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Stories by Becky Fogel, KUT

Austin public education advocates blast Trump’s order aiming to close Education Department

President Trump signed an executive order Thursday to phase out the U.S. Department of Education – an agency that provides loans and grants to college students, distributes federal funding to schools and is tasked with protecting students’ civil rights. The move…

Education • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Mar 25, 2025

Texas won’t offer a program to help feed kids over the summer. Advocates push for change next year.

About three dozen states plan to participate in a federal program that helps families pay for groceries over the summer. For the second year in a row, Texas – which has the second-highest rate of food insecurity in the U.S.…

Texas State Legislature • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Mar 12, 2025

New Texas teacher pay bill proposes increasing certain salaries by as much as $10,000

The chair of the Texas Senate Education Committee has outlined his vision for boosting teacher salaries, with a focus on retaining experienced educators. Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) filed Senate Bill 26 on Tuesday, a couple of weeks after Gov. Greg…

Education • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Feb 20, 2025

Austin ISD announces hiring freeze as budget deficit grows to $110 million

Lee esta historia en español Austin ISD will institute a districtwide hiring freeze on March 1 as the school district tries to claw its way out of a financial hole that has grown deeper since the 2024-25 budget was approved in…

Budget • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Feb 18, 2025

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Austin ISD says it is prepared for potential impact of Trump's immigration policies

Officials for the largest school district in Central Texas said they have taken steps to prepare for the potential impact of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Austin ISD General Counsel Kenneth M. Walker II said the district began reviewing its…

AISD • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Jan 29, 2025

Eanes ISD school board votes to combine two elementary schools to save money

The Eanes ISD school board voted unanimously on Tuesday to close Valley View Elementary as part of an effort to reduce an estimated $6.5 million budget deficit. District officials said closing the campus, which is currently at 50 percent of its operational…

Education • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Jan 16, 2025

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$17.8 million in food funding for Austin-area kids is on the line when the Legislature convenes

A federal food assistance program could provide families in Hays, Williamson and Travis counties with more than $17.8 million to feed their kids over the summer if Texas decides to participate. But that’s a big if. The Texas Health and…

Education • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Jan 15, 2025

How Austin ISD is lowering its chronic absenteeism rate, which more than doubled during the pandemic

When Austin ISD students Jonnell and Layth started middle school a few years ago, their attendance was on the spottier side. Jonnell said she didn’t like going because it wasn’t easy to get along with some of her classmates at…

AISD • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Dec 19, 2024

Voters will choose Austin ISD school board trustee to represent entire district in runoff election

Voters living within Austin ISD’s boundaries will elect a new school board member after none of the six candidates running for at-large position 8 got enough votes to win the Nov. 5 election outright. Fernando Lucas de Urioste and Lindsey Stringer, the…

Elections • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Dec 4, 2024

As voters weigh higher tax rate for Austin public schools, group of former trustees raises concerns

Voters are deciding whether to approve a tax rate increase that would generate new revenue for Central Texas’ largest public school district as it grapples with a $119 million budget deficit. Austin Independent School District officials have said that shortfall…

Bonds & Propositions • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Oct 28, 2024

Austin ISD settles lawsuit over delayed special ed evaluations, creates fund for affected students

A federal court signed off on a settlement Wednesday between Disability Rights Texas and Austin ISD over its backlog of special education evaluations. The settlement requires the district to establish a fund to help cover the cost of services for students who…

Courts • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Sep 6, 2024

Will free tuition help more students pursue higher ed? Austin Community College hopes so.

The summer before Xavier Daniels’ senior year was all about having fun. He traveled to Japan and New York and visited family in Massachusetts. But this summer was different. The 18-year-old said when he graduated from Leander High School, it…

Education • By Becky Fogel, KUT • Aug 27, 2024

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