Hutto ISD updates district of innovation plan amid legislative changes
Hutto ISD officials approved an update to the district's innovation plan in August, amid legislative changes passed in the 89th Texas Legislature, which concluded June 2.
What you need to know: Trustees approved a revised version of HISD's District of Innovation plan Aug. 28, which includes new exemptions to policies guiding library materials acquisition and grievances, among other minor changes.
Saint Joan of Arc Episcopal Church moves to new space
Saint Joan of Arc Episcopal Church recently moved from its location on Picadilly Court in Pflugerville to a new space on FM 685, in an effort to be more accessible.
The gist: The church, which holds services every Sunday at 10 a.m., was first established in 2019 by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas.
“It is our hope this venue will be more convenient for folks seeking a church which offers a safe, accepting, radically inclusive, and Christ-centered worship environment,” said Dale Curry, senior warden.
Alpha School showcases expedited student learning through artificial intelligence alongside state, federal leaders
Austin-based private school Alpha School is aiming to expedite learning for more students using artificial intelligence at new academies opening across the country.
What happened: On Sept. 9, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Alpha School in Austin alongside Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath. Alpha School co-founder MacKenzie Price highlighted how the school is using AI to personalize and improve students’ education.
What they're saying:“It's the most exciting thing I've seen in education in a long time,” McMahon said about Alpha School. “I'm incredibly enthusiastic about this.”
How it works: Students complete their academic learning in two hours each day using an AI platform known as 2 Hour Learning. Price said the Alpha School model enables students to learn twice as fast as they would in a traditional school setting.
What to know: Most Texas school districts required to display donated Ten Commandments posters under state law
Most Texas public schools are required to display donated posters of the Ten Commandments in classrooms under Senate Bill 10, a state law that took effect Sept. 1.
The details: On Aug. 20, a Texas federal judge temporarily blocked the following 11 school districts from displaying the Ten Commandments:
Alamo Heights ISD
Austin ISD
Cy-Fair ISD
Dripping Springs ISD
Fort Bend ISD
Houston ISD
Lackland ISD
Lake Travis ISD
North East ISD
Northside ISD
Plano ISD
Attorney General Ken Paxton appealed the ruling and directed other school districts to begin displaying donated copies of the Ten Commandments.
The debate: Proponents of SB 10, including Paxton and Republican state lawmakers, have argued that seeing the Ten Commandments on a daily basis will help Texas students better understand U.S. history and learn about morality.
Some religious scholars have stressed the importance of teaching students about religion in an “appropriate educational context.” Democratic lawmakers have expressed concerns that non-Christian students will feel left out or be bullied by their peers for not following the Ten Commandments.
