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May 25, 2026
Republican SBOE member questions Legislature’s influence on required book list

(Austin American-Statesman) A Republican Texas State Board of Education member raised concerns over how much power the Texas education commissioner and Legislature have in creating the state’s first required book reading list, according to an email posted online Friday. In the email published on social media by the nonprofit Texas Freedom to Read Project, SBOE Member Pam Little wrote to a constituent, voicing frustration over the diminished role the board has in writing the list of books that all public school students will soon be mandated to read.

‘Financial crisis’: Cy-Fair trustees address bleak funding, with at least $67 million deficit

(Houston Chronicle) Cypress-Fairbanks ISD trustees grappled with tough budget decisions during a Thursday workshop, including whether to give staff raises or drain the district’s fund balance so much that they would ask voters to raise taxes. District leaders expect a $67 million deficit for the 2026-27 school year, down from a $74 million projected deficit last month. The shortfall narrowed after district officials cut some expenditures and identified additional revenue. Department leaders also cut $4 million from their estimates.

As enrollment declines, Arlington ISD leaders signal potential school closures

(Arlington Report) During a special meeting Thursday, Superintendent Matt Smith said the district will have to evaluate all options to attract students and keep them enrolled. Doing so will require big choices in the near future, including new programs and the consolidation or closure of schools, he added.

‘Cutting into bone’: Austin ISD trustees say budget cuts will worsen teacher effectiveness

(Austin American-Statesman) Austin Independent School District has notified more than 200 staff members that their position could be cut or reduced to part-time roles this fall as part of district leadership’s efforts to reduce a $181 million budget deficit. While many of those people could find another position in one of Austin ISD’s 457 vacant positions, the news has thrown many district staffers into uncertainty within days of the school year ending. The sobering round of cuts follows a controversial and emotionally strained school board vote in November to shutter 10 campuses, which was expected to save $21.5 million.

Houston ISD to redirect state teacher bonuses into districtwide pay system

(Houston Chronicle) Houston ISD will not pass state teacher incentive pay directly to teachers, and instead it will use that money to fund a new districtwide teacher compensation system, according to letters sent to teachers. The decision means teachers will not receive direct payments linked to their performance under the state’s Teacher Incentive Allotment system. That money will instead support HISD’s own compensation system for all teachers based on the district’s new evaluation system.

Why is Houston ISD under a state takeover? To author Lupe Mendez, the answer lies in the district’s past

(Houston Chronicle) For Houston ISD teacher Lupe Mendez, the source of many of the district’s current controversies – from school closures to its ongoing state takeover – lies in its history of segregation.
But until recently, few books explored that history. This spring, Mendez released one of the only comprehensive books about HISD’s huelga schools, created by Mexican Americans in the 1970s to protest the district’s desegregation plan that labeled them as white and bused their children across the city to Black schools.

Outrage over Qurans and hijabs at Texas school ignites Bible revival outside campus gates

(Fox News) Outrage erupted after a “Why Islam?” table at a Texas high school handed out Qurans, pamphlets about Sharia law and hijabs in February. A counter-response surfaced outside Wylie East High School on Tuesday; a table stocked with Bibles, miniature Jesus figures and bracelets set up near the parking lot before school. Some participants also held signs reading, “Bibles Not Qurans,” directly responding to the earlier Islam display. Wylie ISD called the February display a ‘clear violation of board policy’ that was not reviewed or approved in advance.

Allen ISD High Graduation Draws National Attention For Massive Student Class

(Dallas Express) The 1,772 member Allen ISD High School’s Class of 2026 filled Eagle Stadium during a commencement ceremony that state Rep. Jeff Leach called the largest graduating class of the year in America.

These Houston schools are going low tech as more classrooms adopt digital devices and AI

(Houston Chronicle) After years of classrooms adopting more tech, a small but growing number of Houston-area private and charter schools are dialing back screens.

Ousted library director wins $475,000 settlement in discrimination lawsuit against Montgomery County

(Houston Pubic Media) Montgomery County commissioners have agreed to pay the former county librarian nearly half a million dollars to settle a discrimination lawsuit she filed last year in federal court. The lawsuit filed last year by Rhea Young alleged she was fired in retaliation for refusing to segregate and limit access to books containing LGBTQ+ themes or ideas.

San Antonio ISD overturns punishment of fifth grader over ‘child-safe’ knife

(San Antonio Express-News) Seven months after San Ant­o­nio Inde­pend­ent School Dis­trict barred a fifth-grade stu­dent from attend­ing class on cam­pus for bring­ing a “child­safe” knife to school in his lunch box, dis­trict trust­ees voted unan­im­ously in May to over­turn the dis­cip­line. Julian Cortez, a fifth­ grade stu­dent at Mark Twain Dual Lan­guage Academy, spent nearly the entire school year attend­ing a private school after he was assigned 25 days at a dis­cip­lin­ary altern­at­ive edu­ca­tion pro­gram, or DAEP. Cortez’s attor­ney filed a law­suit against SAISD in Octo­ber claim­ing the dis­trict viol­ated his due pro­cess rights and mis­used its author­ity by for­cing him to with­draw from his home cam­pus.

