Subject: CivicIn7 Austin | Your Sunday Deep Dive on the AISD Challenge
Good morning,
This week, a story emerged that cuts to the core of our city's future: the academic health of our public schools. While daily headlines can report the numbers, they often can't provide the full context.
Today, we take a deeper, 7-minute look. How did more than two dozen Austin schools end up on the state's "unacceptable" list, and what does the path forward—filled with deadlines, public meetings, and the threat of state intervention—actually look like for students, parents, and the district?
At a Glance
15 AISD schools now have at least 3 consecutive "F" ratings; turnaround plans due November 14
Most critical: 3 middle schools (Burnet, Dobie, Webb) received fourth consecutive "F" - one more triggers state takeover
District at risk: AISD educates 72,830 students across 116 schools; state takeover would affect entire system
Financial stakes: District sends $940.5 million to state in recapture payments—half its $1.86 billion budget
Parents: Check campus status, attend October 9 info session, November 9 vote
(1) The AISD Challenge: What 'Turnaround Plans' and State Intervention Really Mean
The Rulebook: How State Accountability Works
To understand the current crisis, you have to understand two things: the state's A-F rating system and a 2015 law called House Bill 1842.
First, the rating system. Every year, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) grades school districts and individual campuses on a scale of A through F. While the formula is complex, it's largely driven by one thing: student performance on the standardized STAAR test. A school where a high percentage of students fail to meet grade-level standards is at risk of receiving a D or F rating.
Second, the law. House Bill 1842 created a critical mandate: if any school receives an "F" rating for five consecutive years, the Texas Education Commissioner must act. The state's options are severe: either close the campus or appoint a "Board of Managers" to take over the entire school district, replacing the locally elected Board of Trustees. This law created a ticking clock for any campus that begins to struggle.
For years, this was a distant threat. Now, for Austin ISD, the clock is getting loud.
Austin's Reality: The Official List
This is the situation that prompted Superintendent Matias Segura's letter to the community this past week. More than 20 Austin ISD campuses received an "unacceptable" rating for the most recent school year.
Most critically, 3 middle schools—Burnet, Dobie, and Webb—have now received four consecutive "F" ratings, putting them just one rating away from triggering mandatory state intervention. Additionally, 12 other schools have received their third consecutive "F" rating, placing them on the same critical path.
Under the rules of HB 1842, all 15 schools are now required by state law to develop and implement intensive "turnaround plans" to rapidly improve performance. The success—or failure—of these plans over the next two years will determine their fate.
In his letter, the superintendent acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating the district is at risk of a state takeover if any of its schools hit the five-year failure mark. The district's leadership is now tasked with crafting plans that are bold enough to create significant change while being realistic enough to implement with the resources at hand.
By the Numbers: The Hotspots and the Timeline
The 15 schools facing intensive state intervention represent a significant cross-section of the district's middle and elementary schools.
The 3 Most Critical Campuses (4 consecutive F ratings):
Burnet Middle School, Dobie Middle School, Webb Middle School
The 12 Additional Critical Campuses (3 consecutive F ratings):
Note: Complete list of the 12 schools with third consecutive ratings was not available in official sources at time of publication. Parents can verify their campus status at txschools.gov.
For these school communities, the next 60 days are pivotal. The district must move quickly to finalize and submit its plans to the state.
The Key Deadlines:
October 9th: The AISD Board will hold a public information session to present and discuss the proposed campus turnaround plans.
November 9th: The Board is scheduled to hold a special meeting to cast a final vote on approving the plans.
November 14th: This is the absolute deadline for AISD to submit its finalized turnaround plans to the Texas Education Agency for approval.
What's Next: The Path Forward
So, what is a "turnaround plan"? It's an official blueprint for drastic improvement. These plans often involve significant changes, such as replacing school leadership, bringing in new teachers, adopting a new curriculum, or extending the school day.
The district's goal is to create plans so effective that they break the cycle of "F" ratings. Under TEA rules, campuses must achieve "Met Standard" rating within two years or face closure or state takeover. If they succeed, the schools can get back on track. If they fail, and any of the 15 schools reaches its fifth consecutive failure, the Texas Education Commissioner will be required to act.
At that point, the choice would be stark:
Closure: The state could order the closure of the failing campus.
State Takeover: The commissioner could appoint an outside Board of Managers to govern all of Austin ISD. This board would have the full authority of the elected school board, which would be temporarily removed from power.
This is the timeline facing AISD. The coming public meetings are not just procedural; they are the primary venue for parents and community members to engage with a process that will directly shape the future of their schools and the governance of the entire district.
How This Affects You
If your child attends one of the critical campuses:
Expect detailed communication from your school about specific intervention plans before November 14
Review your campus's proposed turnaround plan when released and submit feedback to the district
Consider attending the October 9 information session and November 9 vote to understand proposed changes
Monitor your school's progress closely over the next two years
If your child attends other AISD schools:
Understand that district-wide state takeover would affect all AISD schools, not just failing ones
The state has replaced district school boards with boards of managers about 10 times since 2000
A state takeover could impact future bond elections and local tax decisions across the entire district
For all AISD voters and taxpayers:
State takeover removes local democratic control - appointed boards of managers replace elected trustees
Property tax and bond decisions would shift from local elected officials to state-appointed managers
AISD sends $940.5 million annually to the state through "recapture"—a system requiring property-wealthy districts to share local tax revenue with property-poor districts. State-appointed managers would control these massive financial decisions affecting half the district's $1.86 billion budget.
(2) By the Numbers
16,000
The number of students zoned for AISD who currently attend charter schools instead (as of 2020), representing $105 million in annual state funding allocated away from AISD to charter schools. This figure is expected to reach 24,100 students by 2026-27, which would equal $158.2 million in annual funding directed away from the district—equivalent to 8.5% of AISD's $1.86 billion budget. Over the past seven years, AISD has lost $562 million to charter schools.
How School Funding Works: Texas school districts receive approximately $6,160 per student in state funding based on daily attendance. When students transfer to charter schools, this funding follows them, leaving districts with reduced revenue while maintaining most fixed costs like buildings and staff.
Source: KXAN/IUPRA Analysis
(3) The Civic Calendar
October 9th @ 6:00 PM: AISD Board Information Session on turnaround plans
Location: AISD Board Auditorium, 4000 S. I-35 Frontage Rd.
Public comment period available
Live stream: austinisd.org/board/meetings
Submit written comments: [email protected]
November 9th @ 1:00 PM: AISD Board Special Meeting - Final vote on turnaround plans
Location: AISD Board Auditorium, 4000 S. I-35 Frontage Rd.
Public comment registration opens 30 minutes before meeting
Live stream available
Decision directly impacts November 14 state submission
November 14th: Final deadline for AISD to submit turnaround plans to TEA
Ongoing Engagement Opportunities:
AISD Board meetings (2nd and 4th Mondays): austinisd.org/board/meetings
Campus Accountability Committees meetings at individual schools
TEA public comment portal for turnaround plan feedback (opens after submission)
Have a great weekend.
— The CivicIn7 Team
