Trump administration boosts funding for HBCUs and Tribal Colleges
The President Donald Trump administration’s decision to reallocate nearly $500 million toward historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and tribal campuses marks a significant boost for institutions that have long faced chronic underfunding.
The investment pushes total federal support for HBCUs to more than $1.34 billion this year and raises funding for tribal colleges to more than $108 million. For schools that often serve as anchors in their communities, these dollars represent vital resources for students and faculty alike.
These institutions will receive this investment in addition to the 2025 federal budget allocation, totaling an increase of 48.4% for HBCUs and 109.3% for Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).
The Department of Education framed the reallocation as a shift away from programs it views as less effective, directing money instead to initiatives it believes will deliver stronger outcomes.
Alongside the HBCU and tribal college investment, the administration announced $500 million in charter school grants and more than $160 million for civics and American history education.
The administration says this is to focus on merit, effectiveness and long-term student success. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the changes will redirect money away from “ineffective and discriminatory programs toward those which support student success.”
New commission to examine HISD state takeover
A new Commission on the HISD Takeover, led by State Sen. Molly Cook, State Rep. Lauren Ashley Simmons and faith leader Collin Bossen, was created to study the effects of the state’s intervention in Texas’ largest school district.
The commission will hold sessions to “address the growing lack of trust in the state takeover and [Superintendent] Mike Miles by thoroughly investigating the current conditions within HISD.”
The first session highlighted both concerns and aspirations. Community members voiced unease over teacher turnover, declining student enrollment, library closures and changes to specialized programs. Others emphasized the need to protect teacher collaboration and ensure public schools remain rooted in community priorities.
At the same time, Miles has pointed to substantial gains under the school district’s New Education System. In a recent press conference, he noted that HISD recorded its largest year-to-year improvement in test scores, and he set a goal for all campuses to reach an A or B rating by 2027.
The commission’s role will be to balance these perspectives, gathering data and testimony before issuing reports on the takeover’s impact. Its work underscores an essential question: How can student achievement be sustained while also honoring community trust and local democratic control?
It expects to publish reports on the impacts of the takeover, raise awareness about “hostile takeovers” and answer questions about returning HISD to local control and new forms of education following the transition to an elected board of trustees.
Houston housing market sees surge in sales
Houston’s housing market continues to defy expectations, and August’s numbers prove the point. Single-family home sales surged nearly 12% year-over-year, marking the strongest growth of 2025 so far. At the same time, prices held steady, with the median unchanged at $335,000, per an analysis by the Houston Association of Realtors.
This rare combination of rising sales and stable prices gives both buyers and sellers a reason to be optimistic.
For buyers, the expanded inventory, now more than 30% higher than last year, means more negotiating power than the city has seen in a decade.
A 5.4-month supply of homes places Houston above the national average, offering opportunities at nearly every price point. For sellers, demand remains strong, especially in the $150,000 to $249,999 and $500,000 to $999,999 ranges, which saw double-digit sales increases.
Not every segment is benefiting. Townhome and condo sales fell more than 13%, with prices sliding as well. That decline suggests higher inventory is weighing more heavily on attached housing than on single-family homes.
Still, the broader picture is encouraging. As mortgage rates ease, Houston finds itself in a rare sweet spot, with strong demand and stable prices amid abundant choice. The challenge now will be sustaining this balance in a city with a growing population.
