Austin ISD Weighs Urgent Options to Avoid State Takeover of Dobie Middle School

Austin ISD faces significant challenges regarding Dobie Middle School and College Prep Academy following a recent court ruling that allows the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to publish accountability ratings for the 2022-23 academic year. This ruling reverses a 2023 injunction that had prevented the release of ratings, which assess schools on an A-F scale. Superintendent Matias Segura emphasized the district's intent to maintain local control and avoid a state takeover, a scenario that could unfold if Dobie Middle continues to receive failing grades for five consecutive years. To address this issue, AISD is considering several options, including partnerships with charter operators, closing the school, reallocating students, or temporarily closing the campus for a comprehensive reimagining. The urgency is amplified by the fact that Dobie Middle received an "F" rating in 2018-19, and officials are concerned that the school would have failed again in the most recent assessment.

AISD is keen on safeguarding student outcomes and steering clear of state intervention while also addressing budgetary constraints through a separate consolidation plan. “Our goal is to make certain that the approach we take in educating students remains with the administration and board of AISD,” Segura stated. The timeline for the release of accountability ratings by the TEA remains uncertain.