Takeaways from AP's report on churches starting schools in voucher states
Some churches are launching new Christian schools on their campuses, seeking to give parents more education options that align with religious values.
Houston ISD board denies Teachersโ union request
The Houston Independent School District Board of Directors has denied a request from the Houston Federation of Teachers to reinstate the policy requiring classroom doors to remain closed and locked.
Porn-making former University of Wisconsin campus leader argues for keeping his teaching job
A closely watched First Amendment rights case in Wisconsin involves a former campus chancellor who was fired after making pornographic videos with his wife.
Houston ISD police chief says there are active discussions about metal detectors in schools after stabbing incident
One day after a student was stabbed in a fight with another student at Houston ISDโs Sterling High School, HISD Police Chief Shamara Garner spoke about the districtโs security protocols and what they are doing to keep kids safe.
Parental role in preparing kids for school threats after incidents across Houston area
In the wake of a series of school threats and incidents in districts across the Houston area, many local parents are grappling with how to keep their children informed and prepared without causing any unnecessary.
Pennsylvania state senator sues critics of his book about WWI hero Sgt. York
A Pennsylvania state senator and former Republican gubernatorial candidate whose support for Donald Trump drew him to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 is suing a Canadian university and nearly two dozen academics.
โVery disruptiveโ: UH professor and former principal says school threats are making learning more difficult
Multiple Houston area schools were forced to either go into lockdown or secure mode due to threats or violence on campuses Wednesday.
Houston Muslims introduce Spanish-speaking Islamic education, community center in Alief
In a city with one of the largest Muslim populations and Spanish speakers, it's only fitting Spanish-speaking Islamic education center called Centro Islamico would exist in Houston. But Latino/Hispanic Muslims in America have been around longer than you might know.
Days after posting mugshot of a boy accused of school threat, sheriff puts video of 2 teens online
Communities nationwide are being battered by a wave of school shooting threats, with emergency notifications and group chat messages sparking parentsโ fears their childโs school could be the next Parkland or Uvalde.
What is the difference between secure mode and lockdown in Texas schools?
For both kids and parents, schools are a place that should be safe and youth should be able to learn in peace. Sadly, violence and threats against school campuses have been increasing over the years.
VIDEO: Student at Alief ISD high school wielding kitchen knife throughout hallways, prompting lockdown
An Alief Independent School District high school was placed in lockdown after reports of a student in possession of a kitchen knife, according to the district.
New program will help inmates earn high school diplomas with tablets
A top supplier of digital devices for U.S. prisons is launching a new program to help incarcerated individuals earn a high school diploma by using the companyโs tablets.
After shooting at Georgia high school, students will return next week for half-days
Students at Apalachee High School outside Atlanta will return to campus for half-days beginning next week.
Dozens of Texas school districts press state to suspend new student data reporting system
The superintendents said they havenโt received enough support from the state or time to fix errors the system generated.
Tough treatment and good memories mix at newest national site dedicated to Latinos
An adobe-style Texas building educated Mexican and Mexican-American children in classrooms that alumni call barracks.
Former Uvalde schools police chief makes first court appearance since indictment
The former schools police chief in Uvalde, Texas, made his first court appearance on criminal charges that accuse him of failing to take sufficient action during the Robb Elementary School shooting in 2022.
Georgia official seeks more school safety money after Apalachee High shooting
Georgiaโs state school superintendent says he wants the state to spend more money to guarantee security officers and wearable panic alert buttons after a school shooting killed four at Apalachee High School outside Atlanta.
911 calls overwhelmed operators after shooting at Georgia's Apalachee High School
Records released Friday show a Georgia countyโs emergency call center was overwhelmed by calls on Sept. 4 about a school shooting at Apalachee High School.
Report says former University of Florida president Ben Sasse spent $1.3 million on social events
A new report says former University of Florida president Ben Sasse spent over $1.3 million on private catering for lavish dinners, football tailgates and extravagant social functions.
A tech company hired a top NYC official's brother. A private meeting and $1.4M in contracts followed
A consulting firm run by the brother of two top New York City officials is facing federal scrutiny over his work on behalf of companies that were seeking city contracts.
Measure to repeal Nebraskaโs private school funding law should appear on the ballot, court rules
The Nebraska Supreme Court has ruled that a measure seeking to repeal a new conservative-backed law providing taxpayer money for private school tuition should appear on the state's November ballot.
Florida school district must restore books with LGBTQ+ content under settlement
A school district in northeast Florida must put back in libraries three dozen books as part of a settlement with students and parents.
Houston ISD increasing security after reports of threats targeting Texas schools
The Houston Independent School district is taking a statewide threat against several Texas public schools seriously by increasing its security.
