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Dallas County students make gains and show broad-based progress across STAAR End-of-Course assessments

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Strong growth in Algebra I and Biology highlights progress in courses critical to college and career success

DALLAS, June 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) released STAAR End-of-Course (EOC) assessment results for the 2025-26 school year, offering an important snapshot of how students across Texas are progressing toward key academic milestones tied to postsecondary readiness and long-term economic opportunity.

Dallas County grew the percentage of students meeting grade level standard by 7 points across all EOC assessments, outpacing the state’s growth of 5 percentage points.

Across Dallas County, students demonstrated growth across all five EOC assessments, with 14 of the county’s 15 largest school systems increasing their overall percentage of students meeting grade levels across EOCs. Of those 15 systems, 7 surpassed the growth seen by the state.

“These results reflect years of sustained, intentional work across our school systems,” said Miguel Solis, President of The Commit Partnership. “Across Dallas County, district leaders, campus leaders, and teachers are increasingly aligned around what matters most for student success, particularly in high school.”

“Through stronger collaboration, a shared commitment to ensuring students have access to rigorous, grade-level instruction throughout their academic journey, and clearer pathways to college and career success, districts are creating more coherent experiences that support student achievement,” Solis continued. “The improvements we are seeing on EOCs are the result of this long-term focus on high-quality teaching and learning.”

Growth was particularly strong in Algebra I and Biology. Since 2025, Dallas County students achieved an increase of 9 percentage points in Algebra 1 proficiency and an increase of 12 percentage points in Biology proficiency at the “meets grade level” standard.

The encouraging trends in Algebra I and Biology are especially notable given the role both courses play in preparing students for success after high school. Research demonstrates that students who complete Algebra I in 8th grade are more likely to enroll in and persist in postsecondary education, which is linked to higher lifetime earnings.

Today’s release doesn’t provide the grade level of the Algebra 1 testers; however, many Dallas County districts have implemented policies to increase the number of students accessing the course in middle school so it’s encouraging to see the results trending in this direction. Additionally, Biology provides foundational knowledge for many healthcare and STEM pathways, sectors that remain among the largest and fastest-growing employers in the Dallas region.

Looking ahead, House Bill 8, enacted during the second special session of the 89th Texas Legislature, will expand the tools available to school systems for monitoring student progress throughout the academic year. Although the legislation eliminates the English II EOC assessment beginning in 2027–28, it also authorizes optional beginning- and middle-of-year assessments in the remaining EOC subjects that are aligned to state standards. These assessments can help educators identify and address learning gaps earlier, enabling more timely interventions and better preparation for end-of-year assessments.

The EOC results released this week represent the first installment of a broader picture of student outcomes that will continue to emerge throughout June as STAAR results become available for grades 3–8. The Commit Partnership will continue analyzing the data to better understand where students are making progress, where challenges remain, and what practices may help accelerate long-term student success across Dallas County.

TEA makes statewide assessment data publicly available, and the information is often shared through reports and data files that require time, context, and technical expertise to fully interpret. The Commit Partnership translates that data into accessible insights that can be more easily understood and used to inform decisions that support student success.

Commit’s 2025–26 STAAR Results Data Dashboard turns complex state data into accessible, visual insights that allow educators, policymakers, funders, and community leaders to compare results across places, student groups, subjects, and years. We also provide additional views of the data that are especially relevant to local decision-makers, including county-level trends, regional comparisons, legislative districts, and other groupings that are not always easy to see through state reporting alone.

“Data is most useful when people can understand it and act on it,” Chelsea Jeffery, Chief of Strategy, Insights & Talent at The Commit Partnership. “As a third-party nonprofit, Commit works alongside partners to interpret analysis and mine for insights that help align everyone to what these results mean and how we can scale what works for students.”

Commit’s dashboard reporting initial insights and results of STAAR EOC Results for Dallas County can be found here.

Read more about Commit’s analysis of STAAR EOC Results for Dallas County on its Latest Learnings blog here.

