly in large districts. While some districts share immigrant rights information or offer counseling, 42% took no action. Rural areas are less likely to have formal protocols for handling immigration officer requests, with only 30% reporting clear, written guidelines.

 

Education Week News

Special education advocates have encouraged families to continue lodging federal civil rights complaints amid staffing reductions and restructuring at the Department of Education, which have weakened the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Despite confusion and delays, advocates warn that fewer complaints could justify further cuts. The OCR received 25,000 complaints in 2024, a third of which related to disability rights. Critics of the Trump administration’s overhaul, including regional office closures and attempted layoffs, say the changes undermine enforcement of laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Future plans may see key responsibilities moved to other agencies, raising further concerns about continuity and oversight.

 

Education Week News

According to a new analysis from the Reason Foundation, school districts across the U.S. have significantly increased spending since 2020, despite a decline in student enrollment and academic performance. The report reveals that public schools are nearing $1tn in annual spending, with per-student spending rising from $14,969 to $20,322 between 2002 and 2023. California, spending $25,941 per student, has seen a 31.5% increase since 2020, even as it lost over 318,000 students. The report highlights that teacher pension costs and a focus on equity over academic rigor are contributing to the challenges facing public schools. Aaron Smith, director of education reform at the Reason Foundation, emphasized the need for policymakers to address structural issues in K–12 finance to improve academic outcomes.

 

Killeen Daily Herald

Moore County News Press

Plans for the 2025 Temple ISD bond are progressing, with voters approving a $122.45m bond on November 4. This includes Proposition A, which allocates $2.75m for immediate campus improvements funded by a Voter Approved Tax Rate Election (VATRE), and Proposition B, which seeks $119.7m for future upgrades. Superintendent Bobby Ott expressed optimism that projects under Proposition A will be completed by 2026, while planning for Proposition B begins this month. Proposition B will be funded through bond sales, with the first bond sale targeted for June 2026. Plans for new elementary and middle schools are also included in Proposition B, aimed at accommodating student growth.

 

Killeen Daily Herald

The Leander ISD board of trustees is engaged in long-range planning discussions due to budget concerns and potential elementary school closures. Chief operations officer Jeremy Trimble presented enrollment data and staffing guidelines for the 2026-27 school year during the November 20 meeting. With projected budget shortfalls in the multimillion-dollar range, the district is considering closing Cypress, Faubion, and Steiner Ranch elementary schools. Trimble noted: "When you see some of these campuses trending to the lower enrollment, that's what's triggered some of these conversations." The board plans to finalize staffing guidelines and develop enrollment thresholds for low-enrollment staffing adjustments at its December 4 workshop.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

After voters rejected all three bond propositions in Magnolia ISD, officials are committed to engaging with the community. The failed propositions aimed to fund significant projects, including a new high school and two elementary schools, totaling $516.92m.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

The Eanes and Leander school districts in Central Texas are undergoing significant leadership changes. Leander's Superintendent Bruce Gearing is a finalist for the top position at Conway Public Schools in Arkansas, surprising the school board. Meanwhile, Eanes has named Kirk Koennecke as the lone finalist to replace retiring Superintendent Jeff Arnett. Koennecke, currently the chief executive and superintendent of Indian Hill School District, expressed his gratitude, saying: "I am deeply honored and humbled the Board of Trustees has selected me." Texas law mandates a 21-day waiting period before finalizing contracts, with a vote on Koennecke scheduled for December 9. Additionally, Kristi Lee has been named the lone finalist for the Bastrop school district's top position.

 

Austin American-Statesman

Brad Schnautz, the superintendent of Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, will resign to become the executive director of Region 11 Education Service Center, effective January 5. GCISD trustees plan to interview candidates for an interim superintendent starting December 10, with the goal of hiring someone by December 15.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Sean Maika, the superintendent of North East ISD, announced his resignation effective January 2026 after over six years in the role.

 

Star-Telegram

Lanny Williams has been appointed as the new director of athletics for Waco ISD, succeeding Ed Love, who is retiring after 44 years.

 

Star-Telegram

Fort Worth ISD students are experiencing a new grading system that replaces traditional letter grades with a standards-based approach. This pilot program, currently implemented at Christene C. Moss, Luella Merrett, and Alice Carlson Applied Learning Center, aims to provide clearer insights into student performance. The grading scale ranges from 1 to 4, indicating proficiency levels in specific skills. Feedback from parents has been largely positive, with many appreciating the detailed breakdown of their children's academic progress. Trenace Dorsey-Hollins, director of Parent Shield Fort Worth, expressed excitement about the shift, emphasizing the need for transparency in academic performance, especially as the district faces a state takeover due to past challenges.

 

Star-Telegram

Victoria ISD has successfully implemented its Showing Up for Excellence attendance initiative, aimed at improving student attendance. The initiative, introduced at the start of the school year, set a district-wide attendance goal of 94%. Sheila Collazo, VISD superintendent, reported that all traditional elementary and secondary campuses met or exceeded this target. Over the past six weeks, 11 campuses achieved 94% attendance, while others reached 95% and 96%. Notably, Hopkins Elementary School improved its attendance from 91.96% to 94.74%, and Patti Welder Middle School increased from 93.69% to 95.12%.

 

Victoria Advocate

The Hutto City Council voted 4-3 to terminate an interlocal agreement with Hutto ISD, citing that the partnership was "not working." Mayor Mike Snyder expressed concerns that the agreement granted the distrrict more than legally permissible, saying, "the best thing to do is we terminate it." The agreement aimed to streamline site reviews and establish development standards for ISD facilities. Following the termination, Hutto ISD acknowledged the challenges this creates in timely facility construction, noting: "While disheartened, Hutto ISD will continue working in good faith." City officials noted that the district will now adhere to standard development requirements like any other developer.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Celina ISD is set to construct three new elementary schools before the 2027-28 school year, following the board of trustees' approval of maximum prices during a meeting on November 17. The Uptown school, located between Preston Road and the future Dallas North Tollway, has a guaranteed maximum price of $52.07m, with construction starting in early 2026. Additionally, a new school in the Green Meadows community is priced at $50.75m, and another in the Ramble neighborhood at $51.39m, both also scheduled to begin construction in early 2026. "The construction is scheduled to be completed before the start of the 2027-28 school year," according to the agenda.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Wharton ISD school board approved a plan to address safety concerns by replacing the outdated intercom system at Wharton High School. The board voted 5-1 in favor of the $95,000 project, which will be funded through interest earned on bond money.

 

El Campo Leader News

Round Rock ISD officials have approved the purchase of maintenance vehicle replacements and several construction contracts funded by the 2024 bond. The contracts, totaling over $2.3m, include replacing eight district vehicles, resurfacing middle school tracks, and hiring architects for campus renovations. Notably, seven Chevrolet cargo vans and a pickup truck will be acquired for $375,805 from Caldwell Country Chevrolet. The track resurfacing at Canyon Vista, Chisholm Trail, and Cedar Valley middle schools will cost $675,504.25, managed by Symmetry Sports Construction. These upgrades are part of a broader initiative to enhance educational facilities in the district.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

New Zealand’s education system is embedding mandatory financial literacy into the national curriculum from 2026, covering Years 0–10 through the Te Mātaiaho framework. The programme integrates financial education into the Social Sciences strand, starting with basic budgeting and needs vs wants, and progressing to insurance, taxation, and investment by Year 10. It emphasizes practical application over rote learning, preparing students for real-world financial decisions. Digital finance will feature prominently, with lessons on cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and digital wallets introduced through hands-on activities and live market data.

 

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