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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated an investigation into whether public schools are displaying posters of the Ten Commandments, following a federal court ruling that allows the state to enforce such a law. Paxton stated: “I will always fight for students' fundamental right to pray in our schools.” Over two dozen school districts must provide documentation regarding the display of the Ten Commandments and their policies on daily prayer. The law, passed in 2025, mandates that public schools display the Ten Commandments in classrooms. A recent ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the law does not violate the Constitution, which prohibits the establishment of an official state religion. However, civil rights organizations representing families who oppose the law argue it promotes a specific religious interpretation and undermines the separation of church and state. They plan to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the decision.

 

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Austin American-Statesman

What Educators Need to Know About Engagement in 2026

Student engagement and instructional rigor don’t have to be at odds. Engagement shapes how much students read, whether they complete texts, and how effectively they build knowledge and comprehension over time. Scholastic’s new white paper, Engagement Through Reading, draws on the latest research to make the case for engagement as a core instructional condition that drives academic outcomes. Learn how to apply the latest student engagement research in your school or district.

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Canvas, the online learning platform used by thousands of schools and universities across the U.S., suffered a widespread outage Thursday after hacking group ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on parent company Instructure. The disruption affected major institutions including Harvard and the University of Michigan during final exam season, as well as school districts in California, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Oregon, Nevada, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin, though most users regained access later in the day. Instructure said Canvas was operational again for most users, although some testing services remained offline. ShinyHunters claimed it accessed data belonging to more than 275m people across nearly 9,000 schools, threatening to release additional information unless Instructure responds by May 12. The group said the stolen data includes personal information such as names, email addresses, student ID numbers, and Canvas messages. Instructure disclosed a cybersecurity incident on May 1 and said forensic experts were investigating. The company stated there was no evidence that passwords, financial information, government IDs, or birthdates were compromised, and said the breach had been contained by May 2. The hacking group briefly posted ransom messages directly on student Canvas pages before those notices were replaced with maintenance alerts. ShinyHunters has previously targeted major companies including Ticketmaster, Microsoft, and AT&T, and has recently focused on education-related organizations.

 

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School districts across the U.S. are scaling back classroom technology use after spending billions on laptops, tablets, and educational software during the pandemic, amid growing concerns about student attention spans, academic performance, and excessive screen time. Schools spent between $15bn and $35bn in federal pandemic relief funding on education technology between 2020 and 2024 according to the Edunomics Lab, and by last school year, 88% of public schools reported providing every student with a device. However, at least a dozen states have since proposed or adopted policies limiting in-school screen time, including restrictions on virtual instruction and device use for younger students. Districts in Los Angeles, Utah, Iowa, Missouri, and Tennessee are among those introducing new rules or reconsidering classroom technology practices after pressure from parents and educators.

 

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Washington Post

Plano ISD is projecting a $44m budget deficit for the fiscal year 2026-27, as stated by Chief Financial Officer Courtney Reeves during a board meeting. The district anticipates expenditures of approximately $561.9m against net revenues of $517.1m, with a significant drop in revenue attributed to declining enrollment and a recapture program that redistributes tax revenue. PISD expects to lose 2,008 students next year, impacting state funding. Deputy Superintendent Johnny Hill noted, “We’ve had a deficit for years, but I would not call that a structural deficit.” He emphasized the need for significant changes to address the budget issues, particularly in programs and staffing, as the district prepares to adopt its final budget in June.

 

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Austin ISD has proposed $108m in budget cuts, impacting staffing and class sizes as it grapples with a projected $181m deficit. Superintendent Matias Segura said: “I want to acknowledge that even with this approach, this $181m budget deficit will be felt districtwide.” The cuts include eliminating positions, increasing elementary class sizes, and reducing planning periods for teachers. The district's financial struggles stem from declining enrollment, which has dropped from nearly 81,000 to about 69,800 students since 2019, and lower property tax revenue.

 

Austin American-Statesman

Fort Bend ISD is grappling with a projected $35.9m budget shortfall for the 2026-27 school year, as revealed during a May 4 meeting. Chief financial officer Bryan Guinn noted that the district has managed to save $19.7m through strategic reductions and moving faculty into vacant positions. However, deputy superintendent of operations Kathleen Brown highlighted that the district has not provided salary increases in three years, leading to compensation disparities with neighboring districts. 

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Alvin ISD officials anticipate the operating budget for fiscal year 2026-27 to remain unchanged at approximately $391.4m, consistent with the previous year. Chief financial officer Daniel Combs attributed this stability to slowed enrollment growth and modifications in the state funding model. The district is also facing a significant financial challenge with the impending expiration of its tax increment reinvestment zone, which could impact its budget capacity by $25m annually after fiscal 2028-29. The board of trustees will review the budget on June 9, with certified Tier 1 tax rates expected in August.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

During a recent budget workshop, Georgetown ISD leaders discussed strategies to address escalating medical insurance costs, projected to reach $18.4m next year, according to chief financial officer Kenneth Adix. The district is considering a partnership with Next Level Urgent Care, allowing employees to access primary and urgent care for a flat fee of $30, with families paying a maximum of $60. The district is also seeking a $10m transfer from the general fund to cover a projected $17.2m medical insurance bill for the upcoming fiscal year, with a remaining gap of about $4.5m.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Liberty Hill ISD is projecting surpluses of $8.5m and $16,420 for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years, respectively. During a recent budget workshop, chief financial officer Rosanna Guerrero noted that the district's financial outlook has improved significantly since March, when a deficit was anticipated. The 2025-26 budget is now expected to yield a surplus of $16.9m, up from an earlier estimate of $10.8m.

