CivicIn7 Austin: 32 Schools, Two Crises, One Action Plan

Subject: CivicIn7 Austin | 32 AISD Schools Face State Intervention: Your Action Plan

Good morning,

Welcome to your civic briefing for Tuesday, September 9th. Today brings urgent news for thousands of AISD families: 32 schools across the district must now develop state-mandated improvement plans, with some facing potential closure or complete staff overhauls.

At a Glance

• 12 AISD schools received their third consecutive "F" rating; turnaround plans are due November 14th or they risk closure.

• A virtual consolidation meeting is TONIGHT at 6 PM – your chance to provide input on which schools may close due to budget issues.

• 21 additional schools need state-mandated improvement plans; parents can check their campus status immediately.

Today's Focus: Your School Under State Scrutiny - What You Can Do

The numbers are stark: 32 Austin ISD campuses now face varying levels of state intervention after receiving "unacceptable" ratings from the Texas Education Agency. For thousands of families, this means immediate action is required to engage in their children's educational future as the district navigates two interconnected challenges: state-mandated academic "turnaround plans" and a local "consolidation" process that may close schools to address budget shortfalls.

Here's your step-by-step guide to navigating this challenge.

Know Your School's Status Immediately

Most Critical (12 Campuses): Received a third consecutive "F" rating and must implement "turnaround plans" this year, facing potential closure or a complete "restart" with new staff.

Schools: Burnet, Dobie, Webb, Mendez, Martin, and Sadler Means Middle Schools; Overton, Pecan Springs, Winn, Barrington, Hart, and Guerrero Elementary Schools.

Second-Level Intervention (11 Campuses): Received a second consecutive "F" and must develop plans for the 2026-27 school year.

First-Time Failing (9 Campuses): Received a first "F" and need Targeted Improvement Plans.

Federal Intervention (1 Campus): Eastside Early College High School needs a federal turnaround plan.

How This Affects You: Turnaround plans often involve replacing principals or adopting new curriculum. School consolidation can lead to campus closures.

Your Action Plan: What to Do Today

Step 1: Verify Your School's Status • Review your school's accountability rating at txschools.gov. • Contact your campus directly for specific improvement plan details.

Step 2: Attend Tonight's Virtual Meeting (6 PM) AISD is hosting its first virtual consolidation meeting tonight. This is your direct opportunity to influence which schools may close and how students will be reassigned.

How to Join: Registration details at austinisd.org/consolidate.

Step 3: Understand Your Transfer Options If your school faces major changes, you can request a transfer within AISD or consider other options. The deadline is typically mid-November for spring moves.

The Rundown

• Citywide Economic Impact: AISD is one of Austin's largest employers, with over 12,000 staff members. District instability affects local jobs and Austin's ability to attract families and businesses that consider school quality when relocating. Source: AISD Employment Data

• Budget Crisis Context: The consolidation process is driven by AISD's need to address a projected budget deficit while maintaining 25,000 empty seats across its 116 schools. Source: AISD Consolidation Process Documents

• Staff Overhauls Underway: At the three most critical middle schools (Burnet, Dobie, and Webb), AISD has already replaced 84%, 39%, and 53% of core teaching staff, respectively, as part of "restart" efforts. Source: KXAN Analysis

By the Numbers

32

The total number of AISD campuses now requiring some form of state-mandated intervention plan. This represents more than one-quarter of the district's 116 schools.

The Civic Calendar

Your Next Steps

This Week: Attend tonight's virtual meeting, contact your school's principal for details, and research alternative school options.

This Month: Attend the October 9th board session, submit written feedback on proposed plans, and begin transfer applications if needed.

This convergence of turnaround requirements and school closures creates an unprecedented challenge. Taking action now is the most effective way to engage in your child's educational continuity.

— The CivicIn7 Team