Texas | August 22, 2021
Texas Parents Seeking to Homeschool Increases Five-Fold From 2020 Record
Texas | August 22, 2021
The number of Texas families pulling their children out of public schools and pursuing homeschooling in one week this month is five times greater than the same time period last year, the Texas Homeschool Coalition reports.
“We are literally inundated with calls and emails from thousands upon thousands of families asking how they can begin homeschooling this fall,” Tim Lambert, president of the Texas Home School Coalition, said in a statement.
“In the fall of 2020, the number of homeschooling families in Texas had nearly tripled from 4.5 percent in the spring to 12.3 percent by October, according to the U.S. Census Bureau,” the coalition reports. A conservative estimate put the number of students being homeschooled in Texas in 2020 at roughly 750,000, a state record… (Excerpts from the Epoch Times)
Texas | August 10, 2021
From mask mandates to critical race theory, homeschooling in Texas offers freedom from bureaucracy if you can afford it.
Texas | August 10, 2021
While El Paso city leaders are urging Texas Governor Greg Abbott to rethink his stance on mask mandates in public schools, homeschooling students and parents across the state haven’t missed a beat. Last week, El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser and County Judge Ricardo Samaniego sent a letter to Texas Governor Gregg Abbott asking that the Executive Order that he recently issued which forbids mask mandates in public schools be amended to allow local government or school districts to be responsible for implementing mask mandates if they want to. Governor Abbott has not publicly responded to the letter, however remains steadfast in affirming “always voluntary, never forced.” regarding vaccinations, and mask wearing in the state of Texas. (Excerpts from Newsbreakdaily)
Texas | May 25, 2021
Texas House passes Tim Tebow bill despite objections raised by some Republicans
Texas | May 25, 2021
A bill to allow home-school students to compete in University Interscholastic League (UIL) public school activities has passed the Texas House on an initial vote after it met slight opposition voiced by some Republicans.
The bill would allow home-school students equal access to UIL activities, a right home-school students in 35 states already have. If passed again by the House and then by the state Senate and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas would become the 36th state to allow home-school families to participate in public school activities.
“Texas typically leads the nation in freedom, but not in this case,” the Texas Homeschool Coalition said. The coalition has fought to get the bill passed in consecutive legislative sessions since 2013.
Currently, Texas home-school families are prohibited from participating in UIL extracurricular programs through their local public school systems. UIL is the main league that hosts public extracurricular activities.
While home-school families pay taxes to support UIL programs, the UIL prohibits home-school students from participating in them. They include traditional sports such as football and basketball, but also other activities like chess, music, debate, wrestling, robotics and more…
(Excerpts from the Center Square)
Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming | May 17, 2021
Enough! State Attorneys General URGE Facebook to Scrap Instagram for Kids
Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming | May 17, 2021
The National Association of Attorneys General had to urge Facebook to drop a potentially “harmful” project targeted at kids. Apparently, Facebook needs to be encouraged to protect children online.
Attorneys general from 44 states and territories sent a letter to Facebook Chief Executive Officer and founder Mark Zuckerberg. The Attorneys General urged Zuckerberg to scrap plans to develop an Instagram platform for children under the age of 13. Facebook is the parent company of Instagram. ..
(Excerpts from MRC News)
Texas | May 16, 2021
Wanted in Dallas ISD: 1,800 tutors to help students catch up after COVID-19 disruptions
Texas | May 16, 2021
Students in dozens of Dallas public schools will have access to a new after-school program next year to help them make up for learning opportunities lost to the pandemic.
It’s part of an ambitious plan to expand tutoring and other enrichment activities as kids grapple with the academic and emotional reverberations of COVID-19.
Dallas ISD will pay for three hours of after-school programming five days a week at 61 schools, featuring tutoring hubs, athletics and the arts. At the same time, the district is bulking up its pool of tutors who will provide consistent academic help to students during the school day.
“It’s going to help us significantly with learning loss and that’s really our biggest objective,” Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said…
(Excerpts from the Dallas Morning News)
Texas | May 7, 2021
Gov. Greg Abbott sends clear signals on some conservative priorities
Texas | May 7, 2021
Late last month, Gov. Greg Abbott called in to a friendly radio host apparently intent on making news.
“I’m told by your press office this is the first public statement on your position on ‘constitutional carry,'” WBAP’s Rick Roberts told Abbott before asking him about the proposal, which the state House had passed days earlier in a long-sought breakthrough for gun-rights activists.
Abbott did not hesitate, telling Roberts that he supported “constitutional carry” — an idea to allow permitless carry of handguns — and promising to sign the legislation if it reached his desk…
(Excerpts from Texas Tribune)