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Migrants are put on buses from Texas to other states, often without knowing where they are going. (afishman64/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Concerns raised about migrant children's mental health

The future of Senate Bill 4 is still tangled in court challenges. It's the Texas law that would allow police to arrest people for illegally crossing …

New research from the Episcopal Health Foundation showed the Texas economy could save billions of dollars, simply by breaking the cycle of preventable health disparities. (Colored Lights/Adobe Stock)

New study shows health disparities cost TX billions of dollars

Health disparities in Texas are not only making some people sick, but affecting the state's economy. A new study shows Texas is losing $7 billion a …

By 2031, good jobs accessible to people with only a high school education will represent just 6% of all jobs. (bodnarphoto/Adobe Stock)

TX leaders work to improve job opportunities for rural students

Work is being done in rural areas across Texas to make sure students are prepared for the workforce even if they intend to stay put after graduation…

As of Oct. 2023, the average teacher salary was $68,000 a year, which is 8% less than the average for U.S. workers overall. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

University of Texas El Paso targets teacher shortage

It's estimated that nearly half of all schools in the country don't have enough teachers. To help change that, the University of Texas in El Paso …

Texas' Travis and Collin counties had the highest percentage of people with an associate degree or higher in 2022. (Gorodenkoff/AdobeStock)

The TX college conundrum: Long-term vs. short-term rewards

Texas is making progress in the percentage of individuals who complete higher levels of education, but still lags behind the national average…

School choice proponents in Texas argue their children's academic needs can't be met without options such as tuition vouchers. Straxer/AdobeStock)

Stagnant state funding leaves Texas public schools reeling

Texas public schools rank 41st in per-student funding, and that may not improve anytime soon. A large education funding package failed in the …

En Texas, defensores de las decisiones de las escuelas argumentan que las necesidades acad�micas de sus hijos no pueden satisfacerse sin opciones como los cheques escolares. Straxer/AdobeStock)

Estancamiento en financiación estatal deja a escuelas públicas en ‘la cuerda floja’

Las escuelas públicas de Texas ocupan el puesto 41 en financiación por estudiante, y es posible que eso no mejore en el corto plazo…

Dentists say daily flossing is key for avoiding the development and progression of periodontal disease. (NewAfrica/Adobestock)

Dentists: Good oral hygiene, heathy diet prevent most tooth decay

Like the saying, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away," good dental habits developed by children early in life can keep cavities at bay and prevent …

The National PTA says setting boundaries and monitoring children's screen time is a responsibility, not an intrusion. (DimaBerlin/AdobeStock)

PTA urges parents, caregivers to participate in 'Safer Internet Day'

Most adults know it is dangerous to provide personal information online but children may not, and today's "Safer Internet Day" is meant to raise …

More than half of students surveyed by YouthTruth said school math problems fail to inspire them. (Svitlana/Adobe Stock)

Making math matter to America's high school students

Of all the classes taught in school, many students say math is the hardest and their least favorite subject, but many jobs require math and experts …

Government data show 44 million Americans owe $1.77 trillion in federal student loan debt. (VitaliiVodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Americans are getting billions in student loan debt canceled

Public service is its own reward for many -- but as tuition costs soar, it is also an effective tool to reduce college loans. The Public Service …

An American labor union hopes that by helping high school students learn the construction trade, they will help fill the nation's workforce shortage. (NathanHutchcraft/AdobeStock)

TX students learn basics in construction trade to fill future jobs

America's construction industry needs more workers, and a labor union has a program to encourage high school students to make it their future career…

Federal data suggest at least seven in 10 people have lost their Medicaid coverage for procedural reasons, such as missed deadlines, paperwork lost in the mail, or slow processing by state agencies. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Medicaid’s 'unwinding' takes heavy toll on Texas children

More American children had health insurance during the pandemic than ever before. But now, as states are required to re-enroll those eligible for …