 

Community Impact Newspaper

The Lubbock ISD Board of Trustees has appointed Jason Cheslock as the new principal of Mackenzie Middle School for the 2026-2027 academic year, succeeding Nikki Beaty, who will move to Coronado High School. Cheslock, who joined the district in July 2024, has nearly 20 years of experience in various educational roles across Texas. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a master's in leadership from Lamar University. Additionally, Melissa Hernandez-Serenil has been ratified as the principal of Wolffarth Elementary School, replacing retiring Josie Cedillo. Hernandez-Serenil has been principal at Ramirez Elementary since 2019, leading the school to achieve an “A” rating from the Texas Education Agency. She holds multiple degrees, including a master's in educational administration from Lubbock Christian University.

 

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Brazosport ISD recently recognized over 200 teachers for their outstanding classroom performance and student growth through the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) program. This state initiative, designed to reward effective educators, has brought nearly $2.1m into the district, with 90% allocated directly to teacher compensation. The TIA program, established by House Bill 3 in 2019, allows districts to financially reward teachers based on performance metrics. Some educators receive bonuses exceeding $23,000, while others earn smaller amounts based on student needs.

 

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Lubbock ISD is honoring National School Nurses Day by highlighting the essential role of school nurses in student health. Jennifer Spieker, a nurse at Brown Elementary School, is recognized for her dedication and creativity in educating students about health issues. Spieker employs innovative methods, such as a “Takis and Hot Cheetos” bulletin board, to teach students about the effects of spicy snacks. She also uses puppets to discuss hygiene and health topics.

 

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Tammara Sherrod recently withdrew her children from Alief ISD, opting for a charter school due to concerns about their happiness and comfort. “It's our choice,” Sherrod said, reflecting a growing trend as over 1,000 students left Alief ISD last year, with more than 8,300 departing Houston ISD recently. The 2024 Houston Landing report indicates that about 90% of these students chose charter schools. Texas introduced charter schools in 1995, and while some have thrived, others, like Rêve Preparatory Charter School, have faced closure due to noncompliance. YES Prep West Elementary School, set to open in August, aims to provide a supportive environment with a focus on music and independence milestones.

 

Houston Press

Bryan ISD trustees have approved a contract to establish a tuition-free Virtual Academy, set to launch in the 2026-27 school year. This program will cater to students in grades three through twelve, offering both full-time and hybrid virtual learning options. 

 

Community Impact Newspaper

Crowley ISD is set to implement a new instructional model called Breakthrough Schools in the upcoming school year at four campuses: Mary Harris, J.A. Hargrave, Jackie Carden, and Sycamore Elementary. This initiative aims to enhance academic performance, with the goal of achieving A or B ratings in the state A-F accountability system. Currently, all four schools hold a D rating. 

 

Star-Telegram

Dripping Springs ISD has fully equipped its fleet of 91 buses with three-point seat belts, complying with the new Senate Bill 546, which mandates such safety features for all school buses. This legislation, effective from September 1, 2025, aims to enhance student transportation safety.

 

Hays Free Press

More than half of Big 12 member schools are opting not to use a new private-equity-backed line of credit worth up to $30m per institution under the conference’s recent agreement with RedBird Capital Partners and Weatherford Capital. Texas Tech, Iowa State, Colorado, Kansas State, and Arizona confirmed they will decline the financing option, joining Baylor, Cincinnati, Houston, TCU, UCF, and West Virginia, which have also said they are holding off for now. Kansas has not yet decided, while several other schools have not publicly commented. The broader deal, approved last week, includes a $12.5m investment into the Big 12 conference, a commercial partnership with RedBird to help generate new business opportunities, and optional credit lines for individual schools. If every school participated, the arrangement could total as much as $500m. Schools choosing to access the funding would repay the loans through deductions from future conference revenue distributions under a fixed repayment schedule. Several universities said they support the overall partnership despite declining the credit option, citing caution or a lack of immediate need for additional financing. RedBird said the agreement is intended as a long-term commercial partnership rather than a short-term funding mechanism, adding that schools will have one year to decide whether to participate as the college athletics landscape evolves. The deal reflects growing private-equity interest in college sports, following other recent investments across the sector, including TPG’s acquisition of a controlling stake in Learfield and prior investment discussions involving the Big Ten and UC Investments.

 

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Nova Scotia’s regional centers for education will reduce 150 positions as part of a government effort to achieve administrative cost savings, with critics warning the changes could weaken student support services. Education Minister Brendan Maguire said 47 positions will be eliminated through attrition, while other staff, including teachers in specialist and administrative roles, will return to classroom teaching. The province says the changes are intended to strengthen student outcomes and address shortages of math, science, and French teachers. The cuts are tied to a provincial requirement for regional education centers and other public sector bodies to reduce administrative costs by 3% annually over the next three years. Opposition leaders criticized the move as an austerity measure disguised as reform. NDP Leader Claudia Chender said there is no evidence the reductions will improve student outcomes, class sizes, or access to in-school supports, while Interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin argued that coaching and specialist positions are essential to improving educational performance.

 

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