Education

As students across the nation are participating in walkouts over the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Texas Public Radio's Marian Navarro reports Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has announced that three school districts are under investigation for allegedly facilitating protests. Local and state law enforcement met in Lubbock yesterday to cut the ribbon on the new anti-gang center in North Lubbock.

Last week, Lubbock ISD’s Board of Trustees approved the locations for three new elementary schools as part of the district's 2025 bond election. Our Samantha Larned reports on the sites for Bean Elementary, a new building to serve both Williams and Stewart Elementary students, and the combined Wolffarth and McWhorter Elementary campuses. A Texas Medicaid leader says her office is taking steps to address potential fraud in the program. KERA’s Abigail Ruhman reports it comes after the governor called for stronger anti-fraud enforcement.

Yesterday afternoon, students from Lubbock’s Estacado High School and the Margaret Talkington School for Young Women Leaders walked out of their schools and down Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd to protest actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Our Brad Burt reports this comes after guidance from the Texas Education Agency outlined the consequences for students and teachers who participate in demonstrations during the school day.

Young Texans, including students in Lubbock, continued protests and walkouts over the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, despite threats from the governor and state education leadership.

This past weekend, LubbockPRIDE collaborated with other local groups to provide information and resources for the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Our reporter Samantha Larned spoke with an organizer who said that these conversations are especially important right now. The Shallowater ISD Board of Trustees announced yesterday that Aron Strickland will be taking over as the district’s next superintendent.

Lubbock Police officials are asking drivers to be careful on the Marsha Sharp Freeway as officers conduct accident investigations today beginning at 9 A.M. This will affect westbound traffic on the Marsha Sharp between Quaker and Slide roads and eastbound lanes near University and Avenue Q. The Texas Education Agency has provided new guidance regarding the response to student walkouts, amid recent protests over immigration enforcement. The Texas Newsroom's Lucio Vasquez reports consequences could include possible state intervention. Tomorrow, Lubbock Mayor Mark McBrayer is hosting Coffee with the Mayor in District 1, starting at 7 A.M. at Amigos located at 112 N. University Avenue.

Which private schools can participate in the $1 billion program, how they will be vetted and how they will serve students with special needs are questions raised by education experts and observers.

The move comes as the state's education agency unveils a new enforcement role to oversee investigations into alleged misconduct by Texas teachers.

Senate Bill 11, passed last year, requires Texas public school boards and charter school governing bodies to vote by March 1 on whether to implement periods for group religious activity.

The ban, which went into effect in September, requires that school districts prohibit students from using cellphones and other personal wireless communication devices during school hours.