Education

The last week of October is International Bat Week. Our Samantha Larned reports on research at Texas Tech's Natural Resource Management Department into how bats adapt to human infrastructure in the state. Governor Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that the Texas Workforce Commission has awarded grants to four West Texas school districts as part of the Jobs and Educations for Texans program. Two of those grants are in partnership with South Plains College to train Denver City ISD and Seagraves ISD.

Quail hunting season kicks off in Texas on Saturday. Our Bishop Van Buren reports the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department says it is encouraged by population numbers, but quail hunting at the Lake Alan Henry Wildlife Mitigation Area has been canceled again this year. Experts say Texas is still experiencing a teacher certification crisis. KERA's Bill Zeeble reports students could pay the price, even after new state legislative efforts begin.

More than half of new Texas classroom teachers who joined the profession last year lacked certification. Education leaders say that's hurting students and district budgets.

Fewer Texas teachers are considering leaving the classroom compared to last year, but Houston Public Media’s Michael Adkison reports the vast majority are still thinking about it. The Supreme Court will consider whether regular marijuana users can legally own guns after a request from the Justice Department. KERA’s Toluwani Osibamowo explains the court is reviving a Texas man's felony gun charge to consider the issue.

Private schools looking to educate participating students may also have a chance to apply to the program before the end of the year.

The new law, called the "Campus Protection Act," requires student groups to get the university's permission before inviting guest speakers to campus, among other restrictions. Students have raised concerns that these changes limit their free speech.

Following allegations of abuse against special needs students on campus, Midland ISD school board members have voted to terminate the school's principal. Lubbock ISD is facing an investigation of its own after a lawsuit from parents of a three-year-old who say a former Lubbock teacher abused their child. The school voucher program recently approved by the state legislature has an official name: Texas Education Freedom Account. The program is set to begin in the 2026-27 school year.

Faculty have spent weeks seeking clarity on new restrictions, which have often been issued by word of mouth. A written Q&A was rescinded.

A sinkhole near Paducah has closed County Road 485 to 489 in Cottle County, and TxDOT warns it’s nearly 70 feet deep and still growing. Today is the final day to register to vote ahead of Texas’ November election, the Texas Newsroom's Lucio Vasquez reports it will feature 17 proposed amendments to the state constitution. Also, a new report ranks Texas second in the nation for book bans in public schools.

The funding deal would reportedly ask the university to adopt a stricter definition of gender and a tuition freeze, among other conditions.