Austin ISD Faces Possible Charter Shift for Three Middle Schools

In a move that could reshape the district’s structure, Austin Independent School District is considering converting Burnet, Dobie and Webb middle schools into in-district charter schools as early as January.

Current Situation

The three schools have been on state-mandated turnaround plans since the beginning of the year after receiving four consecutive “F” ratings from the Texas Education Agency. The district warns that a fifth unacceptable rating could trigger a state takeover, potentially involving a board of managers appointed by the Texas Education Commissioner.

1882 Partnership Contingency

In June, the district board approved an “1882 Partnership” contingency plan. If the plan is adopted and approved by the Texas Education Agency, the schools would temporarily pause state accountability ratings for two years and receive increased per-student funding.

Letter of Intent and Board Process

Records obtained by KXAN show that the district has already submitted a non-binding letter of intent to the Texas Education Agency. In that letter, district leaders stated they are considering changing Burnet, Dobie and Webb – and possibly other schools – to in-district charter schools.

The letter also notes that it is “to be determined” whether the district will pursue an 1882 Partnership with other campuses. An AISD spokesperson told KXAN that the district is currently only looking for partnerships with the three middle schools and “put the language [to pursue partnerships with other schools] in there to gauge interest of partners to serve more than the three schools.”

The spokesperson added that the district does not have a list of which other schools could potentially move to a charter model.

According to the TEA, the letter of intent does not compel the district to authorize a charter. The AISD spokesperson told KXAN that a decision has not yet been made by the board. That vote is expected at either a board information session on Jan. 15 or the regular board meeting on Jan. 29.

Data and Impact

During Thursday’s meeting, district leaders presented MAP Growth results from the beginning of the year. Those results were lower than the previous year at Burnet, Dobie and Webb. MAP Growth is a test given to AISD students in elementary and middle school that measures student growth throughout the year and as they move up in grades, according to the district’s website.

Enrollment Trends

The district also reported a decline in enrollment across the entire district, a trend mirrored by the three struggling campuses. Burnet lost 143 students and Dobie lost more than 100 this school year.

Statements from Leaders

“As is, if we don’t do anything, if we keep going and we don’t contract with an 1882 partner, the whole school district will be taken over,” said Trustee Arati Singh during Thursday’s meeting.

“I believe if we had kept things as they were, our beginning-of-year scores would have been much higher. This is not the fault of our teachers. It’s not the fault of our district. It’s just the situation that we are in right now,” Singh added.

The district said it will share its internal projections for state accountability scores and those from its technical partner next week. Those scores will be based on MAP Growth results from the middle of the year, according to district leaders.

Key Takeaways

• Burnet, Dobie and Webb have four consecutive “F” ratings and face a potential state takeover if a fifth rating is received.
• An 1882 Partnership could pause state ratings for two years and increase per-student funding.
• A board vote on the partnership or charter conversion is scheduled for either Jan. 15 or Jan. 29.

Closing

The district’s next steps will be closely watched by parents, teachers and state officials alike. Whether the schools remain under district control or transition to a charter model will hinge on the board’s decision in January and the outcomes of the upcoming data projections.