Hey y’all!

Welcome back to another edition of The TexEd Report. If you missed last week’s, check it out here. 

This week, we’ll look at the threats Republicans Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton are casting at Austin Independent School District after students walked out of class on Friday to protest US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The protests were part of a national day of resistance in honor of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were both shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis last month.

You’ll also find coverage on Texas A&M shuttering its Women’s and Gender Studies program, an update on the Texas American Federation of Teacher’s legal fight against the Texas Education Agency, and a new banned book to read throughout February. 

Photo by Matt Hennie

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is calling on Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath to investigate Austin Independent School District (AISD) after students walked out of class to protest US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday.

Attorney General Ken Paxton also announced that his office is investigating the district, demanding that AISD hand over information regarding policies related to allowing students to leave campus, excused absence policies, security protocols of Austin ISD, and internal communications regarding Friday’s protests.

They were part of a national day of action following the death of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were both shot and killed by federal agents in Minnesota in January. More student protests in Houston have taken place this week.

Last Friday, faculty at Texas A&M were notified that the Women’s and Gender Studies program is shutting down, according to an email shared with COURIER Texas.

A new policy implemented in November that restricts how professors are able to teach race and gender on campus has caused the university system to review hundreds of courses to ensure compliance and put some on the chopping block. 

According to the email, Interim President Tommy Williams made the decision to close the entire Women’s and Gender Studies program, which includes a Bachelor of Arts degree, a Bachelor of Science degree, an Undergraduate minor, and a Graduate certificate. 

The email said closing the program “allows the university to redirect resources and invest in areas of growth, innovation, and student demand.” It also cited costs and the “duties of university administrators to be good stewards of public money.”

The program currently has 25 enrolled majors and 31 enrolled minors. All students who are currently enrolled will have the opportunity to complete their degree or minor through a teach out program. The employment status of 50 faculty members affiliated with the program will not be affected, according to the email.

I want to hear from you. Are you a Texas A&M alum? Do you have a degree in Women’s and Gender Studies? How are you feeling about this decision?

Photo by Shutterstock

In January, the Texas American Federation of Teachers—a union representing millions of educators across the state—announced that it’s suing the Texas Education Agency and its commissioner, Mike Morath, for investigating educators over comments made on social media following the death of far-right political activist Charlie Kirk.

For months, educators have reported disciplinary actions and targeting tied directly to these investigations, prompting the Texas AFT to seek stronger legal protections. 

Now, the union is asking the court for a preliminary injunction to block any further investigations while the case makes its way through court. 

❤️‍🩹Community supports McKinney school teacher whose husband was detained by ICE: When Rafael Alambarrio came to the US in 2023 after protesting against the government in Venezuela, the government determined he had a credible fear of persecution—based on his political opinion if he were to return—and could start the process of seeking asylum in America. Now, he’s been detained by ICE after the Trump administration paused processing Venezuelan green card applications. (Dallas Morning News)

🖥️Rice students build ICE tracker map to monitor enforcement activity: Two Rice University freshmen, Abby Manuel and Jack Vu, learned families were staying home after nearby ICE raids. In response, they built a website to track immigration enforcement nationwide. (Houston Chronicle)

📚Bookworm program boosts reading at Fort Worth ISD: Dozens of Fort Worth ISD elementary students are taking part in Bookworms, a free after-school literacy program that provides small-group support to students selected by educators based on academic need. (Fort Worth ISD)

This month, the Texas Banned Book Club will be reading another novel set in Texas: “Out of Darkness” by Ashley Hope Pérez.

This will be my first time reading “Out of Darkness,” which was banned in Lamar Consolidated ISD in 2024. It’s set in 1930s East Texas and follows the relationship between Naomi, a Mexican-American girl and Wash, a Black boy. It tackles themes of segregation, racism, and abuse. 

Here are some discussion questions to keep in mind as you start this novel:

1. How does the author establish East Texas in 1937 as both a physical place and a social system? What feels most oppressive about this setting?

2. How does the novel introduce segregation and racism without explicitly explaining it?

3. Whose perspective has resonated most with you so far, and why?

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