One major district in the Greater Houston area has announced a new cell phone policy that is being widely discussed as the school year gets underway.

A new app could ease the anxiety and stress of many parents at Katy Independent School District.

After severe storms left widespread damage in the City of Houston Thursday, Houston ISD has announced they are closing all campuses and canceling classes on Friday.

The United States Department of Education has launched an investigation into Katy Independent School District after receiving a Title IX complaint regarding a policy passed by the district in August that civil rights advocates deemed as anti-transgender.

A Katy Independent School District board of trustee member asked the district to push for legislators to allow the tracking of students’ immigration status during Monday’s meeting.

Katy ISD confirms a woman who is one of two people accused in a Houston-area home renovation theft scheme is a teacher at the district.

Johnson Development has named a new community in Katy, Texas, called Grange

A retired Harris County sheriff deputy is criticizing Katy Independent School District’s plan arming elementary school security guards.

Major changes are coming to the Katy Independent School District this year, and one in particular may be concerning to parents.

A student group has filed a formal Title IX complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights challenging the Katy ISD's policy requiring schools to notify parents if their child comes out as transgender or changes preferred pronouns.

Katy Independent School District’s Board of Trustees held a work-study meeting Monday night to discuss several topics, including whether to hire chaplains.

Unofficial results from the Katy Independent School District’s bond election indicated approval of Propositions A and B by voters, constituting more than 95% of the 2023 bond program.

Parents of students who attend Conroe Independent School District anticipate the Board of Trustees to discuss the district’s policy on its removal policy of selected library books ahead of Tuesday night’s meeting.

Katy Independent School District’s school board voted to unanimously update and adjust the district’s current book removal policy after several children’s classics, including Dr. Seuss’ “Wacky Wednesday” and “No, David!” by David Shannon were put on the district’s removal list because of nudity.

Watch D.O.G.S.,’ or “Dads of Great Students,” is a father or male-involvement initiative that has had a big response in Katy Independent School District.

In a 4-3 vote the district will now require teachers to notify parents if their student comes out as transgender or asks to use different pronouns.

The Katy Independent School District Board of Trustees has unanimously voted to approve the district’s compensation plan during a meeting Monday.

Katy Independent School District, in conjunction with Fort Bend County Homeland Security and Emergency Management, local EMS, fire and law enforcement agencies, will conduct a full-scale active shooter exercise Wednesday at Tompkins High School.

Cardiff Junior High School in the Katy Independent School District has been evacuated after a “suspicious package” was found on campus, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office tweeted.

Voters living in the area of Katy Independent School District will soon vote on a tax rate election (TRE.) It would keep the rate the same and the school district says the extra money they gain would help some staffing shortages.

Several art students at Katy Independent School District were able to rack in $17,000 after 11 pieces of artwork were auctioned at the Fort Bend County Fair, according to a release.

On Wednesday morning, parents rushed over to Paetow High School to pick up their children after Katy Independent School District said the school received and investigated a rumored and unfounded threat of a shooting on campus.

Several Katy Independent School District campuses were damaged during the severe storms that blew through the Houston area Wednesday night.

Parents and students of the Katy Independent School District said they were met with confusion Monday on what was supposed to be the start of summer classes.

Katy Independent School District board of trustees approved mid-point pay grade increases of 5% for all district classroom teachers and hourly employees and a 3% raise for all other employees for the 2022-2023 school year.

Three people are now charged after a 17-year-old died from his injuries on Sunday in the wake of an after-school brawl involving Katy Independent School District students at a west Harris County park on Feb. 14, Harris County Sheriff’s Office said on Monday.

The threats to classrooms and school districts across our nation quickly circulated through a social media challenge posted online. The challenge is what some officials called a general threat to all U.S. schools.

Katy Independent School District said they reinstated an award-winning children’s author books more than a week after parents claimed the subject matter promoted “critical race theory.”