Twin Brother of Teen Killed at Track Meet Accepts Posthumous Diploma Days Before Murder Trial of Fellow Student

(People) Hunter Metcalf accepted his late twin brother Austin’s diploma as the Memorial High School students graduated in Frisco, Texas, on Thursday, May 21. The ceremony included a standing ovation for Austin, who was killed at a track and field meet in April 2025. Karmelo Anthony is facing a first-degree murder charge for the fatal incident; the trial begins June 1.

Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD teacher charged with child grooming after admitting to crush on Instagram

(NBC DFW) A North Texas middle school art teacher is accused of “child grooming” after allegedly sending a boy sexually suggestive messages and photographs on social media. Students told a school resource officer that Haley Krista Radabaugh “was known to be having inappropriate sexual conversations with at least three middle school students and providing drugs to students.”

Silsbee ISD assistant police chief fired, arrested amid investigation by Texas Rangers

(KBMT) Silsbee Independent School District officials say an assistant police chief with the district police department has been fired and arrested following allegations involving inappropriate communications with a student. In a statement released Friday, Superintendent Dr. Gregg Weiss said the district became aware of allegations involving Jonathon Tiner, assistant police chief for the Silsbee ISD Police Department, and immediately began cooperating with the Silsbee Police Department investigation.

Former Austin-area gymnastics coach indicted on child indecency charges

(KXAN) A gymnastics coach who used to work at a gym in Cedar Park faces two child indecency charges in another county. Paul Miller is accused of touching two inappropriate body parts of a child younger than 17 years old, according to his indictment. The charges are out of Kendall County, which is between San Antonio and Fredericksburg. Records indicate the alleged crime happened in August 2024. The indictment date is June 6, 2025.

Former Jasper ISD elementary teacher indicted for injury to child, court records show

(KBMT) Mykia Reshonee Platt, a former Jasper ISD teacher, has been indicted by a Jasper County grand jury with injury to a child, court records reveal, following an investigation. During the investigation, students reportedly told administrators that Platt slapped an elementary student in the face. The student’s parent told investigators the child had not previously disclosed the alleged incident.

Former Marshall ISD aide back in jail after bond revoked

(KSLA) Harrison County jail records show 37-year-old Rachel Ann Kirspel was booked into the Harrison County jail May 22. That is two days after she was released on bond in a case involving injury to a child, elderly, or disabled person with intent to cause bodily injury.

Former Magnolia ISD second-grade teacher accused of inappropriately touching multiple students

(KPRC) A former Magnolia ISD second-grade teacher was arrested, accused of inappropriately touching multiple students during his time as a teacher at Magnolia Parkway Elementary School. Jason Tomas Maldonado was taken into custody by the Montgomery County Pct. 5 Constable’s Office on Thursday.

Hung jury forces mistrial in case of man accused of carrying assault rifle near Amarillo ISD schools

(KVII) The trial of a man accused of driving around with a loaded assault rifle near two Amarillo schools ended in a hung jury. Noel Aysaiah Garcia was tried for two counts of attempted capital murder of multiple persons. The jury deliberated for roughly three hours, but was unable to decide on a unanimous verdict. Garcia is also accused of threatening to kill Randall County Court at Law No. 1 Judge James Anderson, and two Randall County deputies in May 2023.

UT System, community colleges complying with Texas’ DEI ban, auditors find

(Texas Tribune) Texas’ second audit of public colleges’ compliance with the state’s diversity, equity and inclusion ban found no violations at the University of Texas System and 15 community colleges, even as conservative activists continue to accuse some of keeping DEI-related work alive under new names.

UNT students say campus changes are reshaping the university they knew

(Houston Chronicle) University of North Texas students say growing academic restrictions, program changes and campus policy shifts are reshaping the school they once knew. Frustrations became so fierce they spilled into a mock funeral protest at Thursday’s Board of Regents meeting in Fort Worth.

Texas A&M University–San Antonio partners with local school districts to boost teacher education attainment

(San Antonio Report) Texas A&M University-San Antonio is partnered with 18 school districts to help fill teaching gaps while also helping graduate students obtain their degrees.

Baylor backs new AI master’s as part of $982 million budget

(Houston Chronicle) As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes nearly every corner of the world, one Texas university is making a major bet on the next generation of tech talent. Baylor University’s Board of Regents on Thursday approved nearly a $1 billion budget for the 2026-27 year, including funding for a new AI-related master’s program, according to a university news release.

Opposing broadcaster seems to urge plunking of ‘cocky’ softball player in head

(Fort Worth Star-Telegram) A radio commentator affiliated with Hallsville ISD said he “wouldn’t be mad” if a White Settlement Brewer softball player got hit in the head Wednesday during Game 1 of a UIL high school softball Class 5A Division II state semifinal series at Athens High School. It aired on Bobcat Radio (104.9 FM in Hallsville), which is a non-profit project owned by the Hallsville Independent School District and managed by the Hallsville ISD Technology department.

Texas’ teen barbecue kings (and queen) hail from Southlake

(Dallas Morning News) The Carroll ISD BBQ team won the state grand champion honor following competition in April, and cooked for Carroll ISD school board members before the start of their regular meeting on May 18, 2026.

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