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Schools
Most Harris County school districts saw enrollment decline in 2025, data shows
School districts located in or partially within Harris County saw a combined 3% decline in enrollment over the past year, according to Texas Education Agency data....
Cy-Fair ISD mother charged with hitting her son, threatening to shoot up his school: Court records
According to the allegations, the mom was captured on video hitting her son at least 13 times. Records also show she allegedly had her son wear a dress to embarrass him....
Houston ISD's state takeover timeline could face step back with addition of four F-rated campuses
The Texas Education Agency has said state-controlled HISD must eliminate multi-year failing accountability grades at all campuses before the state returns control to the district....
A Wheatley High School teacher claimed his students couldn’t read or write. Then the school got an ‘A’ rating
A viral video posted on social media by a Houston ISD teacher with a controversial past has raised questions about the effectiveness of a state takeover, broader literacy trends and educator decorum....
Texas schools see modest improvement in 2026 A-F ratings. Here’s how they fared
About 85% of Texas public schools earned a passing grade in the state's latest A-F accountability ratings, while roughly one-quarter of districts and campuses scored higher than they did last year....
1 detained after incident involving gun at KIPP Mosaic Academy in southwest Houston, HPD says
KIPP confirmed that no students or staff were harmed during an incident involving a parent and an unaffiliated individual in southwest Houston.
5 HISD schools receive F ratings a year after there were no failing campuses
Wheatley High School, where a string of F ratings triggered the ongoing state takeover of the district, earned an A for the first time.
Houston ISD superintendent responds to teacher's viral video: 'That is why we're here'
Superintendent Mike Miles responded to a HISD teacher's emotional video, stating the teacher's concern has been a concern for years.
La Porte ISD faces public education challenges head on as they welcome student back to school
We often talk about big school districts like HISD, Katy, Fort Bend and Cy-Fair, but ABC13 reporter Lileana Pearson is showing how smaller districts tackle challenges head-on....
Waller ISD faces backlog in registrations as hundreds of students wait to start classes
The slew of applications has created a backlog in the registrar's office and now the district is telling families they’ll need to wait five to seven business days before leaders can complete their registration. As of Wednesday, Aug. 12, after the official school year had started,...
HISD STAAR scores show academic gains three years after state takeover; Mike Miles says ‘the work isn’t done’
HOUSTON – Three years after the Texas Education Agency took over Houston ISD, new academic and accountability data show significant gains across the state’s largest school district, including dramatic improvements at campuses operating under Superintendent Mike Miles’ New Educati...
HISD teacher says he ‘broke down’ after seniors struggled to read and write on second day of classes
An HISD teacher said he “literally broke down” in his classroom on the second day of the school year after, according to his account posted on social media, several senior students struggled to complete a short writing exercise. Darius Williams, who is listed in the Wheatley High...
As a new school year starts, Mike Miles defends controversial changes in Houston ISD
AI is moving into the classroom at some campuses in Texas’ largest school district, which also faces state- and federal-level investigations over its changes to special education services....
HISD superintendent Miles pushes NES model despite controversy surrounding program
Students at Jefferson Elementary are two days into the new school year, and Houston Independent School District’s New Education System — known as the NES model — is already in full swing. Superintendent Mike Miles and the school’s principal are working to ensure teachers make eve...
Despite federal efforts to drop some children’s vaccine recommendations, Texas requirements unchanged
Public health officials said some parents are confused about what vaccines are required to attend Texas schools amid efforts to change recommendations....
Hello Houston (August 10, 2026)
Today: We discuss Rice University’s expanded financial aid program, talk with extreme weather and disaster scientist “Hurricane Hal,” break down new changes at Houston ISD for the 2026 – 27 school year, and more....
Black-majority schools in Texas receive more Fs than A ratings, leaving parents with tough choices
Black Texas families weigh whether to send their children to schools with more academic resources — but potentially fewer of their values.
What to know about HISD's cell phone policy as students return to class
You may have heard of the "No Personal Communication Device" rule. Here's what Houston ISD parents need to know as students head back to class.
Back to school at HISD (Aug. 10, 2026)
On Monday's show: We discuss the first day of school at HISD and other education developments, including how changes in special education at the district might affect parents and students....
Enrollment decline, lunch cuts, bus routes: Houston ISD begins school year with new changes
More than 160,000 students are expected to return to HISD classrooms as the new school year begins, but the district is starting the year with fewer students and less funding....
HISD parent guide: Tools, safety tips, resources for new school year
Houston Independent School District, the largest school district in Texas, wants parents to be equipped with the right tools heading into the new school year. From communication apps to bus registration, here’s what families need to know. Stay connected with ParentSquare, Connect...
Houston ISD launches SMARTtag to boost bus safety
Houston ISD is launching a new tool this school year to help parents stay connected with students who ride the bus. It’s called SMARTtag. HISD says all students who are registered to use any of the district’s transportation services will get a special SMARTtag badge. They will sc...
Back-to-school health (Aug. 7, 2026)
On Friday's show: As school begins for many students, a pediatrician offers advice for keeping kids healthy throughout the school year. And we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week....
