Elizabeth Davis, a restorative practices staff member, greets seventh-grader Johnny Ramirez on the first day of school at Dobie Middle School in Austin, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025.
Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
Austin Independent School District may turn day-to-day operations at three North Austin middle schools over to a Dallas-based nonprofit that specializes in International Baccalaureate, or IB, education.
The middle schools are at risk of triggering a district-wide state takeover if academic outcomes do not improve, and a partnership may buy the campuses more time for that growth.
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That’s why school district staff proposed partnering with the Texas Council for International Studies in what’s known as an 1882 charter partnership. In 1882 agreements, school districts give control of a campus to a nonprofit, charter operator, university or other state-approved entity for academic, financial or innovative benefits.
Education Service Center Region 1, which is one of 20 centers across the state that support school district operations, will advise the nonprofit, according to school board meeting materials released ahead of a March 12 meeting. If the school board approves the plan later this month, TCIS will be charged with boosting test scores at Dobie, Burnet and Webb middle schools.
The three middle schools have been under district and state scrutiny since April, when Superintendent Matias Segura told campus staff and families that multiple F ratings in a row would trigger major changes. The Texas Education Agency required that the schools undergo a significant overhaul of staffing and operations, a process called a turnaround, Segura said.
Although mid-year testing showed students improved their state test scores, Segura warned board members in January that the progress wasn’t enough to meet state requirements.
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“There is growth, but to get to a C, that would be unlikely,” Segura said at the time, referencing an improbable improved state letter grade for the campuses.
Although the 1882 agreement will move Dobie, Burnet and Webb middle schools out of Austin ISD’s direct control, board members and district officials have said such a move may be necessary to avoid a possible state takeover.
TCIS already has similar arrangements with in-district charter schools in the San Antonio and Longview areas. The nonprofit typically implements International Baccalaureate programming, which tends to focus on teaching middle and high school students globally-minded academic programming. IB classes are often compared to Advanced Placement or other college preparation courses.
The nonprofit has a history of taking over operations of campuses and improving their state-issued letter grade in just a couple of years. In 2025, four of the 15 campuses operated by TCIS scored an A, four a B, three a C, one a D and three an F.
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“TCIS is honored to be considered as a potential partner for Austin ISD,” TCIS CEO Margaret Davis said in a statement, referring specific questions about the partnership to Austin ISD.
Region 1’s advisory role
Under the proposal, ESC Region 1 would take on an advisory role, while TCIS would operate the three schools, said Joshua Jeon, Austin ISD’s executive director of board services and intergovernmental relations. Region 1 would offer guidance based on its experience turning around campuses in the Rio Grande Valley.
“Region 1 is uniquely the only education service center that has engaged in turnaround work,” Jeon said, referring to efforts to quickly improve a school that has chronically struggled academically.
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The service center has partnered with districts and local governments in the Rio Grande Valley to improve teacher training and provide grant funds for low-income students. Students in the Rio Grande Valley have typically tested high on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR exams.
The majority of Rio Grande Valley students are low-income — with 84% of students classified as economically disadvantaged, compared to 60.5% statewide. Last year, 68% third graders passed the state math test and 76% passed the reading exam, which is on par with statewide results.
Region 1 was not able to make someone available immediately to respond to Statesman questions about the partnership.
Academic goals
Austin ISD’s board materials are the first public announcement of the proposed partners that are expected to run the three campuses. However, Jeon said Monday that the bid for the campus partnerships isn’t technically closed yet.
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But the district has a short timeline to finalize the partner agreements. Austin ISD must submit a proposal to the Texas Education Agency by March 31.
The agreement between a school district and outside entity — known as an 1882 agreement — turns over operation of a campus to a third party. While the three North Austin campuses will remain AISD schools, the nonprofit will have jurisdiction over hiring, basic school functions and academics.
The agreement, which must be approved by the TEA, comes with increased funding. Many school districts turn to 1882 agreements because the partnership provides a two year “pause” on accountability ratings for the school.
Schools in Texas are rated with an A-F letter grade based largely on student performance on STAAR tests. Campuses that receive five F ratings in a row trigger one of two major consequences: a forced closure of the school campus or a state takeover of the entire school district.
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Takeovers — the most severe consequence the state can enact because of academic, fiscal or management failings — replace the superintendent and elected trustees with state appointees. Since 2023, the state has taken over seven districts for academic reasons, including Houston, Fort Worth and Beaumont ISDs.
This isn’t the first time Austin ISD has partnered with a third party in hopes of turning around struggling schools.
This year, Austin ISD will reclaim control over operations at Mendez Middle School for the first time since 2018. Charter operator Third Future Schools has been running the campus, which achieved a B rating in 2023. It was the first passing letter grade for Mendez since 2018.
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