About The Commit Partnership
The Commit Partnership aims to break the cycle of poverty in Dallas County by examining its numerous root causes and working with others to remove systemic barriers to opportunity for all students. Commit Partnership discovers robust data insights and activates them through trusted relationships to innovate systems and unlock public funding in ways that address the root causes creating current student outcomes. Commit Partnership’s true north goal is that, by 2040, at least half of all 25–34-year-old residents in Dallas County, irrespective of race, will earn a living wage.

For more information, connect with Commit Partnership at communications@commitpartnership.org and on social media.

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SOURCE The Commit Partnership

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Futu Trustee Launches “Digital Asset Family Trust”

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November 15, 2026

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Integrating Cryptocurrencies and Traditional Financial Assets for Orderly Wealth Succession Among Hong Kong High-Net-Worth Families

HONG KONG, Nov. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Futu Trustee, a wholly owned trust subsidiary of Nasdaq-listed Futu Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: FUTU), today announced the launch of its Digital Asset Family Trust. Tailored primarily for Hong Kong tax resident high-net-worth families and family offices—with a minimum combined asset threshold of US$3 million—the service incorporates mainstream cryptocurrencies and traditional financial assets within a single trust legal framework to coordinate asset holding, custody integration, day-to-day management and cross-generational succession.

As digital assets such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) gradually become part of high-net-worth families’ asset portfolios, the challenges of assets being scattered across different wallets and platforms, with private keys and operational knowledge concentrated in one individual’s hands, are becoming increasingly apparent. Should the holder suffer an accident or become incapacitated, family members often face continuity risks: they may not know where the assets are held, lack authority to access them or not know how to manage them. Building on Hong Kong’s maturing digital asset regulatory ecosystem, Futu Trustee aims to help clients incorporate digital wealth into their overall family planning early.

The Digital Asset Family Trust is designed around two core practical priorities for high-net-worth clients:

Unified Governance of Equities and Cryptocurrencies: Clients may incorporate accepted mainstream digital assets such as BTC and ETH alongside Hong Kong and US equities, ETFs and other traditional financial assets within one trust framework, with connections to Hong Kong licensed securities firms, banks and licensed virtual asset trading platforms as needed, reducing repeated cross-platform coordination (relevant securities, banking and virtual asset platform services are independently provided by the respective licensed entities).Retained Investment Authority with Segregated Controls: Under permitted reserved powers or authorisations pursuant to the trust deed and Hong Kong law, clients may continue to participate in or direct investment matters within a permitted scope (or express intentions via a letter of wishes for the trustee’s reference in appointing an appropriately licensed investment adviser in accordance with the trust terms). Trading authority is strictly separated from withdrawal authority, with all withdrawals and distributions required to follow trust procedures, balancing flexibility and asset security.

Ben Lin, Chief Executive Officer of Futu Trustee, said: “For many Hong Kong residents, digital wealth is more than figures on a screen—it represents years of investment judgment and accumulation. While many clients know clearly how to manage their digital assets, they may not have had the opportunity to explain their accounts, authorisations and succession wishes in a way their families can easily understand. By launching the Digital Asset Family Trust, we aim to provide clear holding structures, professional custody and continuity mechanisms, helping clients put in place a more considered long-term arrangement for themselves and their families.”

About Futu Trustee

Futu Trustee holds a Hong Kong TCSP licence (TC006475) and specialises in providing compliant wealth succession solutions, including corporate ESOP trusts and family trusts.

For more information about Futu Digital Asset Trust, please visit its official website https://www.fututrustee.com/digital-asset-trust

To discuss our trust services, please contact info@fututrustee.com

Important Notice This service is a trust arrangement for private wealth and succession structuring, not a collective investment scheme under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571), and has not been reviewed or authorised by the Hong Kong SFC. Digital asset prices are highly volatile; clients may lose all of their principal. Asset acceptance is subject to our due diligence requirements, and related arrangements do not guarantee asset safety, investment, tax or succession outcomes. Irrevocable trusts involve changes to asset ownership; please seek independent professional advice before signing. This service is not available to Mainland China tax residents. For reference only; this release does not constitute investment advice, any solicitation, or legal or tax advice. All services and terms are subject to formal documentation and case-by-case assessment.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/futu-trustee-launches-digital-asset-family-trust-302939727.html

SOURCE Futu Trustee

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FURIA crowned back-to-back BLAST Premier Rivals Hong Kong champions as 30,000 fans celebrate world-class Counter-Strike

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November 15, 2026

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FURIA defeat Team Spirit 3-0 to claim another BLAST Premier trophy, as Hong Kong celebrates a spectacular weekend of esports and confirms the tournament’s return in 2027.

