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In an effort to keep the Austin school district independent, Mayor Kirk Watson is pushing to close two chronically-failing middle schools that triggered the state’s takeover law. He’ll need parents’ help to do it.
Watson’s plan, released in his newsletter Wednesday morning, cites a little-known state rule that would give weight to a parent petition asking for the schools’ closure.
Last month, both Webb and Burnet middle schools received preliminary fifth failing accountability ratings from the Texas Education Agency for the 2025-26 school year, triggering state intervention that could close the schools or see a board of managers replace the elected school board. Austin ISD has until Sept. 11 to appeal the preliminary ratings, but if either rating becomes final the state is mandated under law to intervene.The manner of intervention is up to Education Commissioner Mike Morath.
However, Watson cites a caveat in the state education code which mandates Morath follow the will of a parent petition submitted to TEA if the parents of a majority of enrolled students request closure of the schools instead of a district-wide takeover. The plan comes at a high-stakes moment for Austin ISD. TEA declined the district’s plan to avoid takeover by surrendering control of three failing schools to an external operator earlier this year. Watson told Austin Current he remained optimistic that takeover was not the only option left for Austin ISD and was in frequent talks with Austin ISD leadership over potential outcomes.
“Texas law gives the parents at Webb and Burnet a powerful voice,” Watson’s statement said Wednesday. “That gives this community a path to act instead of simply waiting for something to happen to us. It gives families most impacted a say in what comes next.”
A parent petition to close the schools instead of taking over the district would have to be signed by the parents of the majority of students enrolled at each failing school and submitted to Superintendent Matias Segura for validation by Oct. 15. Segura would then have to submit a validated copy to Morath no later than Dec. 1. Morath would be obligated by law to order the action requested by the parents.
If Austin ISD’s board of trustees presents a written request to the commissioner opposing the parent petition, the commissioner could choose to side with the board.
Watson said if the state takes over Austin ISD, Burnet and Webb, as well as other unspecified district campuses, would likely be closed. He said, under his proposed plan, he trusts Segura and the board to create a new school in the $158 million building being built at the site of Burnet Middle School to serve the communities of the closed schools.
As proof of Austin’s progress, Watson cited the district’s rise to a B overall rating, its highest in years, in this year’s accountability ratings, as well as a 42% increase in A and B rated campuses since 2024.
It is not immediately known if Austin ISD leaders were involved in developing the mayor’s proposal, or whether the Texas Education Agency is aware of it. Austin ISD and the Texas Education Agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment at the time of publication.
Last week, Austin ISD spokesperson Cristina Nguyen told Austin Current that Austin ISD leaders maintain regular communication with the city’s leadership to keep them apprised of what is happening in the Austin school district.