Los datos federales sugieren que al menos siete de cada 10 personas han perdido su cobertura de Medicaid por motivos de procedimiento, como el incumplimiento de plazos, la p�rdida de documentaci�n en el correo o la lentitud en la tramitaci�n por parte de las agencias estatales. (zimmytws/Adobestock)

'Unwinding' de Medicaid cobra alto precio a niños de Texas

Durante la pandemia, aún más niños estadounidenses tuvieron seguro médico, pero ahora que los estados están obligados a …

Studies show math and reading scores are higher in schools staffed with full-time certified librarians. (CulturaAllies/Adobe Stock)

Librarians often 'unsung heroes' at Texas schools

Starting in the early years and continuing through 12th grade, it's often the school librarian students know best - seeking them out for help with …

Among all tobacco products, youths perceived e-cigarettes to be the least harmful, according to the Texas Youth Tobacco Survey. yta/AdobeStock)

CDC: mixed success on tobacco reduction among school kids

Cigarettes may not appeal to America's youth like they did in the 1960s, but a significant number still experiment with e-cigarettes. The Centers …

A new survey examined the cost of higher education, housing costs and even the average price of pizza, burgers, movies and bowling to rank the most affordable college towns. (JacobLund/AdobeStock)

Texas' Edinburg tops list for most affordable college towns

A new study found Texas is home to half of the U.S. colleges located in communities deemed affordable for students. The personal finance company …

Texas is among 17 states with the lowest public school spending per student, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. (wavebreak3/Adobe Stock)

Texas Senate makes school vouchers its priority in education funding

Public schoolteachers in Texas say the state desperately needs to boost its overall investment in students and education programs. Instead, lawmakers …

People with additional years of education beyond high school tend to be more civic-minded and interact more with neighbors and family members, according to a recent Gallup poll. (GetStock/Adobe Stock)

Polarizing social issues complicate college choice for high-schoolers

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News Service Co…

Texas is one of only a handful of states that does not allow online voter registration. (Seventyfour/AdobeStock)

TX Joins Momentous Effort to Register Young Voters of Color

The annual National Voter Registration Day returns tomorrow, and a Texas organization has a goal of registering 1,200 new young voters from diverse …

Texas es uno de los pocos estados que no permite el registro de votantes en l�nea. (Seventyfour/AdobeStock)

TX se une a esfuerzo trascendental para registrar a jóvenes votantes de color

El Día Nacional de Registro de Votantes anual regresa mañana, y una organización de Texas tiene el objetivo de registrar 1.200 nuevos …

In 2023, 566 anti-trans bills have been introduced in 49 states including 65 in Texas, according to Trans Legislation Tracker. (inkdrop/AdobeStock)

TX High Court Not Persuaded to Protect Transgender Health Care

Texas has adopted some of the strictest gender-affirming transgender restrictions in the nation. And the leader of a trans advocacy group says it has …

The overall number of Americans without health insurance dropped to a record low in the first three months of 2023, a number expected to rise as Medicaid rolls are purged post-pandemic. (NewAfrica/AdobeStock)

Texans Navigate the Post-Pandemic Medicaid Purge

A nationwide purge of Medicaid rolls is underway after a three-year pause during the pandemic. And in Texas, most of those dropped are children…

Nearly 30,000 Texas minors would be affected by legislation banning transgender youth health care, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA's School of Law. (Krakenimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit Filed Over TX Law Banning Health Care for Transgender Youth

Families and medical providers announced a lawsuit against the State of Texas on Thursday over new legislation that bans gender-affirming medical care…

The lack of nearby and affordable child care in the U.S. affects job opportunities and costs the economy $122 billion annually, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (mmg1design/Adobe Stock)

Report: Texas Ranks 44th in Nation for Child Well-Being

Child well-being in Texas is on the ropes, with a new study showing significant declines in third grade reading, eighth grade math proficiency and …

