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Texas
16th February 2026
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THE HOT STORY

Texas school leader named National Superintendent of the Year

Roosevelt Nivens, the superintendent of Lamar Consolidated ISD, was honored as the 2026 National Superintendent of the Year during the National Conference on Education in Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday. Nivens, who has led the district since 2021, emphasized the importance of student advocacy, commenting: "When students walk into my district, their last name becomes Nivens, and that means whatever they need is what we're going to give them." Under his leadership, the district has experienced a 23% increase in enrollment, driven by local housing growth. Nivens called on fellow superintendents to prioritize students' needs, asserting that they require adults who believe in them. The award, presented by AASA, The School Superintendents Association, recognizes superintendents based on their leadership, communication skills, professionalism, and community involvement. A $10,000 scholarship will be awarded in Nivens' name to a student from his district or his alma mater.

CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

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NATIONAL NEWS

States under pressure to repeal childhood school immunization requirements

Allies of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have launched a coordinated state-level campaign to repeal long-standing laws requiring children to be vaccinated against diseases such as measles and polio before attending school or day care. A newly formed Medical Freedom Act Coalition, which includes Children’s Health Defense and other groups aligned with Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative, is backing bills in at least nine states to eliminate or significantly weaken school-entry vaccine requirements. While some proposals have stalled, measures are advancing in states including New Hampshire, Georgia, Iowa, and Idaho, with additional efforts expected. Supporters say the goal is to end what they describe as coercive medical mandates and restore parental choice. Kennedy has said he is not directly involved in the repeal efforts but supports “freedom of choice” in vaccination decisions. Public health experts warn that dismantling school vaccine requirements would lower immunization rates and increase outbreaks. South Carolina is currently experiencing a measles outbreak that has sickened more than 900 people, with vaccination rates in some affected schools below the 95% threshold typically needed to prevent spread.

School principals urge lawmakers to boost federal support

More than 200 elementary school principals convened on Capitol Hill last week to advocate for increased funding in three key areas: teacher training and retention, mental health support for students, and safeguarding public school funding from private school choice initiatives. David Carpenter, principal of Jeeter Elementary School in Alabama, noted that lawmakers were more receptive this year, commenting: "This year, it's been a little easier to set up meetings." The principals emphasized the necessity of maintaining federal funding for programs like Title II, which supports teacher training, and Title IV-A, which aids student support services. Concerns were raised about the potential impact of private school choice programs on public school resources, with Annette Sanchez, a principal from Beeville, Texas, highlighting the need for accountability in these initiatives. As federal funding remains stable, principals are focused on addressing staffing challenges and ensuring adequate support for students with disabilities and mental health needs.

DISTRICTS

Houston ISD reverses course on school closures

Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles has recommended closing a dozen schools, reversing his earlier statement that no closures would occur in the 2026-27 school year. Pastor Charles Turner, who has worked with Fifth Ward schools, expressed disappointment: "If he said they're not going to close schools and he closes schools, I think we call that lying." Miles attributed the decision to a larger-than-expected decline in enrollment and structural issues at the affected campuses. He emphasized the need to ensure that impacted students receive a better learning experience, despite concerns that many closures would shift students to lower-scoring schools. Turner raised worries about the impact on families and educators, highlighting the challenges of transportation for students. Miles assured that teachers from closed schools would be offered opportunities at other campuses.

International High School faces closure

International High School, located within Northeast Early College High School, is set to close due to a significant drop in enrollment, falling from 213 to 95 students. Maritza Villela, a spokeswoman for Austin ISD, attributed this decline to demographic shifts and policy changes. Despite the closure, the district plans to maintain services for newcomer students at their zoned campuses, offering English language development courses. Erica Hoffman, an English teacher at the school, emphasized the importance of specialized instruction for students who often arrive with limited literacy skills. Nathan Brown, a former language arts teacher, noted the unique camaraderie among students, saying: "The only thing they have in common is they're new here." The future of the International Welcome Center at Webb Middle School is also uncertain, pending funding decisions.

