Austin ISD ends partnership officials had hoped would avert state takeover

Weeks before the school year begins, Austin Independent School District will end a nonprofit partnership that officials had hoped would help the district stave off looming state intervention.  

The district's Monday announcement comes after the Texas Education Agency in May rejected Austin ISD's proposal to partner with a nonprofit to buy more time for three chronically under-performing North Austin middle   schools to improve academics.   TEA's May rejection tipped the district closer to a possible state takeover.

The three schools have long struggled on the state's A-F accountability system, which rates each campus largely based on results from the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, tests. Each campus has received four consecutive F grades. A fifth - which could be announced in mid-August - could trigger a takeover of the entire district.

READ MORE: What a state takeover could change for Austin ISD students and families

The change represents more upheaval   for students and educators at Dobie, Burnet and Webb middle schools, which last year underwent significant changes   to staffing, schedules and curriculum. Trustees had approved   an agreement in March with the nonprofit Texas Council for International Studies in hopes of leveraging a state law that allows districts to "pause" accountability consequences. The law, Senate Bill 1882, also gives campuses more money per student.  

Instead, Austin ISD will operate the three schools next year.

The end of the agreement means that Austin ISD is no longer pursuing an 1882 partnership, district spokeswoman Cristina Nguyen said Monday.

Even though TCIS had planned to run the campuses, employees would have been Austin ISD staff under the agreement. The end of the partnership shouldn't impact staff contracts, she said.

Families who attended Dobie, Burnet and Webb during the 2025-26 school year should expect a similar class schedule   and academic model in the upcoming school year to what they experienced last year, she said. The district will still provide interventionists, instructional coaches and other funds to the three campuses, according to the district.

"This resolution will provide continuity for students and allow the district to build upon the student-focused efforts that began last school year," Superintendent Matias Segura said in a statement.

In a statement, TCIS CEO Margaret Davis said the nonprofit was grateful for the chance to work with Austin ISD.

"TCIS will always support the district's efforts and celebrate their achievements," Davis said.

The nonprofit has run campuses in San Antonio and is known for an academic model centered on International Baccalaureate or IB programming.

RELATED: Austin ISD is closer than ever to a state intervention. Here's what happens next

In rejecting Austin ISD's bid for an 1882 school turnaround partnership with the nonprofit, a TEA official said TCIS had an "uneven" history of academic performance that didn't meet agency standards. The district submitted additional evidence to TEA reflecting TCIS' success, but the two parties "ultimately agreed that ending the partnership is the best path forward," according to the district's statement. 

The district has not yet received any new response from the TEA about resubmitted evidence and is making the decision to focus "every moment this summer on prioritizing the success of our students and starting our new year strong," according to a district statement.

Students' 2026 STAAR scores at the three middle schools improved from 2025, but the percentage of students on grade level remained far lower than the Austin ISD average, making a state takeover of the entire district increasingly likely. Less than 40% of students at any of the three schools passed the STAAR math test and less than 50% passed the STAAR reading test.

The TEA will announce letter grades for public school campuses in mid-August. A state takeover of the entire school district is likely if Dobie, Webb or Burnet receives another failing grade.

In response to the dropped partnership, Education Austin, the largest union representing Austin ISD employees, asked educators and staff to prepare for the possibility of a state takeover, according to a statement.  

"While district leadership has expressed optimism about the progress made through existing turnaround efforts, today's announcement underscores the uncertainty facing educators, support personnel, students, and families," Education Austin officials said. "Regardless of what happens next, Education Austin believes now is the time to build strong worksite organizations that can advocate for the future of Austin's public schools."  

Austin ISD and TCIS hosted a joint job fair for the three middle schools as recently as July 9.

While TCIS would have been a good partner to run the three North Austin campuses, Austin ISD's decision is understandable, said Allen Weeks, executive director of Austin Voices for Education and Youth. The nonprofit provides community resources to families in schools, including those at Dobie, Burnet and Webb.

"They're an outstanding partner," Weeks said. "Without the TEA's financial support, I think the district had hard choices financially to make. I think it's no reflection on TCIS."

The end of the partnership with TCIS won't change Austin Voices' work in the schools, which has been ongoing for years, Weeks said.

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