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Texas
22nd January 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Texas jury acquits former Uvalde officer over response to Robb Elementary shooting

Adrian Gonzales, the first officer to arrive at the 2022 Uvalde school shooting, has been acquitted of 28 counts of felony child endangerment by a Texas jury. Prosecutors alleged he failed to act quickly to stop the gunman who killed 19 children and two teachers. Gonzales’s defence argued he responded immediately but was misdirected, and lacked knowledge or access to the shooting location. The verdict follows emotional testimony and is the first trial among two criminal cases brought over the failed police response. A second officer, former Uvalde school district police chief Pete Arredondo, is expected to face trial later this year on similar charges as Gonzales. He has pleaded not guilty.

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NATIONAL NEWS

Trump administration drops DEI appeal

The Trump administration has decided to withdraw its appeal against a federal court ruling that blocked its campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in schools and colleges. On Wednesday the U.S. Department of Education (ED) filed to dismiss its appeal, upholding a decision made by U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher in Maryland, who stated that the anti-DEI guidance violated the First Amendment and federal procedural rules. The guidance had warned educational institutions that they would lose federal funding if they continued DEI practices. The case had been brought by the American Federation of Teachers, the American Sociological Association and a school district in Eugene, Oregon. 

STATE NEWS

Texas schools could add Bible readings

Texas public schools may soon require the teaching of biblical passages from kindergarten through high school, according to a draft proposal by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). This initiative aims to establish a common literary canon across the state, with readings varying from fairy tales for younger students to historical speeches and novels for older grades. Notably, the proposal includes ten excerpts from the Old and New Testaments, such as "The Shepherd's Psalm" for seventh graders. Shannon Trejo, TEA's deputy commissioner of school programs, emphasized that the list is designed to provide historical context for major literary works, argueing: 'A lot of great teachers will pick a novel, and then pick a companion text." If approved, the proposal would make Texas the first state to mandate specific reading materials in public schools, with implementation set for the 2030-2031 school year.

LEGAL

Texas, Louisiana defend school displays of Ten Commandments in court

A federal appeals court is reconsidering Louisiana and Texas laws mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, which had previously been blocked by federal district judges due to potential violations of the First Amendment. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit heard arguments on January 20, with Texas Solicitor General William R. Peterson asserting that the law represents a "historical document" integral to American heritage. However, Jonathan K. Youngwood, representing families challenging the laws, argued that these displays impose religious dictates on students, commenting: "From kindergarten to senior year, a student in public school will face an unavoidable constant: government-mandated religious dictates in every single classroom." The outcome of this case may set a precedent, with many legal observers anticipating a potential appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

TEACHING

Argyle ISD embraces virtual learning options

Argyle ISD is set to enhance educational choices by introducing hybrid and full-time virtual classes for the 2026-2027 school year. This initiative follows the signing of Senate Bill 569, which allows districts to receive full funding for students in virtual or hybrid programs. Dr. Dawn Jordan, Assistant Superintendent, said: "The reason we’re doing this is to offer our families more choices and flexibility in making decisions about how their child learns best." The district plans to partner with Edgenuity for curriculum delivery while maintaining necessary staff support. Although Advanced Placement classes won't be available online, students will have access to extracurricular activities. The program aims to alleviate capacity issues in high schools and provide families with more public education options. Jordan emphasized the importance of ensuring students are prepared for the rigorous online curriculum, remarking: "Before a student is enrolled, there will be a conversation with that family about the qualities that would make a student successful."

LEADERSHIP

Sweeny ISD names new superintendent

Sweeny ISD trustees named Terri Watkins as the lone finalist for the position of superintendent during a meeting. She has been serving as the interim leader since the departure of Daniel Fuller in May. Board President Donna Schroeder highlighted Watkins's proven leadership and understanding of the district as key reasons for her selection, noting her previous experience as interim superintendent and her ability to provide stability while prioritizing the needs of students, staff, and the community.

DISTRICTS

Families boost confidence in Houston ISD

Houston ISD officials reported that a recent family survey indicates a significant increase in confidence among families regarding their children's education. Matt Sawyer, HISD's deputy chief of data and impact, presented the findings, revealing that "more than 91% of our families had more positive things to say about their school and the district than not." The survey, which reached around 104,700 families, garnered responses from over 11,000, reflecting a 25.7% response rate. Key findings included that approximately 84% of families would recommend their child's school, and around 79% believe their child's school is improving. Superintendent Mike Miles emphasized the importance of these results, saying: "Families are seeing real improvement in their schools and across HISD." The district plans to utilize these insights to enhance educational quality and identify further opportunities for growth.

San Angelo schools face closure crisis

San Angelo ISD Board of Trustees voted 6-1 to close Reagan Elementary School and Bowie Elementary School at the end of the 2026–2027 school year. This decision aims to tackle declining enrollment, financial sustainability, and staffing challenges. "The decision follows years of discussion and analysis focused on three guiding priorities: academic progress, stewardship and efficiency," the district stated. The Committee for Academic Progress, Stewardship and Efficiency (CASE) will propose new attendance boundaries, expected to take effect in the 2027–2028 school year. SAISD has seen a decline of over 400 students since May 2025, leading to a projected $4.3m budget deficit. Closing the two schools is anticipated to save approximately $1.8m in operating costs.