โGetting the runaroundโ: School bus problems persist for Houston area students
Weeks into the 2024-2025 school year, a Houston grandmother with four grandchildren at Gregory-Lincoln Education Center says they still havenโt been assigned a bus.
The Amazon's Ashaninka tribe restored their territory. Now they aim to change the region
The Ashaninka of the Amonia River, inhabitants of the western Amazon, reclaimed their land from cattle ranchers 30 years ago.
Early childhood development nonprofit Brilliant Detroit set to expand nationally
Brilliant Detroit, the early childhood education nonprofit that supports children in underserved communities โfrom belly to 8,โ plans to expand its unique neighborhood-based holistic model beyond The Motor City.
North Carolina's public universities cut 59 positions as part of a massive DEI overhaul this summer
Newly released reports from North Carolina's public university system to prove compliance with a new systemwide diversity policy show several DEI position cuts and reassignments were made.
Harvard reports slight decline in Black students in wake of affirmative action ruling
There was a slight decline in the numbers of Black students in Harvard University's freshman class, which follows a Supreme Court ruling which struck down affirmative action in higher education.
US consumer watchdog finds that school lunch fees are taking a toll on parents
The U.S. consumer watchdog has found that low-income families typically pay as much as 60 cents per dollar in fees when paying for school lunches electronically.
Texas school districts say upgrades to the stateโs student data reporting system could hurt their funding
The Texas Education Agency says thereโs time to fix problems before officially reported data is used to determine how much money districts get.
Most students in a Georgia district return to class nearly a week after a school shooting
Many students in Georgiaโs Barrow County headed back to class six days after a school shooting killed two teachers and two students at Apalachee High School northeast of Atlanta.
Trump said fixing child care would not be very expensive. Here are price tags for other proposals
Asked recently how he would bring down the high cost of child care, former President Donald Trump said doing so would be relatively โnot very expensiveโ โ at least, not compared with revenue from tax hikes he would impose on foreign goods.
A former NYC school food chief is sentenced to 2 years in a tainted chicken bribery case
The former head of food services for New York City public schools has been sentenced to two years in prison for a bribery scandal that resulted in children being served chicken tenders contaminated with metal and bone.
A remote tribe is reeling from widespread illness and cancer. What role did the US government play?
The remote Duck Valley reservation that straddles Nevada and Idaho has battled toxic contaminants on its land for decades.
Georgia school shooting highlights fears about classroom cellphone bans
The shooting at a Georgia high school has highlighted concerns raised about a growing effort to ban or restrict cellphones in the classroom.
Walz touts Democratic record of defending LGBTQ+ rights, says Harris will advance cause if elected
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz touted Vice President Kamala Harrisโ record of defending LGBTQ+ rights, pledging to a supportive crowd that she will advance their cause if elected president.
US higher education advocates welcome federal support for Hispanic-serving institutions
Federal education advocates say colleges and universities that serve higher than average Hispanic student populations are vital to the goals of educational equality and economic opportunities.
As US colleges raise the stakes for protests, activists are weighing new strategies
The stakes have gone up for students protesting the war in Gaza as U.S. colleges roll out new security measures and protest guidelines this fall in hopes of avoiding disruptions like last springโs pro-Palestinian demonstrations, which led to some 3,200 arrests.
Inside the Georgia high school where a sleepy morning was pierced by gunfire
It was the middle of second period at Apalachee High School in near Winder, Georgia, and the boy who few knew slipped out of his algebra class in J Hall again.
Mike Miles answers questions about lingering HVAC issues across Houston ISD campuses
In the first month of the new school year, lingering issues with air conditioning systems have plagued several campuses across Houston ISD, leading one school to even call for a community meeting with leadership at the district.
Freshman classes provide glimpse of affirmative action ruling's impact on colleges
Some selective colleges are reporting drops in the numbers of Black students in their new freshman classes, the first admitted since a Supreme Court ruling struck down affirmative action in higher education.
Alvin ISD says enrolement has doubled over past 2 decades
Alvin Independent School District hit a milestone, enrolling its 30,000th student less than a month into the 2024-25 school year. Superintendent Carol Nelson surprised first grader Lucio Ubalde with balloons and a certificate at Nichols Mock Elementary.
Maine law thwarts impact of school choice decision, lawsuit says
A Christian school at the center of a Supreme Court decision that requires Maine to include religious schools in a state tuition program is challenging a state antidiscrimination law.
Donald Trump's youngest son has enrolled at New York University
Former President Donald Trumpโs youngest son, Barron Trump, has begun his first year of college this week at New York University, his father said Wednesday.
4 Las Vegas teens plead guilty in classmate's deadly beating as part of plea deal
Four Las Vegas teenagers have pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the fatal beating of their high school classmate.
