Hill Country News

Students leave the classroom to work in the computer lab at Mata Intermediate School.

Texas teachers and students, tell us how race and racism are taught in school

After the systemic racism in American institutions was thrust into the spotlight last year, Texas lawmakers approved a controversial bill that restricts how teachers can talk about race and … more

By Texas Tribune Staff, The Texas Tribune | 6/16/21

Hill Country Christian School of Austin's robotics team ranks #8 in nation

The MegaKnytes, Hill Country Christian School of Austin's robotics team, finished the season in first place in Texas out of hundreds of 1A-6A schools. They ranked eighth overall in the nation. more

from Staff Reports | 6/9/21

States are debating whether to hold back students who are struggling academically, or let them move on. (Dreamstime/TNS)

Pandemic prompts some states to pass struggling third graders

At least 29 states and Washington, D.C., allow or require schools to hold back struggling third graders who don’t pass state standardized reading tests, the result of ongoing attempts to close … more

Aallyah Wright, Stateline.org (TNS) | 6/9/21

As graduations happen all over the country, an event in Dallas on Sunday is getting a lot of attention. Lake Highlands High School valedictorian Paxton Smith decried the "heartbeat bill" during her surprise graduation speech. A video of her speech has gone viral. (Dreamstime/TNS)

Valedictorian’s speech against Texas ‘heartbeat' abortion bill goes viral

Paxton Smith pulled the folded-up piece of paper from underneath her red graduation robe. It wasn’t the valedictorian speech she originally prepared, the one that was approved … more

Talia Richman, The Dallas Morning News (TNS) | 6/2/21

The bill would require teachers who discuss current events to make sure to share various perspectives without giving deference to one side.

Texas bill limiting teaching of current events, historic racism appears headed for governor after Senate revives it

Texas GOP senators revived a contentious bill Friday night that would limit how Texas teachers can talk about current events and America’s history of racism in the classroom, hours after House … more

By Kate McGee, The Texas Tribune | 5/28/21

Angeliki Vassilatos, an 18-year-old senior at Whitney Young Magnet High School, is taking a gap year following graduation to work on a farm in Seattle. She'll be attending Gallaudet University, but not until fall 2022. She is deaf, so having to wear masks is an extreme barrier for communication. (Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

Pandemic Gap Year 2.0: New wave of graduates deferring admission to college

Angeliki Vassilatos knew she wanted to go to a college with a program for people who are deaf or a significant population of deaf students. Deaf since age 9, the senior at Whitney … more

Clare Proctor, Chicago Tribune (TNS) | 5/26/21

Students in class at Bowie High School in Austin. The Texas Legislature could pass a bill that restricts how teachers can discuss current events in the classroom and teach about America’s historical treatment of people of color.

Texas educators worry bill limiting the teaching of current events and historic racism would “whitewash history”

Dallas Independent School District teacher Jocelyn Foshay was guiding a social studies lesson with her middle school class about the amendment that protects Americans from unreasonable search and … more

By Kate McGee, The Texas Tribune | 5/26/21

Texas’ divisive bill limiting how students learn about current events and historic racism passed by Senate

After hours of passionate debate about how Texas teachers can instruct school children about America’s history of subjugating people of color, the state Senate early Saturday morning advanced a … more

By Kate McGee, The Texas Tribune | 5/25/21

Texas lawmakers are close to requiring some public schools and universities to display the phrase “In God We Trust" if such signage is donated.

Some Texas schools would be required to hang "In God We Trust" signs under measure nearing passage by lawmakers

The Texas Legislature is on the verge of approving a new law that would require some public schools and universities to display the phrase “In God We Trust” in prominent places inside all … more

By Neelam Bohra, The Texas Tribune | 5/24/21

Leander school district receives national criticism from authors of books pulled

Leander ISD received national criticism for the books that are under review for the student choice book clubs. Carmen Maria Machado, the author of one of the books under review called “In the Dream … more

Mizelle Mayo, HCN Education Reporter | 5/22/21

Gov. Greg. Abbott says no public schools or government entities will be allowed to require masks

Gov. Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that public schools can no longer require masks on their campuses starting June 5. The decision was part of a new executive order that bans governmental entities in … more

By Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune | 5/18/21

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention testifies during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing on the federal coronavirus response on Capitol Hill on March 18, 2021, in Washington, DC. (Susan Walsh/Pool/Getty Images/TNS)

US schools should maintain mask requirements, CDC says

U.S. schools should maintain mask requirements at least through the end of the academic year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its latest guidance, even after saying fully … more

Tony Czuczka, Bloomberg News (TNS) | 5/16/21

A student walks down the hallway at Cactus Elementary School in Cactus.

Texas House adds MLK and Frederick Douglass speeches to bill that would mandate teaching “informed American patriotism”

The Texas House has advanced legislation that would require K-12 school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to teach “informed American patriotism” through the founding … more

By Megan Menchaca, The Texas Tribune | 5/14/21

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director, gives her opening statement during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing to discuss the ongoing federal response to COVID-19 on May 11, 2021, in Washington, DC. (Greg Nash/Pool/Getty Images/TNS)

US to review travel, school COVID guidance after new mask rule

The Biden administration will begin updating its guidance for travel and other sectors — likely further relaxing rules across the U.S. after largely lifting its mask mandate for vaccinated … more

Josh Wingrove, Bloomberg News (TNS) | 5/14/21

High school students walk to their next class after the bell rings at Elsik Ninth Grade Center in Houston in 2018.

Texas public schools couldn’t require critical race theory lessons under bill given initial House approval

The Texas House has given preliminary approval to legislation that takes aim at critical race theory and would limit what public school students can be taught about the United States’ history … more

By Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune | 5/11/21

Kindergarten students line up on social distancing markers on the first day of in-person classes at Highland Village Elementary last year.

Resuming in-person learning at Texas schools last fall accelerated spread of COVID-19, study says

When Texas schools returned to in-person education last fall, the spread of the coronavirus “gradually but substantially accelerated,” leading to at least 43,000 additional cases and 800 … more

By Marissa Martinez, The Texas Tribune | 5/10/21

Mehak Gaba from Vista Ridge High School won the 2021 Texas District 31 Art Competition spopnsored by U.S. Rep. John Carter. Gabba's piece, Beauty of Confidence, will hang in the Capitol for one year where thousands of members, staff and visitors can enjoy it.

Vista Ridge student wins Congressional art competition

Mehak Gaba from Vista Ridge High School won the 2021 Texas District 31 Art Competition sponsored by ... more

Staff Reports | 5/9/21

State Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston, on the House floor on May 5, 2021.

Democrat revives Texas bill restricting transgender students' sports participation in apparent act of retaliation against his party

Democratic state Rep. Harold Dutton on Friday revived and helped advance a bill that would restrict transgender students from participating in school sports, in what appears to be a retaliatory … more

By Megan Munce and Kate McGee, The Texas Tribune | 5/7/21

Parents hold students out on 'S.I.C.K. day' to pressure Leander ISD to review more book club titles

A series of books on a high school book club's optional reading list has spawned online protests and now, a skip day that some parents used to hold their students out ... more

Mizelle Mayo, HCN Education Reporter | 5/5/21

Texas lawmakers are seeking to limit how and what public school students are taught about race.

GOP lawmakers want to ban "woke philosophies" like critical race theory in Texas schools

Mirroring moves by other red-state legislatures across the country, Texas Republicans are attempting to reach into classrooms and limit what public school students are taught about the nation's … more

By Duncan Agnew, The Texas Tribune | 5/5/21

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