Austin ISD will fully operate Burnet, Dobie and Webb middle schools when the new school year begins after the district and the Texas Council for International Studies mutually agreed to end their management partnership, officials announced July 20.
What's happening
The partnership will officially end July 31, according to a district news release. The decision comes after the Texas Education Agency declined to grant state partnership benefits in late May.
Although AISD responded to the state's denial by submitting additional evidence of TCIS' experience leading school turnaround work, both organizations ultimately agreed that ending the agreement was the “best path forward,” per the release.
"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 the release.
How we got here
AISD adopted turnaround plans in June 2025 to restart Burnet, Dobie and Webb by hiring new administrators and teachers and using high-quality instructional materials, according to previous Community Impact reporting. The district offered stipends of up to $20,000 to attract high-performing educators to the campuses.
The move came after the three schools each received their fourth consecutive F rating from the TEA in 2025. If a Texas public school receives five or more consecutive failing ratings, state law requires the TEA commissioner to close the campus or take over the district.
In March, the AISD board of trustees approved a three-year partnership with TCIS to operate the three campuses this fall. Under the agreement, the nonprofit was tasked with helping the schools earn a state rating of C or higher by the 2027-28 school year, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
Had the state approved the partnership, the campuses would have received additional funding and a pause in state accountability ratings. The TEA denied the district's application May 28, citing concerns about TCIS' capacity to turn the campuses around, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
By the numbers
District officials said the campuses have already shown gains during the first year of a district-led turnaround plan approved by the TEA in 2025. Preliminary 2026 testing data shows the following students passed the Algebra I state assessment, per the release:
- 100% of students tested at Burnet
- 100% of students tested at Dobie
- 85% of students tested at Webb
At the three schools, 86% or more of students are economically disadvantaged, and at least 72% are English language learners, according to previous
Community Impact reporting.
What's next
All investments tied to the turnaround plans will continue into the 2026-27 school year, according to the release, including:
- Content interventionists
- Instructional coaches
- Additional funds campus leadership can use as needed
District officials said AISD and TCIS collaboratively designed the initial turnaround strategies to preserve what was already working at the three schools, allowing for a smooth transition into the new school year.
Community Impact will continue to follow the AISD accountability situation and publish updates as received.
