Fort Bend ISD trustees approved a slightly altered calendar for the 2026-27 school year, following community feedback.

What parents need to know: The 2026-27 calendar, approved at the Jan. 29 board meeting, runs from Aug. 11-May 27, 2027, and adds an extra day of instruction to the school year.

Key dates for the 2026-27 calendar include:

• First day of school: Aug. 11
• Fall break: Oct. 12-16
• Thanksgiving break: Nov. 23-27
• Winter break: Dec. 21-Jan. 5, 2027
• Spring break: March 8-12, 2027
• Last day of school: May 27, 2027

Missouri City is changing how developers can dedicate required parkland, including adding a trail connectivity credit.

The big picture: At a Feb. 2 meeting, Missouri City City Council voted 6-0 to approve an update to its parkland dedication ordinance, which requires residential developers to set aside land for parks through the dedication of public parkland, payment of a fee in lieu of land or a combination of land dedication and fee payment.

The details: According to agenda documents, the ordinance makes several changes in hopes of maintaining adequate levels of service, enhancing trail connectivity and providing developers with flexible compliance options, including:

• Updating the fee in lieu of land from $1,400 to $3,100 per dwelling
• Introducing a trail connectivity credit which will allow developers up to 25% credit for constructing public trails, or 12.5% for qualifying private trails

Two Republican candidates are running for Fort Bend County district clerk in the upcoming March primary election.

What you need to know: The position is currently held by Democrat Beverley McGrew Walker, who is running for re-election in the Democratic primary.

Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.

Here's what we asked them:

• Why are you running for Fort Bend County district clerk?
• What are your qualifications for why you’d be a strong candidate in this role?
• If elected, what will be your top priorities?
• What should the county's budgeting priorities be?
• How do you plan to continue preparing for population growth as the county nears 1 million residents?

Three Democratic candidates are running for Fort Bend County district clerk in the upcoming March primary election.

What you need to know: Candidates were asked to keep responses under 50 words, answer the questions provided and avoid attacking opponents. Answers may have been edited or cut to adhere to those guidelines, or for style and clarity.

Here's what we asked them: 

• Why are you running for Fort Bend County district clerk?
• What are your qualifications for why you’d be a strong candidate in this role?
• If elected, what will be your top priorities?
• What should the county's budgeting priorities be?
• How do you plan to continue preparing for population growth as the county nears one million residents?

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Texas families can soon apply to receive state funds for private education or homeschooling under the state’s new education savings account program, known as Texas Education Freedom Accounts.

What's happening: The application opens at 9 a.m. Feb. 4 and is designed to be completed in about 15 minutes, according to the state comptroller’s office. Families can apply through 11:59 p.m. March 17.

Parents must submit information about their family's residency, household income, their children's educational history and each child's special education status, if applicable.

The details: To be eligible for the program, students must:

• Reside in Texas
• Be U.S. citizens or lawful residents
• Be eligible to attend a Texas public school, open-enrollment charter school or pre-K program