ACLU Plans Lawsuit If TX Anti-Trans Bills Become Law

The culture war over transgender identity is spreading in GOP-led states, and Texas is among those passing the harshest laws. The Human Rights …

Changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid approved by Congress in 2020 will delay application availability from Oct. 1 until December this year. (cienpies/AdobeStock)

TX Rural Students Face College Shutout Without Changes to FAFSA

Texas educates more rural students than any other state at nearly 700,000, and there is concern a new law meant to simplify applying for college …

School board meetings have historically included intense cultural debates, such as the teaching of evolution, the removal of offensive sports mascots, or educator-required

Conservative 'M4L' Group Sets Sights on School Boards, Book Bans

A group formed to oppose COVID-19 mask mandates is expanding its agenda to influence school board elections, and a national watchdog group believes …

A nivel nacional, la tasa de ni�os sin seguro en EE. UU. era del 5.4% en 2021, pero en Texas era el doble, con un 11.8%. (NicholasB/Adobe Stock)

Número de niños sin seguro disminuye en TX durante COVID, pero sigue en el puesto 50 a nivel nacional

No fue enorme, pero Texas experimentó un descenso en el número de niños sin seguro: disminuyó del 12.7% en 2019 al 11.8% el añ…

Nationally, the child uninsured rate in the U.S. was 5.4% in 2021, but twice that in Texas, at 11.8%. (NicholasB/Adobe Stock)

Number of Uninsured Kids Drops in TX During COVID; Still 50th Nationwide

It wasn't huge, but Texas saw a decline in the number of uninsured children, falling from 12.7% in 2019 to 11.8% last year, according to research by …

Only 3% of Americans considering adoption say they would consider adopting a teenager, according to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. (shock/Adobe Stock)

Ample Options Await Adoptive Parents in Texas

Adopting a child is a big, important decision, but there also are misperceptions about the complexity of the process - which might mean thousands of …

The U.S. Army had its highest number of active duty personnel in 2020, according to Statista.com. (PatouRicard/Pixabay)

TX Writer: Low-Income Youths Targeted for Military Service

By Aina Marzia for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service Collaboration …

To help keep them in school, Texas community college students say information about registration, orientation and payment should be easier to understand, according to a CCCSE study at the University of Texas at Austin. (Myriams-Fotos/Pixabay)

Report: College Students 'Walk a Tightrope' Toward a Degree

A new report shows community colleges need to be more persistent if they want to keep students enrolled. The Center for Community College Student …

Para ayudarlos a mantenerse en la escuela, los estudiantes de colegios comunitarios de Texas dicen que la informaci�n sobre el registro, orientaci�n y pago deber�a ser m�s f�cil de entender, seg�n un estudio de CCCSE en la Universidad de Texas en Austin. (Myriams-Fotos/Pixabay)

Informe: Estudiantes universitarios "en cuerda la floja" hacia un título

Un nuevo informe muestra que los colegios comunitarios deben ser más persistentes si quieren mantener a los estudiantes matriculados. El Center …

From July 2021 to June 2022 across the nation, there were 2,532 instances of individual books being banned, affecting 1,648 unique book titles, according to Pen America. (prettysleepyart/Pixabay)

TX ACLU Promotes 'Students' Rights Hub' During Banned Books Week

Ahead of Banned Books Week, the ACLU of Texas published what it calls a Students' Rights Hub. Kate Huddleston, attorney for the ACLU of Texas…

Between 2003 and 2017, the suicide rate among Black girls increased an average of 6.6% each year, according to the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, which reports nearly 40% were ages 12 to 14. (kassoum_kone/Pixabay)

Parents, Teachers Advised to Stay Alert for Mental-Health Issues

For some Texas kids, heading back to school creates a lot of anxiety, and experts urge early intervention to solve a youth mental-health crisis …

