This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateTexas Education Agency officials are advising school districts to follow controversial federal guidance on a key section of the coronavirus relief law, which some education advocates believe will result in private schools getting millions of dollars more at the expense of public schools.The guidance, issued in late April by U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ administration, delivers added financial support from the $2 trillion CARES Act to private schools across Texas, many of which are expecting to lose students and money as...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateTexas Education Agency officials are advising school districts to follow controversial federal guidance on a key section of the coronavirus relief law, which some education advocates believe will result in private schools getting millions of dollars more at the expense of public schools.The guidance, issued in late April by U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ administration, delivers added financial support from the $2 trillion CARES Act to private schools across Texas, many of which are expecting to lose students and money as...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateHouston ISD officials hope to provide every student with a district-issued laptop in 2020-21 and beyond, an ambitious target that would deliver much-needed technology to children but require voters to approve a bond package in the next several months.Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said HISD officials are “working toward a goal” of buying computers throughout the upcoming school year for all 150,000-plus elementary and middle school students. HISD high school students already get computers under an initiative, known as...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateHouston ISD officials hope to provide every student with a district-issued laptop in 2020-21 and beyond, an ambitious target that would deliver much-needed technology to children but require voters to approve a bond package in the next several months.Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said HISD officials are “working toward a goal” of buying computers throughout the upcoming school year for all 150,000-plus elementary and middle school students. HISD high school students already get computers under an initiative, known as...WW…

The February and the home of the district’s then-chief operating officer stemmed from allegations that the high-ranking administrator engaged in a kickback scheme with a district contractor, newly filed court records show.In a civil forfeiture complaint filed by an assistant U.S. attorney Thursday, federal investigators allege former chief operating officer Brian Busby conspired to pay an unnamed contractor for work performed by district employees in exchange for kickbacks. Federal agents seized $90,150 in cash from Busby’s home in February, as well as $95,874 in cash from the home and...…The February and the home of the district’s then-chief operating officer stemmed from allegations that the high-ranking administrator engaged in a kickback scheme with a district contractor, newly filed court records show.In a civil forfeiture complaint filed by an assistant U.S. attorney Thursday, federal investigators allege former chief operating officer Brian Busby conspired to pay an unnamed contractor for work performed by district employees in exchange for kickbacks. Federal agents seized $90,150 in cash from Busby’s home in February, as well as $95,874 in cash from the home and...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateIn the debate over when to reopen Texas school buildings, many advocates for resuming in-person classes have pointed to western Europe and eastern Asia, where several countries have started face-to-face instruction again and largely avoided surges of the novel coronavirus.The comparison, however, relies on a potentially dubious assumption: that Texas, home to one of the world’s largest COVID-19 outbreaks, will get the same results as Denmark, France, Germany and other countries that curbed the coronavirus before reopening...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateIn the debate over when to reopen Texas school buildings, many advocates for resuming in-person classes have pointed to western Europe and eastern Asia, where several countries have started face-to-face instruction again and largely avoided surges of the novel coronavirus.The comparison, however, relies on a potentially dubious assumption: that Texas, home to one of the world’s largest COVID-19 outbreaks, will get the same results as Denmark, France, Germany and other countries that curbed the coronavirus before reopening...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateTexas education officials on Friday provided more flexibility to school districts that want to limit or delay in-person classes to start the 2020-21 school year, a measure of relief for educators and families who argued the state was putting public health at risk by moving too fast to reopen campuses.Revised guidance released by the Texas Education Agency allows public school districts to require students with at-home technology to begin the year in virtual classes for up to eight weeks — up from the original three-week...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateTexas education officials on Friday provided more flexibility to school districts that want to limit or delay in-person classes to start the 2020-21 school year, a measure of relief for educators and families who argued the state was putting public health at risk by moving too fast to reopen campuses.Revised guidance released by the Texas Education Agency allows public school districts to require students with at-home technology to begin the year in virtual classes for up to eight weeks — up from the original three-week...WW…

