AUSTIN, Texas \u2014 Austin ISD is considering partnerships with outside organizations to help operate three campuses.<\/p>\n
The partnerships are being discussed for Dobie Middle School, Linder Elementary School, and Pecan Springs Elementary School. Community members gathered at Dobie this evening to discuss what a potential partnership could look like.<\/p>\n
MORE | ‘It feels so important’: Texas families prioritize education at the ballot box<\/a><\/p>\n Under Texas Senate Bill 1882, school districts can bring in outside organizations like nonprofits or open-enrollment charter schools to manage campuses.<\/p>\n David DeMatthews, a University of Texas education professor, said qualifying partnerships could provide schools with benefits from the Texas Education Agency.<\/p>\n \u201cThe district, if that 1882 partnership is approved, receives some incentives. So the first incentive is some additional funding from the state, and then the second potential benefit of an 1882 partnership for a school district is it could freeze or stop certain accountability issues, like potentially a takeover,” DeMatthews said.<\/p>\n A page<\/a> on Austin ISD’s website says there is “no set design for an 1882 school.” The district writes that such partnerships could be an option for campuses “looking to do things differently, a school that has experienced struggles in the past and wants to try a new approach, or even an entirely new model.”<\/p>\n DeMatthews said an outside organization could influence key campus decisions, including staffing, curriculum, and spending.<\/p>\n KEYE<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Previous 1882 partnership proposal was rejected<\/p>\n The district previously reached an agreement with a nonprofit, the Texas Council for International Studies (TCIS), to manage Dobie, Burnet and Webb middle schools. However, that agreement ended<\/a> in July after the Texas Education Agency rejected the proposal in May.<\/p>\n A family member of a Dobie student, who requested to remain anonymous, said she had been looking forward to the TCIS partnership after attending an informational meeting.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were really excited,\u201d she said. \u201cI had actually gone to the meeting for the information, but it was really sad to find out that they weren’t going to do the partnership anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n