Education

The new lessons AISD introduced this fall start in kindergarten and run through high school. But not all students will participate. Parents and guardians must opt their kids into the lessons because of a state law Texas lawmakers passed in 2021.

Now that four new trustees have officially joined the Austin ISD school board, they are moving quickly to select a new interim superintendent. Their goal is to name someone for the job by Dec. 15.

The Austin ISD board of trustees hired Anthony Mays to be the interim superintendent in June following the departure of Stephanie Elizalde. He plans to begin his new role with Alief ISD in January.

The board of trustees approved the new student holiday back in September. District officials said the move addresses school safety concerns and gives eligible students and staff a chance to vote.

Lockhart ISD plans to build a new elementary school and expand its high school if voters approve the 2022 bond. The entire district is at 97% capacity from pre-K through 12th grade.

One of the candidates is running unopposed and two incumbents are facing challengers. Whoever is elected will help choose the district’s next superintendent.

A student under the age of 18 is facing two felony charges for allegedly making threats against Akins Early College High School in South Austin.

The Central Texas school district first announced the Drive.Pair.Share initiative in June when gas prices hit record highs in the state. The goal of the program is to ease the financial pressures teachers and other employees are facing.

To help fill vacancies during a teacher shortage, a handful of teachers from Spain began working in Elgin ISD this month through a partnership with the Spanish Ministry of Education.

Tens of thousands of teachers in Texas have left the profession in the last year. The UT College of Education is trying to prepare and retain teachers as they face a range of challenges, from low pay to a lack of support in the classroom.