Austin ISD Considers Closures, Charter Options for 12 Schools Facing Low Ratings
AUSTIN, TX – Austin Autonomous School District (AISD) is weighing important changes for 12 schools, including potential closures, as the district confronts persistently low academic ratings. the AISD board of Trustees will discuss proposed plans for the campuses on Oct. 9 and is scheduled to vote on a plan to close schools for budgetary purposes on Nov. 20, following an initial vote on the broader plans Nov. 6.The district faces mounting pressure from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to improve student outcomes. State law mandates the education commissioner either close a campus or take over the entire school district if it receives five consecutive failing (“F”) ratings. TEA Commissioner Mike Morath warned Superintendent Matias Segura and board President Lynn Boswell in a Sept. 3 letter that action would be taken if ratings don’t improve, stating, “The data reflects that the district’s current approach is not working and urgent transformational change is necessary to improve outcomes for all Austin ISD students.”
According to a district letter from Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools Jennifer Pace and assistant Superintendent of School Advancement LaTonia Anderson, three options are being considered for the 12 campuses: closure, transfer to a charter operator, or implementation of turnaround plans. The district is aiming to “break the chain of unacceptable ratings” and avoid further state intervention.
Superintendent Segura indicated in an August interview with the Statesman that any future turnaround plans would differ from those implemented at Dobie, Burnet, and Webb middle schools, due to a more extended timeframe for growth. “What made those difficult was the time stacked up against us and we had to move quicker,” Segura said, adding that he is “confident that we’ll move” the academics at the schools.