Parents call for help after smoke shop opens near elementary, middle schools in Houston
Parents, neighbors and school administrators are calling on local officials regarding the opening of a smoke shop that they say is too close to Wharton Dual Language Academy elementary-middle school, a magnet school in Houston Independent School District.
As Columbia resumes classes, student activists vow to carry on with protests against Israel
Columbia University resumed classes with students sunbathing and eating ice cream on the lawn that was home to a pro-Palestinian encampment last spring.
Christa McAuliffe, still pioneering, is first woman with a statue on New Hampshire capitol grounds
Christa McAuliffe is still a pioneer, decades after she was picked to become Americaโs first teacher in space.
Moms for Liberty fully embraces Trump and widens role in national politics as election nears
This weekendโs gathering of Moms for Liberty has showcased how the group has moved toward fully embracing Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his political messaging as Novemberโs election draws closer.
Which skin care products should young girls use? Dermatologists recommend this simple routine
Girls are bombarded on social media with advice from influencers touting elaborate skin care routines with high-priced serums, mists and creams.
Young girls are using anti-aging products they see on social media. The harm is more than skin deep
Young girls are buying up anti-aging products they see promoted on social media, with harmful effects for their skin โ and their mental health.
A measure to repeal a private school tuition funding law in Nebraska will make the November ballot
Nebraska's top election official says organizers have collected enough signatures to ask voters to repeal a new law that uses taxpayer money to fund private school tuition.
Why Black students are still disciplined at higher rates: Takeaways from AP's report
Racial disparities in how schools discipline students received new attention at the outset of a national reckoning with racial injustice, but the results of reform efforts have been slow to materialize.
Trump questions acceptance of transgender people as he courts his base at Moms for Liberty gathering
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is lamenting the growing acceptance of transgender Americans.
Black students are still kicked out of school at higher rates despite reforms
In the decade since Black Lives Matter, a spotlight has shined on inequity in education outcomes and, in particular, how exclusionary discipline disproportionately affects Black children.
After diversity pushback, some faculty feel left in dark at North Carolina's flagship university
Several programs of diversity, equity and inclusion are at risk of elimination at North Carolina's flagship university after the University of North Carolina Board of Governors voted to scrap a previous diversity policy in May and replace it with a new one.
Botched college financial aid form snarls students' enrollment plans
After a long summer of technical glitches, most of Americaโs prospective college students finally applied for federal financial aid โ an annual process upended by a redesign-gone-bad.
โEverything came back negativeโ: Pearland ISD student says he is being punished for THC vape he didnโt even have
A Pearland student says he was singled out and punished for a vape that he didnโt even have.
What is the law in regards to students caught with vaping products at Texas schools?
A state law which went into effect in September 2023 increases the penalties for students caught with vape products.
Supreme Court rebuffs Biden administration plea to restore multibillion-dollar student debt plan
The Supreme Court is keeping on hold the latest multibillion-dollar student debt relief plan from the Biden administration, while multiple lawsuits make their way through lower courts.
โNo trust, no bond:โ Teachers union-backed poll claims voters do NOT support Houston ISD bond proposal
A research poll conducted on behalf of the Texas Federation of Teachers says less than half of voters support the bond proposal, and less than a quarter have confidence "or don't trust" Superintendent Mike Miles.
The Restoration Team: Providing safe housing for Houstonians in need
The Restoration Team is dedicated to ensuring that every Houstonian has access to safe, sanitary, and secure housing. KPRC 2, along with community partners Energy Transfer, Houston Christian University, and Exclusive Furniture, joined forces to help Vicki Fowler, a Houston high school teacher whose house was severely damaged by Hurricane Beryl.
Ukraine's children should see themselves as 'generation of winners' not war victims, first lady says
Ukraineโs first lady wants her countryโs children to view themselves not as a generation enduring a grinding war but rather as โa generation of winners.โ.
5 emergency code words to use when youโre in danger: How to alert friends discreetly
In a world where personal safety is paramount, knowing how to discreetly alert someone that youโre in danger can be life-saving.
Mike Miles wonโt say when heโs leaving Houston ISD, brushes off criticisms
Mike Miles, the state-installed superintendent of HISD who is now entering his second year, does not get bogged down in the heaps of criticism levied at him by educators and parents.
Judge extends temporary order for transgender New Hampshire girl to play soccer, hears arguments
A federal judge has extended a temporary order for a transgender girl to play soccer for her high school team while considering arguments for a longer-term order and a possible trial as the teen and another student challenge a New Hampshire ban.
