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The Look Back: Eight education stories from September 2025 readers loved

Stories by Fort Worth Star-Telegram journalists, with AI summarization

This set of Star-Telegram stories shows Texas schools facing numerous challenges as they navigate several issues.

Read the stories below.

Three-year-olds play while being cared for at Kids’ Place Child Development Center on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, in Fort Worth. By Amanda McCoy

COULD TEXAS SCHOOL VOUCHERS BENEFIT PRIVATE CHILD CARE? IT’S COMPLICATED.

After Texas state officials recently released proposed rules surrounding Education Savings Accounts and ESAs, which are similar to school vouchers, early learning experts are voicing concerns about the opportunity for private child care programs to provide pre-K to eligible students through the new program.The Texas Comptroller’s Office recently announced proposed rules for the state program’s structure and eligibility requirements after lawmakers approved $1 billion in ESA funding during the regular legislative session this year. | Published September 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lina Ruiz

Teacher Kim Peck teaches a elementary science class at Science, Etc. on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025, in Fort Worth. The organization offers supplemental Biblical-based classroom instruction for home-schooled children with numerous different subjects for parents to choose from. By Amanda McCoy

MORE FORT WORTH PARENTS SWITCH TO HOMESCHOOLING 5 YEARS AFTER START OF PANDEMIC

A little over a year ago, Angela TePaa’s family was in the middle of a few transitions at once. | Published September 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Silas Allen

School buses. By Bob Brawdy

GRAPEVINE-COLLEYVILLE PARENTS WORRIED ABOUT POSSIBLE SCHOOL CLOSURES

Some parents in the Grapevine-Colleyville school district worry that several elementary schools could close, but officials said no decisions have been made as they grapple with dwindling enrollment and limited funds. | Published September 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Elizabeth Campbell

Retired teacher Martha Farr, center, tutors second graders Malachi Murkledove, left, and Gabriela Ringnald in reading at Westpark Elementary School on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2025. By Amanda McCoy

FORT WORTH HAS A READING PROBLEM. THIS RETIRED TEACHER IS DOING HER PART TO HELP

Reading is the buzzword of 2025 in the Fort Worth school district, with good reason. | Published September 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Matthew Adams

Charlie Kirk speaks during the inauguration rally for President Donald Trump at Capital One Arena in Washington D.C., Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. Kirk spoke about “no more critical-race theory and diversity equity and inclusion in the military” in celebrating the election of Trump. Kirk was assassinated Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah. By Sam Greene

TEXAS AGENCY INVESTIGATES TEACHERS OVER ‘REPREHENSIBLE’ CHARLIE KIRK POSTS

The Texas Education Agency has promised to investigate teachers who posted or shared “reprehensible and inappropriate content” in the wake of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. | Published September 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Harriet Ramos

Westpark Elementary School

FORT WORTH MOM SAYS SCHOOL FAILED FAMILY AFTER TEACHER HELD 2 KIDS BY THROAT

The Fort Worth ISD elementary teacher accused of grabbing two children by the throat at school last month held them pinned to the wall by their necks for more than 10 seconds, according to video evidence and Gail Patterson’s arrest warrant affidavit. | Published September 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Harriet Ramos

Two of the four kittens a science teacher brought to Alvord High School, where she fed one live kitten to a snake, according to school officials.

NORTH TEXAS TEACHER APOLOGIZES FOR FEEDING LIVE KITTEN TO SNAKE IN CLASSROOM

A North Texas high school teacher fed an “ailing” live kitten to a snake in her classroom but did not do it in front of students, according to a message Alvord ISD sent to families in the district. | Published September 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Lillie Davidson

TEXAS SCHOOLS COULD FACE CHALLENGES DUE TO GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN. HERE’S WHY

Schools in Texas and nationwide could see dire consequences if the shutdown of the federal government stretches beyond a few days, education policy experts warn. | Published September 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Silas Allen

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.