Megan Menchaca

Compared to large Houston-area school districts, Houston ISD had one of the largest % enrollment declines in the metro area. via @houstonchronicle.com

www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...

A large group of people, mostly men, standing in the rubble of a collapsed building. A headline reads: "Strike on Girls’ School Kills 115, Iranian State Media Says" Photo by Mehr News Agency

At least 115 people, most of them likely children, were killed in a strike on a girls’ elementary school in Iran on Saturday, health officials and state media said. It was not immediately clear which country hit the school. Our reporters are trying to confirm details of the attack. trib.al/HxXybV9

HISD will close 12 schools in unanimous board vote Houston ISD's state-appointed Board of Managers approved 12 school closures and co-locations two weeks after Superintendent Mike Miles announced the plan.

BREAKING: Houston ISD school board votes unanimously to close 12 schools. w/ @nusaiba.bsky.social www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...

HISD families brace for upheaval as the district plans to close 12 schools At parents-only meetings, families asked about their students' transportation, academics and special education and pled for more input before HISD's Board of Managers votes Thursday.

"I feel like they didn't give us enough time to even try to fight for the school"

In the past week, we've spoken with parents at nearly all of the 12 campuses Houston ISD has slated for closure.

Here's what they have to say: www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...

HISD's Port Houston Elementary almost closed once. Can it be saved again? HISD tried to close Port Houston Elementary in 2014. It's made state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles' closure list this year. Can it be saved again?

HISD's Port Houston Elementary has served as a lifeline for families living near one of the country's largest shipping terminals for nearly 120 years.

Now, for the second time, parents are fighting to keep the school open. via @partainclaire.bsky.social
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...

🇺🇸 Alysa Liu just became the first American woman to win an individual Olympic medal in figure skating in 20 years — and the first to take gold in the event since 2002. Here is how she did it. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/19/w...

Alysa Liu: "THAT'S WHAT I'M FUCKING TALKING ABOUT" 🗣️

HISD's Mike Miles creates new position, names a 'deputy superintendent' In the newly created position, Kristen Hole will oversee both the academics and schools offices at HISD, effective Tuesday.

Houston ISD's state-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles has promoted the district's chief of academics to a new role titled "deputy superintendent." Gift link: www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...

HISD parents say they feel blindsided by proposed school closures HISD will hold school meetings with affected communities ahead of a Feb. 26 board vote. State-appointed Superintendent Mike Miles asked the board to close seven campuses and relocate five others.

Houston ISD parents say they feel blindsided by the 12 proposed school closures.

"Miles is on the record in November saying, ‘We’re not going to do any of this,' and it’s dropped like a bomb on Thursday night."
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...

Texas Students Protest ICE Despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s Threats In dozens of states, students have staged walkouts over immigration enforcement. In Texas, they’re doing so despite threats from Gov. Greg Abbott.

Students in more than three dozen states have walked out of class to protest ICE in recent weeks. But in Texas, Republican leaders have threatened students, teachers and school districts with severe consequences for taking part in demonstrations.

Journalism schools are teaching fear of the future: Letter from the Editor Journalism schools lag in teaching AI, crucial for modern reporting, which aids in efficient news gathering and frees reporters for fieldwork.

Here's the full article, which notes that a recent journalism graduate withdrew from a job because they could not accept this arrangement.

"It wasn’t a 'sacrifice' they were willing to make for a foothold in a thriving newsroom." www.cleveland.com/news/2026/02...

Editor of a major Ohio news organization says they have removed “writing” from certain reporters’ workloads.

Reporters collect facts and an “AI rewrite specialist” writes the article.

That article is then reviewed by editors + reporters before publication.

How HISD's Yates High School has endured 100 years: 'Lion for life' Jack Yates High School — the second high school established for Black students in Houston ISD — celebrates its 100th anniversary this month.

Jack Yates High School — the second high school established for Black students in Houston ISD — celebrates its 100th anniversary this month.

How HISD's Yates High School has endured 100 years: 'Lion for life' Jack Yates High School — the second high school established for Black students in Houston ISD — celebrates its 100th anniversary this month.

Jack Yates High School was established in February 1926 as Houston ISD's second all-Black high school.

After serving generations of Black students, the Third Ward campus marked its 100th anniversary this week.

My latest for @houstonchronicle.com:
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...

