Austin, TX
New Charter School Approved in Big Spring
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AUSTIN, TX — The Texas State Board of Education approved recommendations made by Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath at last week’s meetings, opening the door for four new charter schools around the state.
One of the charter schools will be located in Big Spring, located about 85 miles northwest of San Angelo.
Subject to clearing contractual contingencies, the following applicants will open new charter schools and begin serving Texas public school students in the 2025-2026 school year:
- Pathway Academy in Big Spring
- Infinite Minds in Arlington
- The Texas Girls School in Austin
- Unparalleled Preparatory Academy in Manor
In other action, the SBOE discussed the rule process for potentially removing materials from the lists of approved and rejected materials as part of the Instructional Materials Review and Approval process. The public can view the list of materials submitted for review and access copies of the instructional materials, SBOE feedback forms and SBOE-approved IMRA rubrics by visiting sboe.texas.gov/imra. The list of materials will be voted on by the board at its November meeting.
Rule amendments made by the board in April, including revisions to the Dyslexia Handbook: Procedures Concerning Dyslexia and Related Disorders, are now effective. The Handbook was updated to include adopted changes that align with the requirements of House Bill (HB) 3928 from the 88th regular session. For more information, visit the Texas Education Agency’s Dyslexia and Related Disorder webpage.
Recognition
The board recognized the 2024 Student Heroes, an inspiring group of 15 Texas public school students who have made a significant impact through their volunteer efforts. The board approved a resolution in their honor.
The SBOE also recognized:
- 2024 Presidential Awards Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) State Finalists
- 2024 Milken Educator Award winners Dr. Johnny Walker of Winona ISD and Juan Dominguez of Somerset ISD
- 2024 Texas Teacher of the Year, Taniece Thompson-Smith of Abilene ISD
- 2024 Texas Secondary Teacher of the Year, Naveen Cunha of Bryan ISD
The SBOE will reconvene the week of September 9, 2024.
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Austin, TX
University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Institute for Electronics Unveils Executive Board of Directors
![University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Institute for Electronics Unveils Executive Board of Directors](https://indiaeducationdiary.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Sharon_Jeannie_inFab-1200x800-c-default-1024x683.jpg)
Austin, TX
Swim and Dine at the New Swim Club in Downtown Austin – Texas is Life
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![swim club](https://texasislife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/swim-club-696x520.jpg)
Grab your sunscreen and dine in an actual swimming pool at Swim Club, a swimming pool bar and restaurant, that debuted on June 24, 2024, in downtown Austin. The Austin bar Nickel City co-owner Travis Tober collaborated with Downright Austin hotel to open Swim Club, which is housed at the Downright Austin’s swimming pool, giving customers a way to swim, mingle, eat, and drink.
Have some lunch on a poolside lounger, soak up the sun on The Lawn, or sit in the sunken dining room with vibrant views of the neighboring pool. Swim Club boasts other fun areas such as Randy’s Radio Room, a disco lounge, and the Lawn at Swim Club with outdoor picnic tables and seating.
Enjoy the Miami decor and cool down with a cold-blended, innovative beverage and pizza straight out of the brick oven. The menu evokes memories of long summers, showcasing local foods, backyard grilling classics, and dishes roasted to perfection like fish tacos.
Vitals
- Address: 650 East 10th Street, Austin, TX 78701
- Web: www.swimclubaustin.com
- Hours: Sunday to Thursday: 11 am to 10 pm kitchen; 12 am bar, Friday and Saturday: 11 am to 11 pm kitchen; 2 am bar
Map to Swim Club
Featured image from Swim Club Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/swimclubaustin/)
Austin, TX
UT-Austin spares pro-Palestinian protesters from suspension, offers them probation instead
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The University of Texas at Austin has begun disciplining students who were arrested in pro-Palestinian demonstrations in April, scolding them for their actions but offering them a path to avoid suspension.
In letters sent out to students this week, first reported by KUT, university officials said it would be appropriate to suspend them for their actions during the protests but would give them the option to take “deferred suspension” instead, a form of probation that would allow students to remain in class and keep the disciplinary action from appearing on their final transcripts.
“Recognizing our commitment to educational growth, we want to offer you an alternative path to avoid suspension by proving that you have learned from this experience,” reads one of the letters obtained by The Texas Tribune.
Students who choose deferred suspension must agree to take an exam testing their knowledge of the university’s rules and agree not to appeal the decision. The status would be active until July 7, 2025.
Those who decline that option would be suspended, the letter says. Students may also appeal the disciplinary sanctions through a university hearing.
Ari Lenahan, a UT-Austin student set to graduate in December, said he was relieved the university offered him deferred suspension since students at other universities across the country are facing harsher punishments after participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. He said it may be the best choice for him since he aims to graduate this year.
“It’s a lot clearer where I stand now, at least in the university’s eyes,” he said.
Lenahan still has a hold on his account preventing him from registering for classes in the fall but said the letter he received Wednesday states any holds will be removed once his case is resolved.
Anne-Marie Jardine, a recent graduate, received a sanction letter concerning her involvement in an April 24 pro-Palestinian demonstration. Jardine was told she would be under deferred suspension for one year if she were to re-enroll at UT-Austin. Jardine said she hasn’t received her official diploma from the university yet.
Many other students under investigation have not yet been informed about how the university plans to move forward with their cases. Sam Law, a PhD candidate who was arrested on April 29, said that he expects the university will contact him soon.
More than 130 protesters were arrested at pro-Palestinian demonstrations on UT-Austin’s campus in late April. In resolute efforts to dispel the protesters, law enforcement at the time deployed pepper spray and flash-bang explosives and charged students with horses. State troopers were deployed by Gov. Greg Abbott to help quash the protests and had a hand in the arrests.
Those arrested were charged with criminal trespassing but Travis County Attorney Delia Garza declined to pursue those charges.
In the aftermath of the protest, many students, faculty and free speech advocates questioned UT-Austin’s heavy-handed response to the protests and criticized state GOP leaders’ support of the arrests. Just a few years ago, Abbott had championed state legislation that protected free speech on college campuses, leading free speech advocates to ask who gets to enjoy free speech protections in Texas.
UT-Austin leaders, meanwhile, have vowed to carry out discipline against students who violated campus policies. Seniors in the class of 2024 were afraid their diplomas would be withheld, though they were permitted to join graduation ceremonies in the spring.
Sneha Dey contributed to this story.
Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.
Just in: Former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming; U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pennsylvania; and Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt will take the stage at The Texas Tribune Festival, Sept. 5–7 in downtown Austin. Buy tickets today!
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