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FEATURED NEWS

Uvalde families seek justice after report on school shooting

Law enforcement agencies across the country should immediately prioritize active shooter training, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said last week as he released a report about the school shooting in Uvalde.

The Justice Department’s long-anticipated report about the shooting found that “cascading failures of leadership, decision-making, tactics, policy and training” led to the bungled response, which Garland said should never have happened. Nineteen children and two teachers were killed on May 24, 2022.

Texas lawmakers last year passed House Bill 3 to address many of those issues, but failed to include more mental health screenings as recommended by the report. School district leaders have said more funding is needed to ensure these changes can be implemented. Click here to read more.

Meanwhile, victims’ families are still seeking justice. Twelve jurors selected last week will review law enforcement’s delayed response and consider whether to recommend criminal charges. Click here to read more.

SBOE delays discussion about Native American studies course

A new Native American studies course for Texas students is on hold as the State Board of Education delays consideration. New chairman Aaron Kinsey did not include discussion of the course on next week’s meeting agenda as expected.

“The first reading for the Native American Studies course was postponed to allow members more time to review its contents,” Kinsey said in a statement.

Click here to read more from the Dallas Morning News.

Appeals court blocks Texas from enforcing book rating law

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has blocked the Texas Education Agency from enforcing a state law requiring booksellers to rate the explicitness and relevance of sexual references in materials they sell to schools.

The appellate court sided with booksellers who claimed House Bill 900 violated their First Amendment rights. The court’s Jan. 17 ruling affirmed a lower court’s decision to prevent TEA from enforcing the 2023 law.

But last week’s decision did not completely block the law. Still in effect is a component of HB 900 that requires the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to create new library collection standards. The new rules must prohibit school libraries from acquiring or keeping sexually explicit materials. Click here to read more from The Texas Tribune.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Teacher sues city after fall, injury at district convocation

A teacher sued a city after she fell and injured herself during convocation. The city argued that the case should be dismissed, and the trial court denied that request. The city filed an appeal, arguing that the teacher could not sue the city because it was immune and that the teacher had failed to produce enough evidence to overcome the immunity. Click here to read more.

OTHER NEWS

Act Fast! Discounted hotel rates for TCTA's 2024 Annual Meeting expire at midnight!

Online registration ends today for TCTA’s 2024 Annual Meeting on Feb. 16-17 at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort & Spa in San Antonio. Hotel reservations must be made before midnight to secure TCTA’s special rates.

Members in attendance can earn up to 4.5 hours of continuing professional education credit during three free CPE sessions on Friday, Feb. 16.

Delegates to the Representative Assembly will convene on Feb. 17 to discuss TCTA business, including revisions to governance documents, and elect statewide leaders. Click here for more information and links to register.

We look forward to seeing many of you in San Antonio soon!

Department of Education to fix its $1.8 billion FAFSA mistake

A mistake on this year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) could cost students up to $1.8 billion in federal funds. But a U.S. Department of Education spokesperson told NPR this week that the error would be corrected in time to award students funds for the 2024-25 school year. Click here to read more from NPR.

• The State Board of Education meets Jan. 30-Feb. 1 in Austin.
• Feb. 5 is the deadline to register to vote in the March 5 primary elections.
• TCTA's 2024 Annual Meeting is Feb. 16-17 in San Antonio.