Lubbock ISD

A debate over books in Texas' public school libraries picked up new attention last week, when Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick threatened legislative action unless Texas school districts pull books from the shelves that he and certain activists believe are "harmful" to students and families and violate Texas' Senate Bill 13. In a meeting of Lubbock ISD's board of trustees, the district stood by the parent-led library council and book review system established under state law.

The Texas Education Agency has released the accountability rating for the 2025-2026 school year. Lubbock-Cooper ISD and Frenship ISD had lower scores in their overall rating compared to the year before, while Lubbock ISD continued a steady increase over the past two school years.

Lubbock ISD and Texas Tech K-12 have launched a new virtual education program, intended to reach more families and provide resources for student success. Applications are open through August 10.

A state ban on most forms of THC went into effect on Friday and Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider reports it's already becoming an issue in Texas' U.S. Senate race. Yesterday, Lubbock ISD announced a partnership with Texas Tech K-12 to create a new online program called Lubbock ISD Virtual Education, or LIVE. Applications are open now and will close on Aug. 10. You can find more information and apply at LubbockISD.org/LIVE.

A Hood County judge has sided against two proposed data center projects in a lawsuit. KERA's Emmanuel Rivas reports the developers argued the campuses should be automatically approved because of a missed deadline. Lubbock ISD is hosting its annual registration blitz tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at each of its campuses. Parents can register their students at any LISD campus, no matter which school their child will attend. Registration will require the student's birth certificate and social security card, the guardian's a government-issued photo ID, and proof of residency.

More than 1 in 5 Texans with student loans are in default, meaning they have not made a payment in at least 270 days. KERA’s Bill Zeeble reports that’s at least 10 percent more than a year ago. Lubbock Independent School District is hosting a town hall meeting to discuss potential names for the three new elementary schools being built, tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at the Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center. Our Charley Maranville reports the district is taking recommendations until August 1.

Lubbock ISD’s school library advisory council first met in November to review books flagged as potentially inappropriate to be on the shelves, in compliance with state law. Lubbock-area state senator Charles Perry helped author the bill which established these councils, but at a recent board of trustees meeting, he joined a group of community members saying the district's process is flawed.

Lubbock Independent School District is seeking recommendations from the community in the naming of three new schools. The board of trustees will consider names based on geographical features, names with historical significance, names of retired educators or board members, or that recognize community partners. You can submit suggestions through Aug. 1. Tonight, the Lubbock ISD board of trustees is holding a public hearing regarding the proposed district budget and tax rate for the upcoming school year. Our Samantha Larned reports the proposed tax rate is unchanged from last year and the total budget is a more than 11% decrease from last year. You can find links to the budget and to request public comment here.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation yesterday into nearly 30 school districts, including Lubbock ISD, regarding Texas’ Senate Bills 10 and 11. Lubbock ISD released a statement saying it is in compliance with both state laws. A recent report from the University of Texas at Austin revealed that data centers could potentially account for 3-9 percent of the Texas' water use by 2040. KEDT's Rob Boscamp reports they currently represent less than 1%.

At the end of 2024, the announcement that three Lubbock ISD schools were to be closed or consolidated led to many questions from Lubbock parents on policy and transparency, with the district saying more closures would be considered. Our reporter Brad Burt has more on how the school district is responding, including a dashboard with summarized data on performance metrics, staff experience and enrollment.