AUSTIN, Texas — Austin ISD trustees approved a third-party partnership that will shift daily operations at three middle schools to an outside nonprofit, a move that will shield the campuses from state intervention for two years.
Burnet, Dobie and Webb middle schools will partner with the Texas Council for International Studies under a program known as an 1882 partnership. A 2017 Texas law allows schools to bring in an outside nonprofit or charter organization to manage daily operations. In exchange, the schools are exempt from state intervention for two years and receive additional funding.
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Trustees approved the service agreement with the Texas Council for International Studies for the three campuses as part of a broader set of agenda items, including acceptance of an application approved by the Head Start Policy Council for a Head Start grant through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approval of the 2026-2027 Additional Days School Year academic calendar, and a contract with Travis County for after-school and summer childcare.
Kathryn Whitley Chu, the District 4 trustee, said she appreciated the pace of the process and the selection of the partner.
“I’ve looked at this a lot, and I want to thank the administration for instead of rushing the process, for taking the time to find the right partner for Dobie and Burnet and Webb. They deserve to have the very best,” Chu said. “Getting with a partner who would throw away all the good things they have is not what we want to do. The Texas Council for International Studies is going to bring in an extra layer of support to the good stuff that they’re already doing.”