The Texas Education Agency rejected a plan by Austin Independent School District to outsource the management of three middle schools. this leaves Dobie, Webb, and Burnet middle schools at risk of state takeover if academic scores fail to rise.

Dobie, Webb, and Burnet Middle Schools Face State Intervention

The rejection of the partnership application means that Dobie, Webb, and Burnet middle schools no longer have a legal buffer against state sanctions. Under current Texas law, Education Commissioner Mike Morath possesses the authority to either shut down campuses or replace an elected school board with an appointed board of managers if a school receives five consecutive failing accountability ratings.

The timing of the Texas Education Agency's decision is critical, as students at Dobie, Webb, and Burnet finished their school year this past Thursday. According to the report, the fate of these campuses now hinges on state standardized testing results expected this summer, which will dictate the accountability ratings for the current cycle.

The Mixed Record of 16 TCIS Partnerships Since 2019

The Texas Education Agency's denial centered on the track record of the Texas Council for International Studies (TCIS),the nonprofit Austin Independent School District proposed to lead the schools. In a letter to Superintendent Matias Segura, state officials claimed that TCIS failed to prove it could successfully turn around campuses with repeated failing marks. In some instances,the report says, partnerships with TCIS actually resulted in worse academic outcomes.

Since 2019, the Texas Council for International Studies has managed 16 partnerships across the Edgewood, Longview, and San Antonio ISDs. However, the data is underwhelming: only five of those 16 campuses were rated D or F at the start of the partnership, and three of those specific schools either saw their ratings drop or failed to show any improvement.

How Senate Bill 1882 Failed to Shield Austin ISD

Austin Independent School District sought protection under Senate Bill 1882, a state mechanism that allows districts to avoid certain sanctions by transferring operational control to an outside organization. While the district is still permitted to partner with the Texas Council for International Studies, the Texas Education Agency ruled that the partnership would not grant the scohols the accountability reprieve typically offered under SB 1882.

The effort to secure this shield appeared rushed, as Austin ISD trustees approved the TCIS partnership just days before the March 31 application deadline. This move reflects a broader, high-stakes environment in Texas education where the Texas Education Agency has shown an increasing appetite for intervening in struggling districts to force academic growth.

What Evidence Does Superintendent Matias Segura Still Hold?

Despite the state's denial, Superintendent Matias Segura expressed disappointment and indicated that the district intends to share "additional details" to prove that the Texas Council for International Studies has the capacity to improve student outcomes. This raises a critical question: what specific evidence does Austin Independent School District possess that the Texas Education Agency overlooked or deemed insufficient during the May review?

Furthermore, it remains unclear why the Texas Council for International Studies was the only organization to submit a bid to operate these three schools.. The lack of competing bids suggests either a lack of interest from other qualified nonprofits or a narrow selection process by Austin Independent School District leaders that may have limited their options for a proven turnaround partner.