Katy Independent School District said they have “temporarily” removed books by an award-winning children’s author from their library shelves after an outcry from parents claiming the subject matter promotes critical race theory.

Katy Independent School District has been ranked as the No. 1 school district in the Houston area, according to Niche’s Best Schools list.

Katy becomes the latest school to offer virtual learning for some students amid the increased number of COVID-19 cases.

Teachers in the Katy Independent School District can expect to see a bump in their paychecks starting soon.

Cy-Fair Fire Department Crews respond to a crash involving a Katy ISD school bus in the 6100 block of Peek Rd. HOUSTON – An investigation is underway after a driver was injured in a crash involving a Katy Independent School District bus, according to Cy-Fair Fire Department. The school district said its bus was hit by another vehicle. Firefighters said 16 high school students and two adults on board the bus were evaluated at the scene. The driver of the vehicle was taken by ambulance to an area hospital as a precaution, according to Katy ISD.

HOUSTON – Busted pipes from winter weather are not just impacting homes, but school districts across Southeast Texas. Maintenance crews in many of those districts are working overtime to access the damage and begin the cleanup process. Cy-Fair, Galveston, Goose Creek, Klein and Fort Bend ISD’s are all dealing with similar situations. Fort Bend ISD hopes to resume normal operations on Monday but that decision won’t be made until Sunday night. AdFort Bend ISD hopes to have a better assessment of the damage tomorrow.

Conroe ISDConroe Independent School District will resume classes Monday. Deer Park ISDDeer Park ISD students will return to school Monday, Feb. 22. Humble ISDHumble ISD plans to resume school on Monday, Feb. 22, for all students, both on-campus and virtual students. District staff is in the process of reaching out to families to connect them with supports and information available through the Act. Royal ISDRoyal ISD students will resume school Tuesday.

KATY [January 21, 2021] – It's been a great school year of state championship wins for Katy Independent School District, this time the trophy goes to the Seven Lakes High School (SLHS) Cheerleaders, who won the 2021 Conference 6A-D1 UIL State Spirit Championship, which took place in Fort Worth, Texas. Out of 43 6A-D1 schools, the Spartans took home the gold and the coveted title of being named "CHAMPIONS." "This is the second time the Spartan Cheer Team has medaled at state," said SLHS Cheer Coach Amy Weaston. We are so proud to bring home another state title to our supporting Spartan Nation," added Weaston. Other Katy ISD teams who earned Top 10 spots at UIL Spirit State Championship events include:Mayde Creek High School Cheer Team - fifth place at the 6A-D1 competitionCinco Ranch High School Cheer Team - seventh place at the 6A-D1 competitionJordan High School Cheer Team - fifth place in the 5A-D2 competition

KATY, Texas – The president of the Katy Independent School District board released a digital message to parents and staff about September’s achievements, new campuses, how the district will cope with a lowered tax rate, among other topics. Board President Courtney Doyle welcomed students back to the fall semester, saying nearly 84,000 students are enrolled in 68 of its campuses. Tax rate decreaseThe district will be saving its taxpayers this year after board trustees approved a drop in the school tax rate of 5.43 cents per $100 valuation. New name proposal for new campusDuring September’s board meeting, it was recommended for Junior High #17 to be named Bill and Cindy Haskett Junior High for the new campus. Cindy Haskett taught math at Katy Junior High from 1980 until she retired in 2005, culminating 33 years in public education.

KATY, Texas – The Katy Independent School District is providing free meals to all students in the area, even if they aren’t part of the district, after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) extended the food program waiver, the district announced. Katy ISD began providing meals Monday and students can receive free breakfast and lunch through Dec. 31, or pending available funds through the USDA and TDA. “All students are eligible for one breakfast and one lunch meal per day per federal guidance,” said Nutrition & Food Service Executive Director Donna Pittenger. “Parents can however add funds to their student’s Pay N' Go meal account for a la carte purchases or in preparation for when the USDA waiver ends,” she added. Once the waiver expires, Katy ISD will switch back to the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program, according to a press release.