Need help with food costs? Back-to-school resources for Houston-area families
Houston-area families struggling with food costs can find help through HISD, Kids’ Meals and the Houston Food Bank. Here’s how to apply for school-meal benefits, locate a pantry and access other assistance...
New eligibility requirements force district to cancel free lunches at 33 schools, HISD says
With fewer students on SNAP, HISD announced this summer that they are forced to stop automatic free lunch at 33 campuses.
Harris County officials warn families as e-bike, e-scooter injuries surge
Officials say the devices are becoming increasingly popular among elementary and middle school students, but many families may not fully understand how fast they can travel or the injuries they can cause....
It’s a tax-free weekend for school supplies in Texas. Houston lawmakers want to expand the annual initiative
On Friday through Sunday, some types of clothing, backpacks and other school supplies priced at $100 or less qualify for a sales tax exemption.
Texas releases first Education Freedom Account participation data; Houston-area districts among top recipients
Texas Education Freedom Accounts, Texas school vouchers, Education Freedom Account participation, Houston ISD vouchers, Fort Bend ISD, school choice Texas, Texas Private Schools Association, Texas AFT, Houston education news, Texas public schools...
Here’s when the 2026-27 school year starts for districts across the Houston area
Ahead of the first day of classes for most local school districts, there is a statewide sales tax holiday for school supplies.
New lawsuit uses Texas religious-freedom law to challenge Ten Commandments mandate
Three Houston-area mothers are suing the State of Texas and three local school districts in an effort to remove Ten Commandments posters from public-school classrooms. The lawsuit was filed July 30 in Harris County District Court by Emily Roth, Audrey Rosa Nath and Sanjam Kaur So...
Two Houston ISD elementary campuses will pilot Alpha School’s AI-powered education program this fall
Clemente Martinez and Gregg Elementary schools will utilize “TimeBack,” a two-hour learning tool developed by Alpha School that has come under criticism in other states....
33 Houston ISD schools ending automatic free lunch program: What parents need to know
As families prepare for a new school year, some Houston ISD parents will notice an important change when it comes to school meals. This school year, 33 Houston ISD campuses will no longer participate in the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) , a program that allows qua...
Which families are using ESAs? Here’s what we know about Texas’ first school vouchers
The number of Texas students using taxpayer money for private school or home-school could increase as more families accept invites.
Texas schools must tailor outdoor athletic practices based on heat readings in new statewide safety measure
As preseason football workouts kicked off Monday, schools in the Houston area and across the state were required to measure the wet bulb globe temperature and adjust their practices accordingly....
Why getting your birth certificates ahead of the school year is so important
As families across the Houston area prepare for the first day of school, Saturday became another stop on the back-to-school checklist. Instead of shopping for backpacks or notebooks, hundreds of parents visited Harris County Clerk annexes to pick up one document many schools requ...
How to apply for free or reduced cost meals at Houston ISD schools
The new school year is rapidly approaching and with its arrival, so is the reality of lunches for children. Some families may qualify for free or reduced cost meals for their children at Houston ISD schools, but there is a process to determine and apply for it. Application Famili...
Three Houston-area moms sue over Ten Commandments in schools. They say it violates Texas’ own laws
A 2025 state law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms was upheld last spring by a federal appeals court. Now it's being challenged in a state-level court in Harris County....
New HISD athletics rules start Aug. 1: Here's what you can and can't bring to games
Fans heading to Houston ISD athletic events this school year will need to plan ahead. Starting Aug. 1, HISD is rolling out new security and entry rules for UIL sporting events at district athletic facilities, including a new clear bag policy, student ID requirements and adult sup...
HISD families should prepare for these back-to-school changes
HISD families should verify campus assignments, transportation information and school meal eligibility before the new school year. Here's what parents need to know about Bluebonnet Learning and other changes....
‘Why here?’: Hockley residents push back against proposed fuel storage terminal near neighborhoods, school
A proposed fuel storage terminal in northwest Harris County is drawing growing opposition from residents who say they’re worried about potential impacts on their health, quality of life and property values. The project, proposed by Magellan Pipeline Company, L.P., now part of ONE...
Hello Houston (July 29, 2026)
Today: We discuss the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s record investment in Texas students through scholarships, talk with Houston artist Tay Butler about what shapes his work, dispel common misconceptions about organ donation, and more....
Harris County Clerk to hold Saturday birth certificate event to help families get ready for school
With the first day of school around the corner, the Harris County Clerk’s Office is opening its doors on a weekend to help parents and guardians check a key item off their back-to-school list: securing a certified birth certificate for student registration. The office will host i...
The week in politics (July 29, 2026)
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. And we reflect on the role the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee had on Houston and the city’s desegregation more than 50 years ago....
Jordanian athlete found safe near Chicago after leaving Rice University in the night, school says
Rabe’e Ata Juma’a Alqaq, who was in Houston to compete in the Genuine Cup at Rice University, reportedly traveled to Chicago of his own accord after telling his team he was going for a walk....