โWe have cold ACโ: Harvard Elementary sees temporary relief from heat amid ongoing HVAC issues in Houston ISD
After battling extreme heat, Harvard Elementary students and staff are finally enjoying cool classrooms this week! "We have COLD AC! Itโs 66 to 68 in all rooms!" shared a relieved staff member. While this isnโt a permanent solution, itโs a welcome break from the sweltering conditions that have plagued Houstonโs oldest school. Earlier reports highlighted severe HVAC issues across several campuses, leading to widespread frustration among parents and staff. The Harvard PTA has called for a community meeting with Houston ISD to address these recurring problems and ensure a lasting fix.
Fort Bend ISD board vote to move forward on policy to give superintendent power to remove certain books from libraries
The Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees voted to move forward on a policy change on Monday that will allow the superintendent authority to remove certain books from school libraries. The superintendent will also designate someone to fulfill that role.
Schools are competing with cellphones. Here's how they think they could win
Students are struggling to stay engaged in class at a time of poor mental health, shortened attention spans, reduced attendance and worsening grades.
Oklahoma teachers were told to use the Bible. There's resistance from schools as students return
Oklahomaโs Bixby school district has lots to show off for a fast-growing Tulsa suburb, including a state-of-the-art new high school and plans for a $12 million upgrade to its football complex.
Harvard Elementary PTA calls for community meeting with Houston ISD to discuss HVAC issues at school
Harvard Elementary School is Houstonโs oldest school and celebrated its 125th birthday last September, but despite that proud distinction, parents tell KPRC 2 the schoolโs 126th year is off to a hot and miserable start.
Watch Houston Life surprise an unsuspecting elementary school teacher while he was in the middle of teaching class!
At Houston Life, we love teachers! This week, we teamed up with our friends at Shell Federal Credit Union to highlight some amazing educators and show them back-to-school love as they return to school for the new year. On Friday, we celebrated Mr. Jose Razo, from North Shore Elementary, a school in Galena Park ISD.
โMy mind went to dark placesโ: Cy-Fair ISD parent says daughter was missing for 90 minutes while trying to get home
A Cy-Fair Independent School District parent is demanding change in school policy after his fifth grader briefly disappeared while trying to get home from school.
HVAC issues at Harvard Elementary: Parentsโ frustrations boil over hot classrooms affecting students
Harvard Elementary School is Houstonโs oldest school and celebrated its 125th birthday last September, but despite that proud distinction, parents tell KPRC 2 the schoolโs 126th year is off to a hot and miserable start.
Watch Houston Life surprise an elementary teacher while she was teaching at her school in Katy!
Ms. Carr was busy teaching 5th grade at Roosevelt Alexander Elementary in Katy and had no idea that just outside her door, waiting to come in was a big surprise!
Sudden fame for Tim Walz's son focuses attention on challenges of people with learning disabilities
An unexpected highlight of the Democratic National Convention on Night Three was an outburst of pride from the son of vice presidential candidate Tim Walz.
School choice and a history of segregation collide as one Florida county shutters its rural schools
Tens of thousands of students have left Floridaโs public schools in recent years amid an explosive growth in school choice.
Watch Houston Life surprise a high school teacher while she was busy teaching class!
Mrs. Griffith has spent many years in the classroom during her 25 years as a teacher, but never has a TV crew come bursting into class bearing gifts like they did on Wednesday, August 21st!
More Houston ISD schools popping up with A/C failures amid 100-degree temps, excessive heat warnings
More and more HISD schools are turning up with hot classrooms and broken AC systems. Outside Margaret Long Wisdom High School on a sweltering day in Houston, the outside mural says โwhere the world comes to learnโ, but maybe it should be โwhere the world comes to sweat.โ
University of Kentucky to disband diversity office after GOP lawmakers pushed anti-DEI legislation
The University of Kentucky's president says the school will disband its office promoting diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
โTheyโre giving us excusesโ: Deer Park ISD considering changing bus routes after parent complaints
Several parents in the Twin Villas neighborhood off Red Bluff in Pasadena say theyโre upset with a change by Deer Park ISD leaders on school bus pick-up locations.
โHitting kids should never be allowedโ: Illinois bans corporal punishment in all schools
Illinois will soon become just the fifth state in the nation to prohibit corporal punishment in all schools.
Houston ISD admits non-working defibrillators found during recent inspection of schools
There are still many questions surrounding the tragic passing of a student last week on the gym floor at Marshall Middle School.
How can parents make their voices heard in Austin when it comes to school funding issues?
If you want to ensure your voice is heard in Austin, hereโs a simple guide to contacting your legislators.
Hey parents! Ease your kids back into school with these small changes and tips
Summer vacation is behind us and the kids are back in school. From staying organized to keeping track of homework and assignments, watch the player above for tips to help set your kids up for success in the new school year.
Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles announces โremarkable improvementsโ on 2024 accountability ratings
The press conference at 2 p.m. Monday will examine how Houston ISD has seen dramatic progress in its campuses' accountability ratings.