Austin ISD students in third through eighth grade exceeded their pre-pandemic scores for reading across the board, according to results just released yesterday. This represents significant progress in reading achievement.
Nearly all grades saw at least a small increase in the percentage of students meeting grade level. The only exception was seventh grade, which maintained steady performance at 53% of students meeting grade level.
Elementary and middle school students saw mixed results in math, with some grade levels improving while others declined.
The 2024 statewide results showed concerning trends: declining mathematics and science performance across all tested grade levels. The Texas Education Agency noted that the decrease in math proficiency is indicative of the significant challenges that persist for students in this subject area following the COVID-19 pandemic
Austin ISD appears to be making positive strides in reading recovery, with students surpassing their pre-pandemic performance levels. However, math performance remains inconsistent, reflecting the broader statewide challenge in mathematics achievement. The district continues to use these results to identify areas where students need additional support and to develop targeted learning plans for the upcoming school year.
“These results are encouraging and reflect the impact of the strategic supports we’ve implemented in recent years.” — Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath
“Education has just gotten more expensive period. And at the same time we have these gaps that we have to address.” — Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura
Individual student scores are accessible through the Austin ISD Parent Portal, and the district emphasizes using these results alongside other performance data to support student success.
There’s significant ongoing criticism of the STAAR testing system among Texas educators. Many parents and teachers believe those scores don’t reflect all of the ways schools serve kids, nor do they believe the tests cover everything students should learn.
The broader educator community continues to express frustration with the high-stakes nature of STAAR testing, particularly given its role in school accountability ratings that can lead to state intervention.
Austin ISD officials are dealing with additional pressure beyond test scores. The district faces potential state intervention, as nearly 43% of Austin ISD campuses received a D or F rating from the Texas Education Agency in the 2022-23 school year, failing to meet state accountability standards.
Austin’s Transportation and Public Works Department completed safety projects near three schools (Anderson Mill Elementary, Purple Sage Elementary, and Grisham Middle School), including protected intersections, crossing sidewalks, and upgrades to enhance safety for students and families.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) can’t make large county prosecutors turn over confidential case files, a judge ruled Monday, two weeks before the first report was due.
Judge Catherine Mauzy (D) of the 419th District Court in Travis County granted a temporary injunction favoring seven predominantly left-leaning counties that sued to block the forced disclosures.
The rule—created by Paxton to obtain files from those he perceives as soft on crime—is “troubling at best,” Mauzy said at a hearing, because it violates separation of powers; Paxton is a member of the executive branch, and prosecutors are members of the judicial branch.
The county and district attorneys of Travis and El Paso Counties filed a lawsuit in May 2025 against Paxton and his office over the rule.
The new reporting requirements only affect 13 counties and specifically target district and county attorneys that represent an area with a population of more than 400,000 people. (Bloomberg Law)
A former Austin Police Department sergeant has pleaded guilty after an investigation into concerns about excessive force.
San Marcos authorities announced the arrests of three individuals for the robbery of a jewelry store back in April.
San Marcos police arrested a 16-year-old Tuesday in connection with a shooting of a relative.
A nurse at St. David’s Medical Center on East 32nd Street in central Austin is accused of attempting to sexually assault a patient on Valentine’s Day, according to newly released court records filed by Austin Police.
The Texas Department of Safety on Tuesday released information about the nine people arrested Saturday night during a “No Kings” demonstration.
On Saturday, June 14, 2025, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) responded to a planned and well-publicized protest at the Texas State Capitol and Downtown Austin and, working alongside our partners at the Austin Police Department (APD), made numerous arrests to keep demonstrators, the public and property safe.
The protest began around 5 p.m. Saturday on the grounds of the Texas State Capitol. Later that evening, the Capitol grounds closed, and demonstrators began a march through Downtown Austin, including the 46-square-block Texas Capitol Complex area, which DPS protects. During the response, DPS personnel arrested nine individuals on various charges, including felony assault of a peace officer and resisting arrest, among others.
DPS arrested the following individuals, and all were booked into the Travis County Jail:
- Andrew Joseph Alemao (37) – interfering with public duties
- Dorian Gray (19) – felony graffiti
- Daymon Micah Grubbs (19) – disobeying a police officer
- Christian Deun Johnson (24) – disobeying a police officer, providing false identification and evading arrest
- Henry T. Johnson (23) – obstructing a passageway
- Francisco Limon Juarez (31) – criminal trespass
- Tyrone Germane Stafford (44) – possession of marijuana
- Brendan William Talbert (24) – walking on roadway when sidewalks provided, felony assault of a peace officer, evading arrest and resisting arrest
- Esala Wueschner (33) – criminal trespass
During the response, DPS personnel also deployed pepper spray, PAVA powder and a taser to ensure officer safety and maintain order. While we will not discuss operational specifics, DPS collaborates with local, state and federal law enforcement partners—including APD—to ensure the safety of our citizens and state property, as well as to protect individuals exercising their constitutional rights to assemble and free speech.
Texas is a law-and-order state, and the department has zero tolerance for disrupting public order or endangering law enforcement officers. DPS is continuously monitoring events and their impact on public safety across the state.
Meanwhile, Austin Students for a Democratic Society, a progressive student group with a long history of activism, organized protests outside the J.J. Pickle Federal Building in downtown Austin for a second consecutive Monday.