Gov. Greg Abbott signaled Tuesday that changes likely are coming to the state’s , with local officials potentially getting more latitude to keep campuses closed in August.Abbott offered few details on potential tweaks to the state’s guidelines, which have drawn criticism from several leading education groups amid a continued spike in COVID-19 cases, but he suggested new regulations could be released in the next few days.“I think Mike Morath, the commissioner of education, is expected to announce a longer period of time for online learning at the beginning of the school year, and flexibility...…Gov. Greg Abbott signaled Tuesday that changes likely are coming to the state’s , with local officials potentially getting more latitude to keep campuses closed in August.Abbott offered few details on potential tweaks to the state’s guidelines, which have drawn criticism from several leading education groups amid a continued spike in COVID-19 cases, but he suggested new regulations could be released in the next few days.“I think Mike Morath, the commissioner of education, is expected to announce a longer period of time for online learning at the beginning of the school year, and flexibility...WW…

Texas education leaders can re-open campuses for in-person summer school starting June 1, as long as they institute safety protocols that include limiting the number of people in classrooms and checking students’ body temperature each day, state officials said Monday.The announcement by Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Education Agency leaders marks the first possible return to schools for some of the state’s 5 million-plus students, who have been forced to stay home since mid-March due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. State officials are not mandating that schools resume face-to-face...…Texas education leaders can re-open campuses for in-person summer school starting June 1, as long as they institute safety protocols that include limiting the number of people in classrooms and checking students’ body temperature each day, state officials said Monday.The announcement by Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Education Agency leaders marks the first possible return to schools for some of the state’s 5 million-plus students, who have been forced to stay home since mid-March due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. State officials are not mandating that schools resume face-to-face...WW…

Houston ISD administrators still want to offer minimal raises and keep employees’ health insurance costs flat in the upcoming school year, even as the novel coronavirus pandemic causes enormous uncertainty about the future of school funding, district officials said Monday.In the district’s first public budget discussions since the pandemic, Interim Chief Financial Officer Glenn Reed said HISD leaders are willing to run a meager deficit, initially projected at $18 million, to maintain its spending plan crafted before the coronavirus came to Houston. HISD easily could cover the deficit by...…Houston ISD administrators still want to offer minimal raises and keep employees’ health insurance costs flat in the upcoming school year, even as the novel coronavirus pandemic causes enormous uncertainty about the future of school funding, district officials said Monday.In the district’s first public budget discussions since the pandemic, Interim Chief Financial Officer Glenn Reed said HISD leaders are willing to run a meager deficit, initially projected at $18 million, to maintain its spending plan crafted before the coronavirus came to Houston. HISD easily could cover the deficit by...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateStudents across Greater Houston failed classes at unprecedented rates in the first marking period, with some districts reporting nearly half of their middle and high schoolers received at least one F grade because they routinely missed classes or neglected assignments.The percentage of students failing at least one class has doubled, tripled or even quadrupled in several of the region’s largest school districts, education administrators reported in recent days, a reflection of the massive upheaval caused by the novel coronavirus...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateStudents across Greater Houston failed classes at unprecedented rates in the first marking period, with some districts reporting nearly half of their middle and high schoolers received at least one F grade because they routinely missed classes or neglected assignments.The percentage of students failing at least one class has doubled, tripled or even quadrupled in several of the region’s largest school districts, education administrators reported in recent days, a reflection of the massive upheaval caused by the novel coronavirus...WW…

Houston ISD trustees voted Thursday against committing to Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan as the district’s long-term leader, opting instead to launch a national search before filling the position.In a 6-3 vote, trustees generally complimented Lathan’s lengthy tenure as interim, but ultimately concluded the district needs a deeper search for a permanent chief. Some trustees encouraged Lathan to apply for the job during the search, though it is not immediately clear whether she will.“As the largest school district in Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States, it is of the...…Houston ISD trustees voted Thursday against committing to Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan as the district’s long-term leader, opting instead to launch a national search before filling the position.In a 6-3 vote, trustees generally complimented Lathan’s lengthy tenure as interim, but ultimately concluded the district needs a deeper search for a permanent chief. Some trustees encouraged Lathan to apply for the job during the search, though it is not immediately clear whether she will.“As the largest school district in Texas and the seventh-largest in the United States, it is of the...WW…