Emily Donaldson

Education editor @expressnews and @statesman 🤓 | Previously: @dallasnews, @sareport, @impactnews, @mujschool

[Emily Donaldson @EmilyJDonaldson]

👀The @ExpressNews is hiring for another education reporter to work on a team of #txed enthusiasts and report on the major issues impacting students, educators and our community.

Come work with us:
https://t.co/KyRjvn6296

[Scott Huddleston @shuddlestonSA]

More ISDs are moving to Bluebonnet math. Here's why. Gift article link: https://t.co/EH894AFF88

[San Antonio Express-News @ExpressNews]

State-approved math lessons are spreading in San Antonio schools. It’s still too early to tell if Bluebonnet Learning is living up to its promise. https://t.co/vhjvn3rkYY

[Keri Heath @HeathKeri]

.@AustinISD has released preliminary recommendations to slash a $181M budget deficit, including more than 500 positions, reductions to transportation and cuts to teacher benefits and stipends. #txed #austinschools
https://t.co/3gKPmDmoLa

[Megan Menchaca @meganmmenchaca]

Superintendent Mike Miles has drastically reshaped @HoustonISD's classrooms with his comprehensive reform model.

Now, that approach is extending far beyond Houston, influencing how struggling schools are run across the state. via @nusaiblah
https://t.co/QgXlGiRbVz

[Keri Heath @HeathKeri]

.@teainfo has rejected @austinisd’s bid for more time to improve grades at 3 middle schools.

This brings the district closer than ever to state takeover, pending 2026 STAAR results. #txed #austinschools

[Megan Menchaca @meganmmenchaca]

Wow. The Texas Education Agency has rejected @AustinISD's bid for extra time to improve performance at three middle schools, setting the stage for a **state takeover** of another one of the state's largest districts. https://t.co/dCs9oSFqmY

[Emily Donaldson @EmilyJDonaldson]

Breaking from @lilykepner and @HeathKeri:

Austin ISD is at high risk of a state takeover if any of 3 North Austin middle schools scores an F this year.

Today, TEA rejected a district bid to buy the schools more time to improve.

https://t.co/J95pr8bV36 #txed #txlege

[Lily Kepner @lilykepner]

BREAKING: The Texas Education Agency @teainfo has rejected Austin Independent School District’s bid for extra time to improve student performance at 3 schools next academic year, setting the stage for a state takeover of the entire school system.

More⬇️
https://t.co/fbLdpROxjx

[Lily Kepner @lilykepner]

BREAKING: The Texas Education Agency @teainfo has rejected Austin Independent School District’s bid for extra time to improve student performance at 3 schools next academic year, setting the stage for a state takeover of the entire school system.

More⬇️
https://t.co/fbLdpROxjx

[Emily Donaldson @EmilyJDonaldson]

This important work is part of a reporting partnership between @ExpressNews and @nytimes with excellent journalism from @Amari_Clare, @kristianreports, @small_asher, @kmcgrory, @LizTeitz, @melissm8 and many more.

[Emily Donaldson @EmilyJDonaldson]

Since Uvalde, TX has invested billions in stationing school police officers at public school campuses, often without guardrails to ensure students weren't subjected to strong physical force for minor misbehavior.

https://t.co/r2ayFhZbht #txed #txlege

[Marc Duvoisin @MarcDuvoisin]

Police officers have become fixtures in Texas schools since the 2022 shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde. Some have used heavy-handed tactics on children, often in response to minor misbehavior, an @nytimes @ExpressNews investigation found.
https://t.co/1SnSmr1c5u

[Asher Lehrer-Small @small_asher]

After Uvalde, Texas undertook an ambitious effort to station a police officer at every school.

Since then, students have been tackled, pepper sprayed and Tasered. Many episodes began over minor infractions like breaking dress code or vaping.

Our report: https://t.co/kSJ6lFudqo

[Lily Kepner @lilykepner]

NEW: UT System approves policy changes that make it easier to eliminate programs, positions. The policy changes come as UT consolidates ethnic and gender studies programs amid conservative backlash and as other Texas universities end them entirely. More ⬇️ https://t.co/sctFIzURIR

[Lily Kepner @lilykepner]

NEW: In Fall 2025, 2 out of 3 grades at @UTAustin were an A.

After a Yale report on trust in higher ed, universities are reckoning with grade inflation. But a Texas researcher has been concerned about rising grades for more than a decade.

Story & data⬇️
https://t.co/cmLk54L2KN

[Elizabeth Sander @eliz_sander]

My latest for @HoustonChron on TX's TEFA program:

📈Cy-Fair ISD's special ed evaluations of unenrolled students tripled this year, records show. Staff worked weekends, and it cost CFISD ~$500k to handle the influx.

Read more on the regional impacts⬇️
https://t.co/Y6S6bcAlwj

[Keri Heath @HeathKeri]

.@pfisd’s board just voted to close four elementary schools in fall 2027, which could save almost $10M. #txed #austinschools
https://t.co/lIYePS24cE

[Keri Heath @HeathKeri]

Texas lost 76K students this year and the trend isn't reversing. Many @AustinISD teachers, parents, who came to the Capitol on Monday as AISD closes 10 schools/faces a $181M deficit, want the state to take action. #txed #austinschools
https://t.co/jPD7WLZ4tO

[Scott Huddleston @shuddlestonSA]

How Texas school funding could change if property taxes disappear https://t.co/sC3cwQo0p1 via @expressnews

[Scott Huddleston @shuddlestonSA]

Canvas cyberattack shutting down finals at UTSA, other institutions; Alamo Colleges has restored service as institutions are starting to come back online https://t.co/5oLPWnYkdI via @expressnews

[Keri Heath @HeathKeri]

Yesterday, @AustinISD announced it expects to cut about 200 campus-level positions in order to reduce a $181M projected deficit. AISD expects many positions will be vacant. #txed #austinschools
https://t.co/9OCifAek6B