As Burnet and Webb middle schools received five consecutive failing grades from the state, increasing the possibility of a state takeover of the Austin Independent School District, parents and community members are contending with what the impact could be for all AISD campuses.

Nikkie Shubitz’s son’s school, Winn Montessori Elementary, was one of the 10 campuses that closed at the end of last school year to help the district save $21 million. Shubitz said she has conflicted feelings, since many schools, including Winn, improved their accountability ratings, but the district could still see a state intervention.

“It’s really frustrating that I’m a part of a community where there was this threat and despite this really draconian potential outcome looming the whole time, we still failed to serve students who needed support,” Shubitz said.

AISD schools showed progress under the state’s accountability ratings, with the district getting a B for the first time in four years. That’s according to information released by the district ahead of the official state results that are set to be released Friday.

District officials said the number of campuses receiving an A or B increased from 47 in 2025 to 61 in 2026. The number of schools receiving a D or F decreased, but 11 schools received a D rating, and 20 received an F, including the two middle schools that got a failing grade for the fifth consecutive year. District officials said they have made changes to campus leadership at Burnet and Webb, and both schools will receive daily instruction in math and language arts. But those changes do not mean the district is off the hook from a takeover.

A potential takeover of AISD

Every year the state releases A-F accountability ratings for each campus. If a campus gets five unacceptable ratings in a row, the Texas Education Commissioner, Mike Morath, can appoint a new superintendent and board of managers or close the school and appoint a conservator to monitor the district’s progress. Even though the district made gains on most campuses, it is now up to Morath to decide which path to take for AISD.

AISD Superintendent Matias Segura said in an email to families that state ratings are only “one measure” of the district’s progress. He said that, with a takeover on the horizon, challenges remain.

“While we cannot ignore what is happening outside our schools, it is essential that we keep our focus firmly on who is inside our classrooms: our students,” Segura said. “We will face these realities head-on and dedicate our energy entirely to high-quality teaching and learning.”

Ken Zarifis, president of the employee union Education Austin, said the district is not perfect, but it is moving in the right direction. He said that even with two schools receiving five consecutive failing grades, the state should allow AISD to continue improving.

“They are going to take over a B rated school district because of one of two schools? That’s ridiculous,” Zarifis said. “There’s one or two schools that need extra support and help, they’re already getting help and moving in the right direction. Allow them to continue to move in that direction.”

Natalie Wilson, whose kids’ school also closed this summer, said it feels like the state has designed a system where it is easy to take over school districts.

“To me the TEA wants Austin to fail,” she said. “Democracy only runs on knowledge and civic engagement, and we are losing on both fronts now.”

AISD is not the only district that is facing a potential state takeover. Eight districts are already under one. Julian Vasquez Heilig, professor in the department of Education Leadership, Research and Technology at Western Michigan University, said that’s a reflection of the lack of appropriate school funding.

“The legislators and folks at TEA are always looking for inexpensive solutions,” Vasquez Heiling said. “But we know that the gold standards in research and what really makes a difference in the success and the cumulative learning of students is when you make investments in their learning and their education.”

An Austin coalition against a takeover

Parents and educators, including Education Austin, formed a district-wide coalition to push against a state takeover. On Thursday morning, Sharyn Vane, community organizer, said they are aware of how state takeovers have affected students and educators in districts like Fort Worth and Houston ISD.

“We know our district has real work to do,” Vane said. “We are clear-eyed about the urgent need for improvement, and equally sure a state takeover isn’t the solution.”

Organizers said it is important to educate the community and parents about what a takeover entails and the “draconian” measures that have been made in other districts. They said the consequences of a takeover will not be easily overcome, having a long-lasting impact on the district, even after the takeover ends.

In districts where the state has taken over in the last few years, like Houston ISD, thousands of families and educators have left the district. Shubitz said she expects Austinites to stay and support AISD.

“We believe in public education and my son is going to continue to attend his neighborhood school,” she said. “People are going to show up, be loud, pull whatever resources they have around to support our schools because people expect to be able to send their children to their neighborhood school in one of the wealthiest cities in our state.”

What comes next?

The Texas Education Code says that if the commissioner is presented with a written petition signed by the parents of a majority of students of the school that received five consecutive failing grades asking to close the campus, the commissioner shall put that action into motion. KUT has reached out to TEA to ask about the details of this section of the code, but has not heard back.

Zarifis said that if AISD is taken over, the union will continue to fight for the district to remain independent and if it’s not taken over, they will push to make sure students continue to make gains.

“Regardless of what we do, we are planning on working with the district to see that we are doing a better job,” he said. “The state will do nothing but move us backwards, we will move us forwards and we should be allowed to do that.”

Superintendent Matias Segura said during a board meeting Thursday that the district will wait to hear the final decision of the state, which is set to come in December.

“Until then, we will look at the appeals process, we will wrap our arms around our students. Ensure they have what they need to be successful academically and be relentless in that pursuit,” Segura said.

The TEA accountability ratings for each campus are expected to be published Friday. AISD has until mid September appeal the grades.