HONG KONG, Nov. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BLAST Premier Rivals Hong Kong came to a thrilling conclusion on Sunday, 15 November, as FURIA were crowned back-to-back champions following a dominant 3-0 victory over Team Spirit at AsiaWorld-Arena.

The Grand Final capped off an incredible weekend of world-class Counter-Strike, with more than 30,000 passionate fans attending across three days of playoff action in Hong Kong.

Sunday’s high-octane showdown saw the Brazilian side overcome Team Spirit in commanding fashion, with Kaike ‘KSCERATO’ Cerato delivering another outstanding performance to cement his status as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).

The victory marks FURIA’s third trophy in their last four tournaments, continuing an incredible late-season run of form as the team builds momentum ahead of the upcoming Singapore Major.

For legendary captain Gabriel ‘FalleN’ Toledo, the victory carries extra significance, adding another prestigious BLAST trophy to his collection as he prepares to retire at the end of the year. With just the Singapore Major remaining, the Brazilian icon now has one final opportunity to cap off his remarkable career with another major title.

Hong Kong celebrates as BLAST confirms 2027 return

Sunday’s Grand Final also marked the conclusion of the 2026 BLAST Premier Counter-Strike season, bringing another spectacular year of international competition to a close.

The weekend was made even more memorable by the announcement that BLAST Premier Rivals will return to Hong Kong for a third consecutive year, from 8–14 November 2027.

Following two successful editions in 2025 and 2026, both awarded prestigious “M” Mark status, the announcement reinforces Hong Kong’s position as a leading destination for international esports and competitive entertainment.

With more than 30,000 fans celebrating across the weekend, another champion crowned and a third Hong Kong event confirmed, BLAST Premier Rivals 2026 delivered a fitting finale to the Counter-Strike season.

All eyes now turn to 2027 as BLAST prepares for another exciting year of world-class Counter-Strike around the globe.

The BLAST Premier Rivals Hong Kong 2026 is proud of being an “M” Mark event that helps enhance the image of Hong Kong as Asia’s sports event capital. The “M” Mark awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, symbolising intense, spectacular and signature event in the territory’s sports calendar.

ENDS

About BLAST

BLAST is a global competitive entertainment company with a mission to bring mega entertainment to the world, taking esports, gaming and other new competitive formats to the next level.

BLAST is famous for pioneering the esports category through stunning high-production quality, big creative ideas and game-changing fan-first moments, bringing together the biggest teams and brightest superstars to fight it out for glory and multi-million-dollar prize pools in the world’s biggest arenas, from London and Singapore to Austin and Rio.

BLAST has offices in Copenhagen (HQ), London, Berlin, Mumbai, Malta and New York City. The company is currently working with world-leading game publishers Epic Games, Valve, Supercell and Ubisoft to produce, market and deliver esports for popular titles including Rocket League, Fortnite, Rainbow Six, Brawl Stars, Dota 2 and Counter-Strike 2.

About Esports Association of Hong Kong, China

Esports Association of Hong Kong, China (ESAHK) was established in 2015 by a group of experienced stakeholders in the esports industry and is now the most influential non-profit organisation in Hong Kong’s esports sector. Since its inception, the association has seen continuous growth in membership and rapid development of its activities, supported by esports companies, internet cafes, esports product agents, retail stores, game and software developers, and individuals across Hong Kong society.

Since 2021, ESAHK has been a member of the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC), and is the only recognised entity responsible for selecting esports athletes to represent Hong Kong in international competitions.

