Public School

The Texas State Board of Education gave final approval Friday to a controversial new K-5 curriculum that weaves in Christian references.

H-E-B is more than just a grocery store to many Texans. It’s a place to fall in love, feel connected to Texas culture — in some ways it even functions like a government. How did the cult of H-E-B come to be?

Disability Rights Texas filed a federal lawsuit against the school district in 2021 over its failure to conduct special education evaluations within the legally required timeframe. The Austin ISD school board voted to approve the settlement last month.

A recent change in federal rules gives rural districts more options for providing summer meals. The change has allowed Smithville ISD to increase the number of kids getting healthy meals while school is out.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said last summer, participating sites served more than 13 million meals statewide. Dozens of schools in Central Texas will be offering free meals starting in late May and early June.

If the district wants to be able to offer pay raises, it will need to reduce spending by more than $30 million. One option Austin ISD is looking at is holding a tax rate election in November to generate additional revenue.

Tuesday was the last day for the Texas House to take an initial vote on Senate bills. Legislation to require the Ten Commandments in public schools did not make it to the floor by the midnight deadline.

According to PEN America, a growing number of local political and advocacy groups have focused their attacks on books featuring LGBTQ+ characters and characters of color.

Teachers are returning to classrooms next week, less than three months after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. KUT asked three teachers in Central Texas to share how they're feeling about school safety.

The district needs 85 bus drivers to be fully staffed, and right now, it has fewer than 25. The new school year begins next week.