On March 26, four Houston ISD high schools and a prekindergarten program will be considered for a state-funded initiative that will give the schools more control over curriculum, hiring, assessments and calendars.

The overview: During the March 26 special meeting, HISD’s board of managers will consider whether four high-performing high schools and a district pre-K program can partner with various nonprofits to apply for Senate Bill 1882’s program. Schools participating in this program could receive $1,200-$1,400 more state funding per student.

In case you missed it: SB 1882 was approved by state lawmakers in 2017, and allows districts to partner with open-enrollment charter schools, institutions of higher education, nonprofits or government entities to help manage schools.

As part of its efforts to expand, PNC has opened a new branch in Montrose.

The specifics: Formerly a Shake Shack that closed in 2024, the newest branch is at 1002 Westheimer Road in Montrose.

What they offer: PNC Bank offers personal, corporate, institutional and small business banking services, such as opening a checking account, applying for credit cards and home and auto loans, as well as wealth management and retirement services.

According to a filing by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, PNC Bank spent approximately $1.1 million to renovate the former restaurant, a process that included installing new signage, a drive-thru ATM and an after-hours deposit box.

• 1002 Westheimer Road, Houston

Harris County workers will now have a seat at the table in discussions about workplace regulations, grievances and salaries after commissioners approved a new policy allowing labor organizations to advocate on behalf of county employees—a first for a Texas county.

At a glance: Commissioners Court passed the Harris County Consultation Policy March 19 in a 3-1 vote, with Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey as the dissenting voice. Judge Lina Hidalgo was absent during the meeting.

Harris County employees will have the option to select a labor union organization to serve as a “consultation agent” on their behalf. Organizations must receive signatures from 20% of eligible county workers to serve as an agent, County Attorney Jonathan Fombonne said.

Some context: State law bans political subdivisions from entering collective bargaining contracts with labor organizations. However, officials from the county attorney’s office told Community Impact the policy does not violate the statute because it creates a consulting framework, not bargaining rights.

The impact: Approximately 5,200 county employees will be eligible to work with the consultants, officials said. 

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from this week? Check out five trending stories in the Greater Houston area from March 16-20.

• Fleet Week Houston ship lineup announced
• Photos: Houston officials give HUD Deputy Director tour of new hub for individuals experiencing homelessness
• Houston Methodist announces $104M expansion in Cypress
• Greater Heights Strategic Connections Plan to see final round of resident engagement in March
• See when these 9 Greater Houston-area water parks will open for the 2026 season

More than 229,000 students have applied to receive state funds for private education or homeschooling under Texas’ education savings account program, according to the state comptroller’s office.

By the numbers: State data indicates that the most applications have been submitted on behalf of students living in urban areas and the surrounding suburban communities. As of March 8, students living in Houston ISD’s boundaries led the pack with over 8,900 applications, followed by 6,700 applicants in Dallas ISD.

The data reflects how many students living in each district's boundaries have applied, including those not currently enrolled in a public school.

The background: State lawmakers created the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program in 2025.

Students accepted for the 2026-27 school year will receive $10,474 for private education or up to $2,000 for homeschool. Students with disabilities can receive up to $30,000 each.

More details: Of the first 152,000 program applicants, nearly three-quarters were not enrolled in a public school during the 2025-26 school year, data obtained by the Texas Center for Voucher Transparency shows.