Education

Lubbock ISD’s Board of Trustees is meeting Thursday night to discuss a proposed plan that would give Lubbock ISD standards to determine which area schools will be considered for consolidation or closure in the future. The board will meet at the LISD Administration Building tonight at 5 p.m. With Lubbock expecting extreme cold this weekend, including potential freezing rain, snow, and ice, our reporter Michelle Waida has tips from the Department of Public Safety on how to stay safe on the road.

A new state sales tax report shows improvement for Lubbock businesses in November—ranking the city second statewide in percentage sales tax increase compared to last year. Plus, Houston Public Media's Andrew Schneider reports faith leaders across Texas are urging school boards to reject new rules carving out time for prayer and Bible readings in public and charter schools as a key deadline approaches.

The Texas Education Agency received more than 350 complaints involving teachers and staff who commented on the assassination of Charlie Kirk on social media.

Applications for Texas Education Freedom Accounts can be submitted starting Feb. 4. The initiative reshapes how families can use public education dollars and sparks debate over equity, oversight and cost.

The three interventions come after the state’s education agency announced plans to take over Fort Worth ISD in October.

The governor must first win over lawmakers who have rejected similar proposals. The state may have to backfill more than $17 billion for school funding alone.

Bookmarked, based in North Texas, advertises itself as “antivirus for libraries.”

After the 2023 state legislature passed a comprehensive law about instructional materials, the Texas Education Agency is working on a list of required literary works to teach in public schools. Texas Public Radio's Camille Phillips has more on the initial discussion. Researchers at UT Arlington are calling for further study into a federal program meant to improve access to health care for rural communities. KERA’s Abigail Ruhman reports on the rural emergency hospital program.

The meeting happened days before Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pledged $1 million to help establish chapters of the conservative student group on every Texas college and high school campus.

The move comes after several families sued the district in September, alleging children with disabilities were subject to physical and emotional abuse.