This week in news from our schools:
- Dallas Morning News: Texas’ attempts to improve students’ math skills aren’t adding up post-COVID. According to the STAAR test results, the percentage of kids reading at grade level has returned to pre-COVID levels, but math skills, even for kids who weren’t in school yet in 2020-2022, haven’t. Click through to see the numbers, which aren’t great even with the bounce-back.
- There’s a bunch of news about lawsuits against the new and plainly unconstitutional state law (SB 10) requiring the Ten Commandments to be posted in all K-12 classrooms. Note that the wording required, as described by the Star-Telegram, is the King James version, so a sectarian version of the Commandments.
- KERA: North Texas activist group sues to block Ten Commandments in classrooms law. This suit was filed in Dallas and spearheaded by the Next Generation Action Network Legal Advocacy Fund. Also in the Star-Telegram: North Texas reverends file suit to stop Ten Commandments displays in classrooms.
- Texas Tribune: More parents sue to stop Texas’ Ten Commandments requirement in public schools. This is the ACLU lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of 16 parents of different faiths.
- D Magazine: The Faith Leaders Filing Lawsuits to Stop Texas’ Ten Commandments Requirement in Public Schools. This one covers both of the lawsuits.
- The Fort Worth Report has two stories about Arlington ISD that should be paired: Arlington ISD teachers, staff will receive a raise. Here’s how much; and Arlington ISD’s expected $13M budget deficit likely won’t stick, trustees say. Here’s why. It’s because nobody knows what school funding is going to look like for 2025-2026 after the changes in the last legislative session. Reading the article, I think the Arlington board is too optimistic, but I’m not one of their voters.
- Star-Telegram: Carroll ISD is considering a tax ratification election over projected $5M deficit. They need to do some financial shenanigans because the Lege only increased the per-student allotment by $55 and because of Robin Hood financing, Southlake Carroll sends about a third of its tax revenue to Austin for distribution.
- KERA: Parents sue Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD over school closures. It’s about Open Meetings Act violations. A lot of districts struggle with the Open Meetings Act.
- DMN: Parents, teachers ask Dallas ISD to bar ICE from any school property. ICE agents were photographed in the parking lot of a couple of schools near Love Field, which set off alarms for parents. Given that the new Chief over at DPD seems to be cooperating with ICE and the Mayor is in the President’s back pocket, I doubt Dallas ISD is going to be able to stand up to ICE. I still hope they try.
- As usual, we have a number of stories about Fort Worth ISD. I wish the DMN covered Dallas ISD as thoroughly as the Star-Telegram and the Fort Worth Report do with FWISD.
- Star-Telegram: FWISD approves non-religious phonics program from Bluebonnet. Why was it chosen? Also in the Fort Worth Report: Fort Worth ISD adopts Bluebonnet phonics program as Molinar urges literacy urgency. The program is bilingual and doesn’t include the components that use religious stories.
- Star-Telegram: Fort Worth ISD shares test results, approves programs for dyslexia and phonics. This article covers the STAAR results, with graphics, and the ongoing threat of a state takeover of FWISD
- Two from the Star-Telegram on school closures: More kids live in this Fort Worth ZIP code. So why are public schools shrinking? and Fort Worth ISD is closing Kirkpatrick schools. They’re named for Black educator. There really is a demographic decline and at the same time, it’s not surprising that the neighborhoods that are losing schools are Black and Spanish-speaking.
- Fort Worth Report: State board approves new Fort Worth charter school despite concerns over recent closures. This is Fort Worth STEAM Academy, a middle school that will be opening in the 2026-2027 school year.
- Star-Telegram editorial: You’re paying the legal bill in Keller ISD split, but you can’t see it. The legal bills for the Keller ISD board and their plan to split the district are billed in six-minute increments, adding up to $172K, but even the current board and superintendent can’t see what they’re paying for. The bills are redacted. Related, in the Fort Worth Report: Parent sues Keller ISD over alleged voter disenfranchisement. Where the case stands. This is one of the Brewer Storefront cases where they’re suing to get rid of the all at-large school boards. It’s still in its early stages.
- Fort Worth Report: Documenters: Lake Worth ISD to raise teacher pay after Legislature passes bill. The Fort Worth Report sends people to document board meetings and posts the resulting notes. This is one from Lake Worth ISD. The Dallas Free Press also does this with some governmental meetings in Dallas, though usually not for Dallas ISD. More like this, please.