<\/p>\n
Students protest Austin ISD\u2019s plan to turnaround the Burnet Middle School by walking out of class Tuesday, May 13, 2025. Austin ISD officials are privately weighing how the district can avoid a state takeover, according to people with knowledge of internal discussions.<\/p>\n
Mikala Compton\/American-Statesman<\/p>\n
With the possibility of a state takeover looming<\/a>, Austin Independent School District officials are exploring options that would avert intervention, according to three\u00a0people familiar with behind-the-scenes discussions.\u00a0<\/p>\n After the Texas Education Agency\u00a0in May rejected a district bid\u00a0to buy more time for three struggling<\/a> campuses<\/a> to improve academically, state intervention became a more serious threat to Austin ISD\u2019s local control than ever before. <\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The state will release new campus grades on\u00a0Aug. 14, and if any of the\u00a0three chronically under performing<\/a> North Austin middle schools<\/a> scores another failing grade, TEA will have the power to take over the entire district.<\/a>\u00a0Under a state takeover, TEA sidelines elected trustees in favor of a board of state appointees and often ousts the sitting superintendent.<\/p>\n Despite recent developments,\u00a0Austin ISD leaders have been unwilling to speculate publicly on the possibility of a takeover. They have declined to comment on or answer questions about the possibility of state intervention. Instead, officials have touted student growth on recent state tests in high school-level courses, elementary math and eighth grade.\u00a0<\/p>\n But behind\u00a0the scenes, district officials are scrambling to avoid the intervention, according to three people who were not authorized to speak publicly about the discussions. Among the considerations: requesting TEA re-score thousands of failed state tests for a new grade and evaluating the possibility of a campus closure or other options as an alternative to\u00a0a complete district takeover.<\/p>\n Top city officials, lawmakers and education consultants\u00a0have been involved in the discussions.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The TEA declined to comment on whether Austin ISD and the agency were involved in talks. Austin ISD declined to comment on whether leaders are seeking alternatives to a takeover. Mayor Kirk Watson\u2019s office did not return requests for comment.\u00a0<\/p>\n A deal with TEA<\/p>\n State law requires TEA to take over a district or mandate campus closures<\/a> if any school scores five consecutive failing grades on the state\u2019s accountability system. Grades are based largely on student results on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or\u00a0STAAR, tests<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Since the\u00a0\u201cCount to Five\u201d law passed, the TEA has taken over seven of eight districts that triggered consequences<\/a>, sparing just one school system\u00a0\u2014 Wichita Falls\u00a0ISD\u00a0\u2014 a complete district takeover.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The North Texas district reached a deal with TEA in March<\/a>, promising to improve academic scores. In exchange, TEA left elected trustees and the superintendent in place.\u00a0<\/p>\n The agreement required Wichita Falls\u00a0ISD to close the failing campus, Kirby Middle School,\u00a0and follow the advice of a state-appointed conservator, who has power to override school board and superintendent decisions. The conservator can also direct trustees to resign, according to the agreement.\u00a0The district had already closed Kirby Middle in 2024<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Wichita Falls ISD also agreed to partner with nonprofits and charter schools to run campuses, adopt the controversial state-backed Bluebonnet curriculum<\/a> and take \u201cany other necessary actions or actions otherwise directed by the conservator\u201d to raise student scores.<\/p>\n If one of Austin ISD\u2019s schools at risk of a fifth failing grade\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Dobie, Webb or Burnet middle schools\u00a0\u2014 triggers the law,\u00a0the district and TEA could negotiate a similar plan. Sources who spoke to the Statesman said one option being explored is the closure of a campus that trips the \u201cCount to Five\u201d law.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura said during a Tuesday school board meeting that he doesn\u2019t anticipate asking the board to close additional campuses before the start of the school year.\u00a0<\/p>\n Two\u00a0people with knowledge of internal district discussions indicated that top Austin city leaders have been assisting the district in drafting options\u00a0to avoid a takeover. Another person with knowledge of discussions suggested that district leadership is seeking a meeting with the governor\u2019s office. TEA Commissioner Mike Morath is appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n Rescoring STAAR tests<\/p>\n Short of convincing TEA a takeover is not necessary, Austin ISD is pursuing another path to avoid intervention: asking TEA to rescore student tests that a campus principal or\u00a0the district believe are incorrectly graded. Many of these exams are likely marked with failing grades.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n This year, Austin ISD asked the TEA to rescore about 7,600 STAAR tests, according to records obtained by the Statesman. Austin ISD administered about 102,000 tests in 2025, TEA data shows.\u00a0Last year, the district asked TEA to rescore just 30 exams.<\/p>\n A district spokeswoman confirmed Austin ISD has received all the results of its rescore requests, but didn\u2019t clarify what scores had changed.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n