What to know about the 12 HISD schools proposed for closure in 2026-27 HISD has proposed closing 12 schools in the upcoming 2026-27 school year. Here’s what to know about each campus on the list.

Houston ISD is likely to close 12 schools next year. Here's what to know about each campus on the list.
www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...

Breaking: Houston ISD to move forward with closing 12 schools starting in 2026-27 year. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...

HISD wants to fire a union leader. She says it's retaliation over complaints. Houston ISD must show "good cause" to fire union leader Michelle Williams. An independent hearing officer is expected to issue a recommendation in early March.

Houston ISD is seeking to fire Michelle Williams, union president and 26-year veteran teacher, in a move her attorney says is punishment for advocating for special education and emergent bilingual students. Gift link: www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...

Exclusive: HISD has lost nearly 4,000 immigrant students amid ICE fears HISD's immigrant student population fell for the first time since COVID this school year. Experts say families are staying home as they fear ICE enforcement.

In one year, Houston ISD has lost nearly 4,000 immigrant students amid ICE's crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

“We fear coming to school,” one student said. via @houstonchronicle.com www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...

Is Houston, TX, an affordable city?

I’m a reporter for the Houston Chronicle, and I want to talk to Houstonians of all income levels for a new series on affordability. What eats up your paycheck the most? How do you budget and spend?

Let’s chat. DM me or email me at maliya.ellis@hearst.com.

HISD to dismantle French program. Families worry more changes could come. The program will be reduced from a 50/50 immersion model to less intensive "enrichment" program, according to presentation slides obtained by the Chronicle.

Houston ISD plans to dismantle its only French dual language program at Mark White Elementary School in the 2026-27 year.

via @partainclaire.bsky.social www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...

Patrick Svitek was one of the best in the biz when he was working in Texas. Laying off someone of his caliber is like trading Shohei in his prime. Actually unbelievable.

A staggering statement from former Washington Post editor Marty Baron: "This ranks among the darkest days in the history of one of the world's greatest news organizations."

Marimar Martinez, shot by Border Patrol in Chicago, speaks out after Good, Pretti deaths: 'I am their voice' In a wide-ranging interview with the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ, Martinez discusses her shooting, the federal government’s failed attempt to prosecute her and the role she now sees for herself in a fi...

Marimar Martinez, shot 5 times by Border Patrol in Chicago, speaks out after Renee Good, Alex Pretti deaths

'I am their voice'

NEW w/ @adrianacardmag.bsky.social: chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...

Colleges See Major Racial Shifts in Student Enrollment

After the affirmative action ban, Black and Hispanic student enrollment dropped at the nation’s top 50 colleges.

But at major public state schools, the opposite happened. Enrollment went *up* for Black and Hispanic freshmen. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/u...

Houston schools are using AI to watch student mental health. Experts are worried Ed tech companies like GoGuardian and Lightspeed Systems offer for AI software to detect self-harm. Experts and students are concerned about its accuracy and unintended consequences.

Houston-area school districts say they're turning to AI-powered surveillance software to support student mental health.

Students, though, say the technology may actually be harming them. www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston...

What’s the Matter With Texas A&M? Five presidents in five years. Firings of “woke” professors. Crackdowns on Plato. Inside state leaders’ efforts to remake a great university.

Tour de force on just exactly what has gone on at Texas A&M for so many years from Chris Hooks in @texasmonthly.bsky.social:

www.texasmonthly.com/news-politic...

Texas A&M eliminates women’s and gender studies program University leaders also said six courses were canceled and 48 exceptions were granted under new rules on race and gender.

New: Texas A&M University announced Friday that it is eliminating its women’s and gender studies degree program.

after several months, my car's check engine light has suddenly turned off. this must mean there was nothing wrong with my car to begin with and thus, no repairs are needed.

The ultimate guide to finding a school in Houston The definitive guide to finding PreK-12 schools in Houston

The Houston Chronicle has launched its School Finder tool, the largest searchable database on public + private K-12 schools in the area.

The guide includes a map to find Houston schools, a calendar to keep up with deadlines + guides to navigate vouchers. www.houstonchronicle.com/projects/202...

Our new Houston School Finder guide combines our expert reporting with custom data tools and easy-to-use guides to help families navigate Houston’s complex school choice landscape.

Link: www.houstonchronicle.com/projects/202...