Katy ISD gets Ten Commandments posters

Katy ISD has received enough Ten Commandments posters to supply every classroom, totaling approximately 6,125 posters, as stated by board member Mary Ellen Cuzela. "Thru multiple small donors, each and every Katy ISD classroom was donated a Ten Commandments poster," Cuzela said. As of February 5, KISD confirmed 5,614 posters had been donated. However, the district is currently involved in a lawsuit filed by 18 multifaith and nonreligious Texas families, aiming to prevent public school districts from displaying the Ten Commandments. Despite two federal judges ruling Senate Bill 10 unconstitutional, many districts, including KISD, continue to display the posters. The district has declined to comment on the ongoing litigation or the future of the posters.

FINANCE

Budget woes hit Austin ISD hard

Austin ISD is grappling with a significant budget shortfall, projected to rise from $137.41m to $63.26m for FY 2025-26. Chief financial officer Katrina Montgomery emphasized the need for better budgeting, claiming: "This is an opportunity for us to budget better." The district plans to implement cost-saving strategies, including a $16.9m property sale, to address the financial gap. Additionally, AISD is adjusting staffing to align with declining enrollment, which has dropped by over 10,000 students since 2018-19. The district aims to base staffing on a projected enrollment of 69,550 students for the next fiscal year.

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LEADERSHIP

Alvin ISD leader steps down

Carol Nelson, the superintendent of Alvin ISD, is set to retire at the end of the 2025-26 school year, marking the conclusion of over 30 years with the district. The board of trustees announced her retirement during a meeting on February 10, following a special meeting on January 26 where they began planning for her successor. Nelson's career with the district began in 1989 as a classroom teacher, and she later held various roles, including principal and associate superintendent. In 2019, she became the first woman to serve as superintendent. Under her leadership, the district grew by approximately 3,500 to 4,000 students, reaching nearly 30,000 by the 2024-25 school year. "Serving Alvin ISD has been one of the greatest honors of my career," Nelson said. She will continue in her role until her retirement, with further details on the superintendent search yet to be announced.

New principal takes flight at Winborn Elementary

Nichole Frias has been appointed as the new principal of Winborn Elementary School, effective February 2. With a strong background in instructional leadership, Frias has been part of the Winborn community since 2021, serving as assistant principal. She has played a key role in enhancing campus culture and student character development, notably through the Exceptional Eagle recognition program. "Ms. Frias is a dedicated leader who understands the heart of Winborn Elementary," said Ken Gregorski, Superintendent of Katy ISD. Frias, who has nine years of experience in Houston ISD, expressed her honor in leading the school, remarking: "I believe deeply in our students and in the power of education rooted in integrity and high expectations." Frias holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston and a master’s from Houston Baptist University.

New principals announced for Northwest ISD

Northwest ISD officials have appointed new leadership for the upcoming Romer Elementary School and three existing schools during a board meeting on February 9. Kim Blackburn will serve as the inaugural principal of Romer Elementary, set to open in the 2026-27 school year. Blackburn, who has been a teacher at Seven Hills Elementary since 2015, expressed her excitement, saying: "Serving as the principal of a campus named in honor of Leigh Anne [Romer] is a tremendous privilege and gift." Additionally, Shari Jones will lead Seven Hills Elementary in Newark, Hannah Garcia will take charge of Cox Elementary in Roanoke, and Ashley Kahler will oversee Medlin Middle School in Trophy Club. The board also approved an agreement with Oncor Electric for utility operations at Romer Elementary, which is on track to open in August 2026.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Trump administration sues Harvard over admissions data in race discrimination probe

The Justice Department has sued Harvard University for allegedly failing to comply with a federal investigation into whether its admissions practices discriminate on the basis of race, escalating a broader standoff between the Trump administration and the Ivy League institution. Officials say Harvard has refused to provide detailed admissions data needed to assess its compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which curtailed the use of race in college admissions. Harvard maintains it is following the law and responding in good faith, describing the lawsuit as retaliatory amid wider federal pressure that includes threats to freeze research funding, revoke tax-exempt status and impose financial penalties.

INTERNATIONAL

Australia confronts Roblox on child safety

Australia’s government has called a meeting with Roblox after reports of child grooming and children being exposed to graphic content on the platform. Communications Minister Anika Wells said she wrote to the company with “grave concern,” adding: “Australian parents and children expect more from Roblox.” The eSafety Commissioner said it will test Roblox’s age-based safety features and warned it could pursue penalties of up to A$49.5m ($35m) if Roblox fails to comply with online child-protection laws. The statement marks a shift after Roblox rolled out age-assurance measures in 2025 aimed at limiting chats and reducing grooming risk.
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