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The Texas Education Agency’s PASS program will provide $400 grants to families of third graders who did not meet grade level on the 2026 STAAR reading exam, including eligible students who have advanced to fourth grade. The money can fund literacy tutoring through approved providers, individual teachers, or specialists such as dyslexia therapists. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said, “Getting to third grade proficiency in reading is particularly important to unlock all the rest of education.” The program is separate from Texas Education Freedom Accounts.

 

The Dallas Morning News

Delegates to the National Education Association's annual meeting approved the creation of a nearly $200,000 emergency fund to support teachers protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, citing ongoing legal uncertainty and the importance of retaining immigrant educators. The fund is expected to assist an estimated 14,000 to 20,000 teachers who came to the United States as children before 2007, while remaining compliant with federal restrictions on providing financial support to undocumented immigrants. Immigration emerged as one of the union's top priorities, with delegates also calling for additional resources to help educators understand local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The assembly also approved work to develop model policies protecting educators and students from AI-generated identity theft, including deepfake images, videos, and audio that could damage reputations or lead to disciplinary action. Delegates said schools and unions need updated safeguards as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly capable of creating convincing fake content.

 

Education Week News

Waymond Jackson Jr., head of Alabama nonprofit Ed Farm, is urging policymakers to balance concerns about student screen time with greater investment in digital access and technology education, arguing that millions of students risk being left behind in an increasingly digital workforce. While lawmakers across the U.S. consider restrictions on smartphone and social media use in schools, Jackson says many students still lack reliable internet access, computers, and opportunities to develop critical digital skills, noting that roughly one-third of U.S. workers lack basic digital literacy even though most jobs now require it. argues that schools should expand access to hands-on technology education, including coding, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and digital media, rather than treating technology primarily as a distraction. Citing examples of technology-focused learning spaces in Alabama schools, he calls for greater state and federal investment in digital infrastructure, educator training, and classroom technology, warning that students without meaningful access to these tools will be disadvantaged in higher education and the modern workforce.

 

The 74

The average K-12 teacher works 49 hours a week, with a significant portion being uncompensated. Many teachers did not enter the profession to spend their evenings on administrative tasks. Artificial intelligence (AI) assistants like Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini can help alleviate some of this burden, allowing teachers to focus on creativity and engagement. According to a 2023 RAND Corporation survey, only 24% of teachers reported satisfaction with their weekly hours, and 66% felt their salaries were inadequate. While AI tools cannot address compensation issues, they can enhance work-life balance and improve teaching quality. "AI tools won't make up for unfair compensation," but they can save time and help teachers do better work.

 

Star-Telegram

Dr. Darryl Flusche, Superintendent of Canyon ISD, emphasized the importance of community support in education, stating: "Schools shape future leaders, strengthen communities, support families, and create opportunities." Despite strong academic achievements and high participation in Fine Arts programs, Canyon ISD faces significant funding challenges. The district has seen rising operational costs without a corresponding increase in state funding since 2019. Efforts to address these issues included voter-approved tax rate elections, which were not successful. As a result, Canyon ISD has implemented a 6% reduction in operating expenses for the upcoming school year, primarily through attrition and budget evaluations. While no layoffs occurred, adjustments to class sizes and travel budgets were made. 

 

Plainview Daily Herald

Midland ISD reported a significant achievement in its Advanced Placement (AP) exam results, with a 7% increase in qualifying scores from 2025. Over 2,200 students participated in more than 4,000 AP exams, with about half scoring 3 or higher, which is the threshold for many U.S. colleges to grant credit. “I am proud of our students and teachers for the work that resulted in another year of gains,” said Stephanie Howard, MISD superintendent. The Midland Education Foundation will continue to support AP teachers with an incentive program, awarding $151,000 in August for high scores. The district aims to enhance AP instruction and support teachers in preparing students for advanced coursework in the coming years.

 

My West Texas

 

Star-Telegram

Killeen ISD has appointed three new principals for the 2026-2027 school year, emphasizing a commitment to student achievement and strong leadership. Genevive Manning, with over 25 years of experience, will lead Liberty Hill Middle School, while Donald Bosier, also with 25 years of experience, takes over Gateway Academic Complex. Felecia Ware-Johnson, who has 17 years in education, will be the new principal at Richard E. Cavazos Elementary School. Each leader brings a wealth of experience and a focus on collaboration and instructional excellence to their new roles.

 

Temple Daily Telegram

The Supreme Court has allowed Texas to enforce a state law requiring mobile app stores to verify users' ages and obtain parental consent before minors can download apps, while the underlying legal challenge continues through the courts. The unsigned emergency order included no explanation and drew no publicly noted dissents. The law, passed in 2025 amid growing concerns over children's online safety, has been challenged by the Computer & Communications Industry Association, whose members include Apple and Google, alongside a group of students. They argue the measure violates the First Amendment by restricting young people's access to a broad range of lawful digital content, from books and music to educational subscriptions. Texas defended the law by arguing that downloading an app involves agreeing to terms that can affect a child's privacy, location tracking, data collection, and legal rights. State officials said parents should therefore have oversight when minors enter into those agreements. Monday's ruling does not decide whether the law is constitutional. Instead, it leaves in place a decision by the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that allowed the law to take effect after a federal district court had temporarily blocked its enforcement in December. The decision follows a series of recent Supreme Court actions involving online age verification. Last year, the Court allowed Mississippi to enforce a similar law covering major social media platforms while litigation proceeded, although Justice Brett Kavanaugh suggested that law was likely unconstitutional despite concluding that a temporary injunction was not justified. 

 

CNN

The Texan

Politico

Reuters

The vaccination rate for kindergartners in Tarrant County has slightly decreased, with nearly 93% receiving the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine in the 2025-26 school year, down from 94% the previous year. This decline coincides with a rise in conscientious exemptions, which increased from 3.76% to 4.63%. Rekha Lakshmanan, executive director of The Immunization Partnership, said: “I think what we saw in this report is the cumulative impact of these policies kind of slowly coming to a head.” The data, released by the state health department, follows a significant measles outbreak that resulted in over 750 cases and two fatalities. Local vaccination rates vary widely, with some schools reporting as low as 5% vaccination, raising concerns about potential outbreaks. Dr. David Higgins emphasized that “the vaccination rate at that hyper local level is what actually really matters.”

 

Star-Telegram

University of Texas at Dallas students reacted with shock after a Progress Pride flag mural in the Student Services Building Addition was removed and replaced with white and gray paint. Installed by Student Affairs in December 2022, the mural included representation for Black, Brown, Transgender, and intersex individuals, along with the message “You Belong Here.” Gene Fitch, UT Dallas vice president of Student Affairs, had called it a “symbol of welcome to ALL.” The Retrograde reported the removal could relate to proposed second-floor changes.

 

Laredo Morning Times