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SOURCE BLAST

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Cambodia Takes Bakong Global, Connecting ASEAN with Japan and Africa

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6 hours ago

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November 15, 2026

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PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, Nov. 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cambodia is taking its national digital payment system, Bakong, onto the global stage, unveiling initiatives spanning international card payments, stablecoin and bond tokenisation pilots with Japan, and a remittance corridor with Rwanda.

The announcements were made at the inaugural Black Swan Summit Cambodia, co-hosted by the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) and the Singapore-headquartered Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), in collaboration with three Cambodian ministries: the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation.

Held alongside the Sommet de la Francophonie, the two-day summit has attracted over 5,000 registered participants from 60 countries, including policymakers, central bankers, investors and technology leaders, to advance financial connectivity between ASEAN, Africa and other international markets.

From National Payment System to Global Network

Cambodia has built a digital payments infrastructure that has transformed domestic financial access. It is now extending that infrastructure internationally through three initiatives:

Bakong to the World: Bakong users will be able to create Visa or Mastercard virtual cards through the app, enabling contactless payments overseas.

Japan–Cambodia stablecoin remittances: NBC and SBI Group will explore stablecoin-based cross-border transfers, with funds received through Bakong wallets.

Government bond tokenisation: NBC and SBI Bank will pilot the tokenisation of Cambodian government bonds on the Canton Network, exploring new approaches to trading and settlement.

Bakong has also contributed to the growing use of Cambodia’s national currency. The riel’s share of transactions on the platform increased from 17% in 2020 to 58% in 2025.

A Model for Emerging Economies

Cambodia’s financial transformation is rooted in an extraordinary history. Following the destruction of its banking system and the abolition of its currency between 1975 and 1979, the riel was reintroduced on 20 March 1980.

Rather than replicate conventional financial infrastructure, Cambodia has built a digital-first payments ecosystem. Today, Bakong connects approximately 38 million accounts in a country of 17 million people. In 2025, it processed 1.3 billion transactions worth US$241.84 billion, equivalent to approximately 4.5 times Cambodia’s GDP.

For emerging economies seeking to expand financial inclusion, strengthen domestic currencies and connect to global markets, Cambodia offers an example of how public digital infrastructure can accelerate financial development.

Bridging ASEAN and the Francophone World

The summit also marks a step towards connecting Southeast Asia with Francophone economies, particularly in Africa.

Two initiatives signal this ambition:

Cambodia–Rwanda remittance corridor: The National Bank of Cambodia and the National Bank of Rwanda are working to connect Bakong with Rwanda’s RSwitch payment infrastructure, initially facilitating remittances from Cambodia to Rwanda.

Francophone Africa payment connectivity: H.E. Dr. Chea Serey, Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia, underscored the shared vision of exploring cross-border payment connectivity with Francophone African payment systems, with potential initial use cases focusing on remittances and small-value trade.

These initiatives advance South–South cooperation, demonstrating how emerging economies can collaborate directly on interoperable financial infrastructure without relying exclusively on traditional international payment networks.

The summit continues on 16 November, with discussions on economic corridors, payment interoperability, financial resilience and regulatory cooperation.

Leadership Perspectives

H.E. Dr. Chea Serey, Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia, said: “Cambodia knows what it means to lose a financial system and rebuild trust in money. Bakong has expanded access and the use of the riel. Now we are connecting it to the world. Sovereignty and openness are not opposites. Inclusion must be measured not just by whether people can pay, but by whether they can withstand shocks.”

Sopnendu Mohanty, Group CEO, Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN), said: “Cambodia shows that emerging economies can build financial infrastructure around their own needs rather than inherit systems designed elsewhere. The next challenge is connecting these platforms internationally. From African payment links to Japanese fintech pilots, Black Swan Summit Cambodia demonstrates how emerging markets can open new channels for trade, investment and financial inclusion.”

For more information: www.cambodia.blackswansummit.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/cambodia-takes-bakong-global-connecting-asean-with-japan-and-africa-302939651.html

SOURCE Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN)

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