KATY, Texas – Students at Katy Independent School District returned to in-person classes this week after three weeks of virtual learning. It was a high-stress week for parents, teachers and students worried about going back to school amid a pandemic, so to wrap up the week, the district shared a legendary “welcome back” video. The message was sent from none other than David Hasselhoff and it was everything you would expect from The Hoff. “After six months of virtual learning, the students of Katy ISD will return face-to-face, mask-to-mask with the other awesome teachers on Tuesday (Sept. 8),” Hasselhoff said in the video. I know the kids are so excited.”According to the district, the video was provided by a Katy ISD parent as a “special surprise for back to school.”We aren’t sure if the kids in school know who Hasselhoff is, but one can only hope they appreciated the epic-ness of the video.

HOUSTON The Katy Independent School District and the Maverick community are remembering Kelly Balser, 50, a school nurse at Morton Ranch High School. Morton Ranch High School Principal Julie Hinson released a statement:Mavericks,It is with extreme sadness to let you know that our beloved Kelly Balser has passed away. Nominations for the naming of Junior High #17:Katy Independent School District is now accepting nominations for the naming of Junior High #17, which is located at 25737 Clay Rd. This junior high will provide enrollment relief to neighboring campuses, which are experiencing fast growth. The form and all supplemental materials may be submitted by any of the methods below:By email: schoolnaming@katyisd.orgBy mail: Katy ISD School/Facility Naming School & Community Engagement P.O.

KATY, Texas Students, teachers and staff are getting ready for school to start at the Katy Independent School District. In an effort to stay ahead of the coronavirus, the district announced Monday that it has distributed hundreds of thousands of personal protective equipment to all of its campuses. Officials said the PPE, procured by the district and the Texas Education Agency, will ensure that Katy ISD is well prepared when schools open for in-person learning on Sept. 8. In total, Katy ISD has the following:135,000 adult reusable masks. People can find Katy ISD Safety Protocol Videos, demonstrating the PPE in use, at Katyisd.org under the Safety Protocol section.

Question: How will school districts distribute free and reduced-price meals to students participating in virtual instruction? Answer: Several school districts have announced plans to continue providing free and reduced-price meals to students enrolled in virtual instruction for the upcoming school year. Katy Independent School District has also announced students enrolled in its Katy Virtual Academy will continue to have access to Grab and Go meals. KPRC 2 is providing reopening outlines with the latest updates for more than 40 Houston-area school districts. For a quick glance at your school district and what others are doing, click here.

The question: How does virtual learning work? The answer: The virtual learning experience may be different depending on which district your child is enrolled in. While districts consent in-person learning is the most effective learning environment, the spike of coronavirus in the Greater Houston area has many districts opting to begin the 2020-2021 school year with virtual learning. For example, Katy Independent School District is offering in-person learning and a virtual program, the Katy Virtual Academy. However, some districts, like Houston and Alief ISDs, are only offering virtual learning to start the fall.

Parents raised many concerns, including STARR testing being put back on the calendar for the upcoming school year. Katy Independent School District officials are working on a safety plan that will give parents the option of both online or in-person instruction. The district plans to finalize its plans within the next few weeks. STARR testing to resumeWhile school officials attempt to get students and teachers back safely, parents are not happy with the STARR testings back on the schedule. KPRC 2 reached out to the TEA Commissioner to see if districts would be given any more time or if state officials will consider moving STARR testing.

KATY, Texas – Katy Independent School District is asking parents several questions in a survey, including what they want to do this fall semester when schools reopen. The survey asks if parents want to send their children back to school or keep them home and continue online learning? On Monday, Katy ISD parents got a video message from Superintendent Ken Gregorski asking parents to fill out the survey. Gregorski adds, parents, will be able to choose from in-person classes, to online learning, or both. Other parents told KPRC 2 they are OK with the older kids going back.