M�s de 4700 estudiantes universitarios en Nueva York y Nueva Jersey informaron que la pandemia afect� su salud mental, y los estudiantes de color se vieron afectados de manera desproporcionada por factores estresantes financieros, seg�n un estudio en 2022 realizado por la Universidad Estatal de Montclair. (Peter Curcio/Pixabay)

Estudiantes buscan servicios de salud mental en medio de COVID y Monkeypox

Universidades en todo el país perdieron inscripciones debido al COVID-19. A medida que los estudiantes regresan, Texas A&M se asegura de que …

Texas kids are some of the least likely in the nation to receive adequate health care, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (everytexan.org)

2022 Report: Texas Ranks 45th for Child Well-Being

When it comes to child well-being, Texas is slipping further behind, according to the 2022 Kids Count Data Book, compiled by the Annie E. Casey …

The share of crimes in the United States committed by young people has fallen by more than half over the past two decades, according to The Sentencing Project. (ThomasR�desheim/Pixabay)

Reports of Youth Crime Wave Debunked by Latest Research

New research by The Sentencing Project shows a drop in youth crime over the past 20 years, which debunks a so-called "false narrative" of a youth …

There are 20 million AR-15 style rifles in circulation across the country - more guns than people, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. (RayShrewsberry/Pixabay)

Expert: Americans Feel Traumatized, Helpless About Gun Violence

Teachers, faith leaders and parents gathered Tuesday outside the Austin office of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. They're demanding action on gun safety …

Some experts feel the age children are considered

TX Caregivers Urged to Take Active Role in Children’s Social Media Use

As children grow up, parents and caregivers across Texas face the difficult decision of how to oversee social media use, with an ongoing debate on …

Almost a million students stopped attending college or universities over the past two years, citing overwhelming stress, cost, and family obligations. (Adobe Stock)

Emotional Stress Top Reason For Higher Ed. Drop Outs

Nationally, COVID-19 has been devastating for many people pursuing higher education. Almost a million stopped attending college or universities in …

Child sex trafficking can have devastating immediate and long-term consequences, including health impacts, psychological and physical trauma. (Steven Depolo/HungryKids.org)

Child Sex-Trafficking Numbers Rise in Texas

Texas Rangers investigating reports of child sex trafficking at a shelter in Bastrop reported they did not find enough evidence to support the charges…

Crisis contacts from LGBTQ youths in Texas increased 150% in 2021 over 2020, according to Equality Texas. (Gerd Altmann/Pixabay)

TX Judge Issues Temporary Halt to Governor's Anti-Transgender Directive

A Texas judge has temporarily ruled the state may not continue investigations of parents seeking gender-affirming health care for their child…

Like adults, kids love electronic devices but need protection from inappropriate content and excessive screen time. (Peggy_Marco/Pixabay)

New Tool Helps Parents Guide Constantly-Connected Kids

The pandemic caused kids' screen time to soar, some of it spent playing video games and using social media. Now, the National Parent Teachers …

In San Antonio, only about half of high school seniors go on to college, and just 34 percent earn a degree even though 65 percent of jobs nationwide require post-high school credentials. (alamoedu)

A Community College "Promise" for Texas High Schoolers

High school students who attend college expand their future career options, and a free tuition program at five San Antonio community colleges is …

En San Antonio, solo alrededor de la mitad de los estudiantes del �ltimo a�o de la escuela secundaria van a la universidad y solo el 34 por ciento obtiene un t�tulo, aunque el 65 por ciento de los trabajos en todo el pa�s requieren credenciales posteriores a la escuela secundaria. (alamoedu)

Una "promesa" de colegio comunitario para estudiantes secundarios en Texas

Los estudiantes de secundaria que asisten a la universidad expanden sus opciones futuras profesionales. Un programa de matrícula gratuita en …

More than 1 million U.S. students have vanished from university and college classrooms in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. (DeborahJackson/Pixabay)

Rebuilding "Community" at Colleges, Universities Post-Pandemic

Colleges and universities typically provide in-person programming and supports to strengthen bonds between students and build a sense of community…

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