Barbers Hill Hair CROWN Act

Civil Rights

Family of Houston-area Black student suspended for his hairstyle is suing Texas officials

Posted on · Darryl George, a 17-year-old student at Barbers Hill High School in Mont Belvieu, has been serving an in-school suspension since Aug. 31 because school district officials say his dreadlocks violate their dress code. George's family accuses Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton of failing to enforce the CROWN Act, a new state law outlawing racial discrimination based on hairstyles.

HISD

Teacher turnover is a controversial part of Houston ISD reforms. It’s a feature, not a side effect

Posted on · Parents and teachers continue to speak out against reforms and turnover in Houston’s public school system. The protests intensified this week as the state-appointed leaders of Houston ISD removed more teachers from their schools. The debate over these types of reforms is not new — even in Houston.  

inDepth

‘It’s irresponsible’: Students in Katy ISD speak up against LGBTQ book bans, policies

Posted on · Three new members joined Katy ISD’s school board in May that have since removed books with LGBTQ characters from the district’s libraries at a record pace and passed a controversial gender fluidity policy. Many LGBTQ students in the district say they feel marginalized.

HISD

TEA-appointed Houston ISD board allows teachers to be terminated if schools close, seeks exemption from state laws

Posted on · The state-appointed leaders of Houston’s public school system say they can’t comply with a new law requiring police officers at every campus, and they’re seeking exemptions for that and other state laws. During the Thursday board meeting, they also geared up for expected school closures in the coming years by approving a policy that allows staffers from those schools to be terminated. 

Politics

A new state law requires schools to have armed guards. But many are having a hard time hiring officers.

Posted on · The state allotted a total of $15,000 per campus to fulfill the requirements of HB 3, while the going rate for armed security guards with the necessary training can hover around $85,000 in parts of the state.