KATY, Texas Thousands of protesters showed up to a student-organized march in Katy Park on Thursday. The event, in honor of George Floyd, was held by Katy for Justice, a group started by three Katy Independent School District students. Its a way to speak out about systemic racism in America, to organize Katy under that common goal and to recognize the issues prevalent in our society, Alverez said. The Cinco Ranch High School junior said she and co-organizers, Jeffrey Jin and Foyin Dosunmu, have spent countless hours arranging the meet-up. Following the march, a lineup of speakers addressed the crowd, calling for change within the judicial system as well as justice for George Floyd.

Here are things you need to know for Friday, June 5:1. Student-organized march draws more than 1,000 protesters in KatyThousands of protesters showed up to a student-organized march in Katy Park on Thursday. The event, in honor of George Floyd, was held by Katy for Justice, a group started by three Katy Independent School District students. 3 things to shareWORD OF THE DAYHalyardor [hal-yerd] (noun) any of various lines or tackles for hoisting a spar, sail, flag, etc., into position for use. All things to the call respond; the trees are leaving and cashiers abscond. - Ambrose BierceMore headlines you may be interested in

Anyone interested can register for the district’s Virtual Teacher Job Fair on May 4 and 5 and virtual interviews will be held from May 6 through 8. At this time, the Katy ISD Virtual Job Fair is only for teaching positions. Complete a current Katy ISD application online by visiting the Job Postings webpage. Probationary certificates for which the applicant has applied and paid, and the university/program has recommended will be accepted for the registration to Katy ISD Virtual Job Fair. If you have questions, you can contact the Katy ISD Human Resources Department at HRInquiries@KatyISD.org.

KATY, Texas – Several Mayde Creek Junior High students were sent to area hospitals Friday after a cellphone battery began to smoke, according to Katy Independent School District spokeswoman Maria DiPetta. According to the Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office, investigators determined several students were playing with an old cellphone by taking it apart. Investigators said one of the students was playing with the battery, causing it to overheat, bulge and smoke. Those students were taken to our nurse’s office and those that suffered from smoke inhalation were transported by our EMS units,” Dipetta said. Officials with the West Lake Fire Department said the smoke was caused by battery failure.

KATY, Texas – The Katy Independent School District Board of Trustees approved two measures Monday that it hopes will help improve the transportation of students. “The camera system upgrade will provide the latest in technology and safety measures available in school bus transportation,” said Ted Vierling, Katy’s assistant superintendent of operations. The agreement with GoldStar Transit, a Texas-based transportation company, will service at least 40 bus routes for Katy. GoldStar already provides service to school districts such as Fort Bend ISD, Bastrop ISD, Waco ISD, and Navasota ISD. The GoldStar drivers will go through the same training as Katy ISD bus drivers and the company’s buses will display Katy ISD signage and the equipment will be on level with standards set by the school district for all of its buses.

HOUSTON – The personal information of some Katy Independent School District employees, including social security numbers and birth dates, was accidentally released, according to a statement from the district. While the information was released, district officials say there was no evidence to indicate that the data had been accessed. School district officials said they believe it to be “a very low security risk,” officials wrote. “The file was immediately destroyed upon discovery and credit monitoring agencies were promptly notified,” officials wrote. The district also said it was providing affected employees with a year of free credit monitoring services.

KATY, Texas – Katy Independent School District police confirmed Thursday they are investigating allegations that a 16-year-old girl was attacked and raped in a secluded hallway near the cafeteria at Mayde Creek High School about 11:30 a.m. Nov. 22. Sexual assault is an incident that campus administration and Katy ISD police investigate thoroughly to ensure student and staff safety. The safety of our students at MCHS and throughout Katy ISD is our utmost priority. I appreciate your support and understanding as we continue our investigation with the Katy ISD Police Department. KPRC 2 spoke with district officials who said a Katy ISD detective tried to contact the girl and her mother, but they were uncooperative.