Judson ISD considers school consolidation plans

During a meeting on January 12, Judson ISD Growth and Planning Committee discussed the potential consolidation of elementary and middle schools. Assistant Superintendent of Operations Daniel Brooks emphasized that "there is no campus untouchable on this list," indicating that all options are on the table. The committee identified Kirby and Kitty Hawk middle schools as top candidates for consolidation, along with several elementary schools, including Park Village and Ed Franz. Interim Superintendent Lacey Gosch acknowledged the difficulty of these decisions, insisting: "We see value in every single one of these programs." Recommendations for consolidation will be presented to the JISD school board by February, pending approval for any closures or program changes.

CHARTERS

Killeen ISD evaluates charter school partnership

Terri Osborne, the deputy superintendent for curriculum, instruction, and school leadership at Killeen ISD, announced the start of training evaluators to assess an application from Third Future Schools, a Colorado-based charter school network. This review process began on January 12, following KISD's decision to implement a "Senate Bill 1882" partnership model at Manor Middle School. Under this model, KISD will manage the facility, while the charter school will oversee staffing, curriculum, budget, and calendar. Osborne emphasized that "those evaluators will do due diligence to ensure the information that’s been provided to us is accurate." The evaluation period will last until January 30, with a recommendation to be presented to the board on February 10. This partnership aims to address the performance issues of three underperforming middle schools, including Manor, which has received an F rating for three consecutive years.

FINANCE

Budget woes hit Plano ISD hard

Plano ISD is facing a projected budget shortfall of $43.75m for the fiscal year 2026-27, as presented by District Chief Financial Officer Courtney Reeves during a board meeting. The district anticipates $527.3m in revenue against $571.05m in expenditures, reflecting a $7.23m decrease from the previous year. This decline is attributed to falling enrollment numbers, which have dropped from a peak of 55,659 in the 2011-12 school year to an expected 41,830 next year. Additionally, PISD is facing a $124.07m recapture bill, an increase of $15.97m from the prior year. "The enrollment decline is impacting district revenue," Reeves said. The final budget will be adopted in June, with tax rates set in August.

CONSTRUCTION AND RENOVATION

Wooten Elementary opens new campus

Wooten Elementary School in North Austin celebrated the opening of its new campus on January 16, funded by a $40m investment from the district's 2022 bond election. "It represents who we are, how we embrace our community," said AISD Superintendent Matias Segura. The modernized facility features open learning spaces, flexible seating, and improved safety measures, enhancing the educational environment for students and staff. Principal Nicholas Martinez noted that the new design supports collaboration and has positively impacted student learning. Wooten is the first Austin ISD campus to undergo full modernization, with more projects planned under the $2.44bn bond package.

SPORTS

Gov. Abbott takes a stand against Islamic Games

In a directive issued to a Houston area school district, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has demanded the cancellation of any planned Islamic Games event, criticizing the Islamic Council on Foreign Relations (CAIR). Abbott said: "You cannot invite such dangers through the front doors of our schools," emphasizing that public schools must prohibit illegal activities on their premises. The Islamic Games, which claims to promote physical excellence and community development, had scheduled events at Colleyville Heritage High School and Bridgeland High School. Abbott designated CAIR as a Foreign Terrorist Organization last November, citing evidence linking it to Hamas. He warned that noncompliance with his order would lead to legal action against school districts, asserting that taxpayer-funded facilities should not host events associated with designated terror organizations. Abbott's actions reflect a broader effort to combat what he describes as the spread of Islamic extremism in Texas.

INTERNATIONAL

Underfunded schools force Pakistan's parents to pay for children’s education

Families in Pakistan are increasingly forced to spend their own money on their children’s schooling as government funding and support for education fall short. Chronic underinvestment in public education—Pakistan spends far below recommended levels of GDP on schooling—has led to deteriorating infrastructure, shortages of qualified teachers and high dropout rates, with more than 25 million children out of school and many families turning to private or informal schools due to poor quality in the public system. As government resources fail to meet demand, parents are shoulderin the financial burden to secure better education opportunities, widening inequalities in access and quality.

AND FINALLY...

New initiative aims to combat book bans in schools

We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) has launched the Unbanned Book Network to address the increasing number of book bans in U.S. schools and libraries. The initiative aims to donate books by banned authors and appoint Author Ambassadors to support school districts facing censorship. WNDB chief executive Dhonielle Clayton stated: "We're not only facing an ongoing literacy crisis in the U.S., we're also battling increased rates of censorship, which is infringing on our students' right to read." The program will initially target twenty under-resourced schools in states like Texas and Florida, where bans are most prevalent. This effort is part of a broader response to the surge in book bans, which has been documented by organizations such as PEN America and the American Library Association.
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