Austin school district leaders are determined to turn around the two middle schools that have triggered mandatory state intervention. However, the future of these schools may not entirely rest in their hands.
Burnet and Webb middle schools have received their fifth consecutive F ratings from the Texas Education Agency (TEA), activating a state law that mandates intervention. The specifics of this intervention remain uncertain.
As of the latest statewide ratings released, Austin is the only Texas district facing a potential state takeover due to these failing scores. Nonetheless, the overall district performance showed improvement, with the district earning a B grade, a step up from a C last year. Notably, Dobie Middle School, which had been on the brink of receiving its fifth failing score, managed to achieve a D this year.
Superintendent Matias Segura indicated that the district has the opportunity to appeal any school rating this year, and while they plan to do so, details on the specific actions remain undisclosed. TEA will finalize these accountability ratings in December.
Segura refrained from speculating on TEA’s next steps and, as of the last update, had not communicated with the agency regarding the impending state intervention. Instead, he emphasized that educators are focused on improving all schools, including Webb, Burnet, and Dobie. “I’ve spent time at those three schools last week, even prior to that,” Segura noted. “We have two new leaders at those schools. The system is now better positioned to move the outcomes based on what we went through last year.”
What happens next?
The ratings have clarified one issue but raised another: How much control will Austin ISD potentially lose?
State intervention can vary significantly, from targeted oversight to complete replacement of the school board and superintendent. One possibility is that TEA may order the closures of Webb and Burnet while allowing the district to retain local leadership. Conversely, a full state takeover could see the removal of the current superintendent and the school board, with a state-appointed team taking over the district’s operations.
Alternatively, TEA could opt for a middle ground, similar to the approach taken with Wichita Falls ISD, where the agency allowed the district to maintain its leadership while appointing a state-empowered conservator to supervise progress.
Educators in Austin are apprehensive about the implications of potential changes on students, classrooms, and the community. However, they acknowledge the pressing need for substantial improvements in schools that have struggled for years. “Part of ourselves is preparing for a takeover,” stated Ken Zarifis, president of Education Austin, AISD’s labor union. “Regardless of what happens, we have to take action.”
For many educators, the primary concern is not just the potential for state intervention but the fear that Austin could mirror the fate of Houston ISD.
Houston ISD shows the highest stakes
Houston serves as a stark example of the extent of state intervention. In 2023, after prolonged legal battles, TEA took control of HISD, initially triggered by the failure of a single school, but also citing broader issues such as violations of transparency laws.
The TEA appointed Mike Miles as superintendent and established a nine-member board of managers to oversee the district. Over the past three years, Miles has implemented the New Education System model, which centralized lesson plans, reduced school autonomy, and revamped high school career programs, ultimately leading to improved academic outcomes. Despite initial skepticism regarding these measures, STAAR test scores have risen, and the number of failing schools has significantly decreased.
However, some families and educators express concerns regarding the sustainability of these improvements, suggesting they may stem from demographic shifts and a narrowed focus on standardized testing rather than holistic educational growth. Toni Templeton, a research scientist at the University of Houston Education Research Center, is currently examining the impact of the takeover on student outcomes.
Templeton’s earlier research revealed that around 13,000 students left HISD in the two years following the takeover, contributing to a notable decline in enrollment rates that accelerated after the intervention.
“What we saw was really a mass exodus,” Templeton remarked, noting that many families opted for neighboring districts or charter schools. The ramifications extended beyond student numbers, as teacher retention suffered, with an increase in the proportion of uncertified teachers.
If TEA were to take over Austin ISD, the community might expect a similar trajectory to what occurred in Houston, as highlighted by Jackie Anderson, president of the Houston Federation of Teachers. “They have the playbook,” she stated. “That’s what they do.”
A different path in Wichita Falls ISD
In contrast, Wichita Falls ISD illustrates a different model of state intervention. Earlier this year, TEA chose not to execute a total takeover of the district. Instead, they appointed a conservator to oversee progress while allowing the district to maintain its superintendent and elected board.
This approach has yielded positive results; a school that prompted state action improved its rating from an F to a C, according to Superintendent Donny Lee. This improvement followed years of attempts to address failing scores and discipline issues at Kirby Middle School, which the board voluntarily closed in 2024.
After TEA intervened in March, they permitted the district to continue operating independently, with oversight from the conservator. “When we first partnered with Third Future, there was a lot of pushback because of the uncertainty,” Lee shared. However, as academic performance improved, community support increased.
Wichita Falls ISD has now handed over additional struggling schools to Third Future, hoping to replicate the success seen at Kirby. Despite the improvements, Lee emphasizes the need for ongoing effort: “We are going to celebrate the fact that we are improving. But we still have some work to do, and we know that. So we’re going to keep putting our nose to the grindstone and work hard.”
As the TEA prepares to make decisions regarding Austin ISD’s future, the community is left in a state of uncertainty, awaiting clarity on how much local control will remain amidst the ongoing challenges.
