Hill Country News

RRISD to hold Board of Trustee information sessions

Round Rock ISD will hold several information sessions next month for community members interested in running for the RRISD board of trustees. Those interested are invited to learn more about the … more

Staff Reports | 6/28/22

Students in class at Bowie High School in Austin. High school students in Texas have remade some — but not all — ground in their standardized test scores compared to performance before the pandemic.

Texas high school students slightly improve on some standardized tests — but haven’t fully regained ground since the pandemic

After the COVID-19 pandemic’s education disruptions caused Texas students’ standardized test scores to drop, their performance is beginning to turn around toward pre-pandemic levels in … more

By Brian Lopez, The Texas Tribune | 6/23/22

Police hold a press conference in Uvalde on June 2, the week after Texas’ deadliest school shooting. School districts in Texas have created their own police departments after mass shootings, but experts and parents say more officers don’t always make campuses feel safer.

Almost 100 Texas school districts have added their own police departments since 2017, but not everyone feels safer

In the 1980s, police officers were “almost nonexistent” in the Klein Independent School District north of Houston, according to David Kimberly, chief of the district’s police … more

By María Méndez, The Texas Tribune | 6/22/22

Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath speaks to the State Board of Education members in 2019. On Tuesday, Morath detailed for lawmakers the state agency’s plans to make schools safer in the aftermath of the school shooting in Uvalde last month.

Locks on 340,000 exterior school doors across Texas will be checked as part of Uvalde shooting response

In the wake of the deadliest school shooting in state history, the Texas Education Agency plans to check whether hundreds of thousands of external school building doors lock properly before the next … more

By Brian Lopez, The Texas Tribune | 6/21/22

Students work at their desks during a geometry class at Chapa Middle School in Kyle on Aug. 24, 2021.

Texas rejects more rigorous teacher certification exam

The State Board of Education on Friday unanimously rejected a new teacher certification exam that supporters dubbed the solution to prepare and retain new teachers, but critics worried would create … more

By Brian Lopez and Kate McGee, The Texas Tribune | 6/18/22

Texas rejects more rigorous teacher certification exam

The State Board of Education on Friday unanimously rejected a new teacher certification exam that supporters dubbed the solution to prepare and retain new teachers, but critics worried would create … more

By Brian Lopez and Kate McGee, The Texas Tribune | 6/17/22

Leander High School valedictorian Andy Lieou addresses graduating seniors and attendees at the LHS graduation ceremony last Thursday.

"I'm Done" : Local high school students graduate, move to next chapter

Local high school graduations returned to the H-E-B Center, with Leander and Round Rock ISD students walking the stage to receive their diplomas last week. more

5/30/22

PEC awards scholarships to local students

Ten high school students and four adults were awarded scholarships from Pedernales Electric Cooperative to help pay for expenses at any accredited university, college, junior college, technical … more

Staff Reports | 5/27/22

An elementary school in San Antonio in 2018. A lot of details about school safety measures in Texas are largely left up to more than 1,200 public school districts and charter schools, though the state does require certain planning and emergency drills.

Texas has some safety requirements for public schools — but leaves most of the particulars up to education officials

School safety measures in Texas are largely left up to its more than 1,200 public school districts and charter schools, though the state requires emergency plans and safety drills — and only … more

By María Méndez, The Texas Tribune | 5/25/22

Leander ISD trustees approved pay increases for teachers and other staff at their May 19 board meeting.

Leander ISD adopts pay increases for teachers, other staff

Following a number of other Central Texas school districts, Leander ISD trustees approved a plan to raise teacher pay by 5%, with a 4% pay increase going to all other staff, at their May 19 board … more

Staff Reports | 5/25/22

Vista Ridge High School, Cedar Park, Texas.

Local Students take top awards at Texas Science and Engineering Fair

Students from multiple local schools brought home top prizes at the Texas Science and Engineering Fair (TSEF). TSEF is an annual state science competition for students in sixth … more

Staff Reports | 5/24/22

Visitors attended a Keller ISD school board meeting on April 25.

Texas school board association breaks from national group over letter requesting help from Biden administration

The Texas Association of School Boards, the state group representing the state’s 1,024 public school boards, has severed its ties with the National School Boards Association. The move came … more

By Kate McGee, The Texas Tribune | 5/24/22

Students work at laptops on their desks at Chapa Middle School in Kyle on Aug. 24, 2021.

Texas will resume grading public schools based on students’ STAAR test results

For the first time since the pandemic began, Texas public schools will be rated based on how students score on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness — more commonly known as the … more

By Brian Lopez, The Texas Tribune | 5/19/22

Amber Sorenson holds a check for a donation to Twirling to Fight Cancer.

Spirit Batons fight cancer

Amber Sorenson, a Stony Point High School junior, was named the Twirling to Fight Cancer high school ambassador. She earned this distinction after participating a nationwide contest in May 2021, … more

Staff Report | 5/8/22

Border Patrol officers process a migrant family after they crossed the Rio Grande into the United States on Thursday, May 5, 2022, in Roma, Texas. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images/TNS)

Texas Gov. Abbott sparks backlash with talk of rolling back free school for immigrant kids

Gov. Greg Abbott has infuriated immigration advocates and educators by suggesting Texas may challenge a longstanding U.S. Supreme Court decision that says states and localities … more

Robert T. Garrett, The Dallas Morning News (TNS) | 5/6/22

Artie L. Henry Middle School, Cedar Park, Texas.

Do you know where your child is? SMART tag program can help

Leander ISD is testing a program that gives parents real time alerts for bus pick ups and drop offs. The school district introduced the pilot program on six campuses that allows parents to … more

Staff Reports | 5/5/22

Kindergarten teacher Angie Hogan reads a book to her class in September 2020 at Highland Village Elementary. The State Board for Educator Certification has adopted the Educative Teacher Performance Assessment in an effort to better prepare new teachers and keep them in the profession.

Texas moves one step closer to adopting a new, more rigorous teacher certification exam

A state board on Friday voted in favor of requiring a new teacher certification exam in an effort to better prepare new teachers and keep them in the profession. The 11-member State Board for … more

By Brian Lopez, The Texas Tribune | 5/1/22

On Friday, the 11-member State Board for Educator Certification will vote on whether to adopt a new teacher licensing test.:

Facing a teacher shortage, Texas considers a more rigorous teacher certification exam

At a time when more Texas teachers are leaving the classroom, the state’s licensing board is considering a new certification exam that could help better prepare new teachers — and perhaps … more

By Brian Lopez, The Texas Tribune | 4/29/22

Jennifer Mushtaler, River Place resident, stands on Scotch Trail at the entrance of the former 3M campus. She has been working since last fall on opening up a bus-only lane through the site.

New bus-only lane to go through former 3M site to access Vandegrift High School and Four Points Middle School

A new bus-only lane opened this week to reduce traffic congestion at Vandegrift High School and Four Points Middle School. Leander ISD worked with Karlin Real Estate, the owner of the former 3M … more

By Lynette Haaland, Four Points News | 4/27/22

RRISD earns music education distinction

Round Rock ISD received the Best Communities for Music Education designation from the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation. The district was one of 738 in the nation to earn the … more

Staff Reports | 4/27/22

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