Families filed applications for more than 100,000 students by mid-February. The application period will close March 17.
Jaden Edison
Jaden Edison is the public education reporter for The Texas Tribune, where he previously worked as a reporting fellow in summer 2022. Before returning to the Tribune full time, he served as the justice reporter for The Connecticut Mirror, another nonprofit newsroom covering government, politics and public policy. He also interned at Poynter, a nonprofit media institute. Jaden has a master's degree from the Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism at Columbia University and a bachelor's degree from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Texas State University, where he was editor-in-chief of the The University Star, the campus' student-run newspaper.
Texas Education Agency warns districts of potential state takeovers for “encouraging” student protests
The state education agency issued guidance to districts after Gov. Greg Abbott directed its commissioner to investigate the student protests of killings by federal agents.
Texas’ social studies shakeup creates divide over whose histories to teach, and how
Concerned about Texas’ social studies overhaul, Democrats on the State Board of Education used a recent meeting to push for the inclusion of more Black and Indigenous perspectives and for young children to learn about the horrific nature of slavery.
Texas Education Agency moves to correct 4,200 errors in Bible-infused curriculum
State Board of Education members criticized the publishing errors and postponed their vote on the agency’s request until their next meeting.
Proposed reading list for Texas students draws concern over religious themes, lack of diversity
Faced with a proposed list of almost 300 readings for K-12 students, the State Board of Education delayed a vote until April.
Low test scores on one campus can trigger a state takeover in Texas, affecting Black, Hispanic and low-income students most
The demographic makeup of the trigger schools raises questions about whether Texas’ accountability system fairly considers historic inequities tied to race and poverty.
From school vouchers to flood warning systems, these are the Texas developments to watch in 2026
Several court hearings and policies affecting education, health and more will roll out in the new year.
Texans can use school vouchers for pre-K, but the pool of families who qualify is limited
A limited group of families with 3- and 4-year-olds who already qualify for free public pre-K can receive state funds to attend private preschool.
Texas Education Agency taking over Lake Worth, Connally and Beaumont school districts
The three interventions come after the state’s education agency announced plans to take over Fort Worth ISD in October.
In school voucher rules, Texas lets families get more for pre-K but rejects additional reporting requirements
The rules serve as the foundation for Texas’ private school voucher program, which will officially launch at the start of the 2026-27 school year.