The Travis County Commissioners Court has passed a resolution advocating for the constitutional and humane treatment of all immigrants. This resolution, approved on Tuesday, comes in response to the Trump administration’s heightened immigration enforcement. It mandates that any law enforcement agency relocating or detaining immigrants within Travis County promptly report who was taken, their destination, and the reasons for their detention.
Hays County recently passed a similar resolution. (KUT 90.5)
Austin-Travis County EMS responded to vehicle rescue Tuesday but apparently those involved escaped with minor injuries.
Last night, another vehicle rescue…this time two people were taken to hospitals.
Williamson County recently hired four new death investigators to assist Justice of the Peace judges, but workload remains heavy despite this support. Texas law mandates counties with populations over 2.5 million to establish a medical examiner’s office, highlighting a systemic gap for smaller counties like Williamson.
The City of Austin is transforming the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless (ARCH) into a cooling center to protect its most vulnerable residents.
CapMetro announced that it is temporarily suspending service to its Downtown Station due to construction at the Austin Convention Center. The transit agency said the “unexpected impact” has required the immediate temporary closure of the station, located on East Fourth Street, to keep everyone safe.
“The CapMetro Rail Red Line will temporarily terminate at Plaza Saltillo, and a bus bridge is in place between the two stations, until rail service can safely resume to Downtown Station. We understand the inconvenience this may cause for customers and appreciate patience during this time.” — CapMetro
How will the convention center project impact Austin’s economy? (KXAN-TV)
The new Austin Convention Center won’t be anything like the old one. Designers of new project share their insights. (Austin Business Journal)
CapMetro Transit Police Department launched its first patrols in high-traffic areas of Austin Monday, including Republic Square, to reduce crime and improve security.
CapMetro Transit Police Chief Eric Robins has accepted a new position near Houston as the Chief of Police for Alief Independent School District. His departure is anticipated to be in July. (KXAN-TV via MSN)
A $241 million project for International Arrivals was unveiled at a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
WEATHER
While it may seem like the ATX has had some decent rain lately, the totals for the past few months show we are still below normal.
The summer solstice officially begins at 9:41 p.m. Friday. Everything you need to know. (AccuWeather)
The Texas Attorney General’s office’s request for a new October 16th execution date for death row inmate Robert Roberson faces opposition due to Roberson’s pending case with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and the need for a court hearing to consider new evidence.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating 33 people for allegedly voting illegally in the 2024 election.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas has confirmed 750 cases of measles since late January 2025, with an increase of six cases since the June 10 update.
Current case count: 750 confirmed cases as of June 17, 2025
Timeline: The outbreak began in late January 2025
Geographic focus: Primarily affecting West Texas, with Gaines County accounting for 55% of the cases.
Hospitalizations: 97 patients have been hospitalized.
Deaths: Two school-aged children have died since the outbreak began. Both were vaccinated.
Spread: The outbreak has expanded beyond West Texas, with cases now reported near the Dallas area.
This Texas outbreak is part of a larger national measles resurgence, with 1,197 confirmed measles cases reported across 35 jurisdictions nationwide as of June 12, 2025. The Texas outbreak represents the largest single outbreak since measles elimination was declared in the United States in 2000.
The Department of Defense says 700 military members have been sent to Texas, Florida and Louisiana to help support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A 24-year-old Laredo man has confessed to conspiring to transport illegal aliens, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. (My Texas Daily)
President Donald Trump announced on June 10, 2025, during a speech at Fort Bragg that seven military bases, including Fort Cavazos, would be changed back to their original names, and Fort Cavazos has now officially been renamed Fort Hood.
Originally, Fort Hood was named for the Confederate General John Bell Hood, who commanded Hood’s Texas Brigade during the American Civil War.
In 2022, it was recommended the fort be renamed to Fort Cavazos, named after Gen. Richard E. Cavazos, a native Texan and the US Army’s first Hispanic four-star general.
Police seized over 75,000 pounds of THC products and $7 million in cash and assets during raids on warehouses and homes supplying hemp stores in North Texas.
Eleven lives were lost in a deadly flash flood on San Antonio’s Northeast Side on June 13, with unreleased video footage showing cars and people being swept away by raging floodwaters.
The Bexar County Small Business Administration captured crucial video evidence of the flooding, but declined to release it citing security concerns and government code provisions.
How do Texas teachers grade the Texas Legislature’s big education session?
Texas’ uninsured rate has dropped significantly over the past decade — but it’s still the highest in the country. About 1 in 5 adults are still uninsured. (Axios)
The State Fair of Texas will feature a diverse lineup of main stage acts including country artist Wade Bowen, up-and-coming performer Dylan Gossette, 90s R&B group TLC, and Houston rapper Paul Wall, alongside dozens of other performers throughout the fair’s duration.
This year’s fair runs September 26 through October 19.
SPORTS
MLB: Cam Smith hit two of Houston’s five home runs and finished with four hits as the Astros routed the Athletics 13-3 on Tuesday night to halt their four-game winning streak. (Yahoo! Sports)
The Texas Rangers, meanwhile…
Salvador Perez homered twice, Bobby Witt Jr. went deep in his hometown team’s ballpark for the first time and the Kansas City Royals stopped a six-game losing streak with a 6-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
TONIGHT:
It’s about midway through the Major League Soccer season, and Austin FC has very little to show for it. If the season ended today, Austin’s 6-5-7 record would currently be just good enough to get into the playoffs. (Axios)
A visit to South Llano River State Park in Junction, Texas.
