Quick reminder: Priority enrollment ends February 4! General registration begins April 1.
This week is “Holocaust Remembrance Week” in Texas. This week our students are learning about the Holocaust, its lasting impact, and the importance of standing up for human dignity to prevent future atrocities.
…and this week, two Austin ISD educators got a wonderful surprise when H-E-B recognized them as finalists for their statewide Excellence in Education Award.Find out who they are and join us in congratulating them!
Now, let's get started with this edition…
‘National Report Card’ shows Austin ISD students returning to pre-pandemic levels
Austin ISD student scores are higher than state, peer-districts, national charter students and the nationwide average, according to the latest testing cycle of the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
Why it matters: Schools nationwide have spent years grappling with pandemic-related challenges. These results are an encouraging sign that Austin ISD has a strong academic foundation and learning is on the rise.
Zoom out: NAEP is a reading and math assessment given to a sample of fourth and eighth-grade students nationwide to better understand performance across the country and states. The test is given every two years, with 2024 being the latest test.
The highlights: Austin ISD scores were not just higher, but significantly higher than other peer groups.
The district scored significantly higher than the state in eighth-grade math and both reading levels. Austin ISD was significantly higher than national public schools in fourth-grade math. The district was significantly higher than the larger cities grouping and all Texas peer districts (Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth) in all grades and levels tested.
Student scores made small improvements from 2022. Fourth-grade math stood out and had significant learning gains.
Comparisons to 2019 were similar to pre-pandemic levels providing an indication that student learning may be in recovery. There are also some opportunities for improvement, including eighth-grade math, which was significantly lower than 2019, suggesting additional support is needed to support these students long term.
Yes, and…Gaps persist in scores for our marginalized and economically disadvantaged students. This data aligns with information in our Scorecard and statewide testing and continues to shape our strategic efforts.
What they’re saying: “The council applauds large city schools for their improvement in academic performance and the progress they are making in turning to pre-pandemic levels thanks to target investments that have addressed setbacks and driven recovery,” said Ray Hart, executive director of the Council of the Great City Schools.
Read our Austin ISD report on NAEP 2024, including the full findings, visualizations, and deep cuts into student groups.
You may remember, Austin ISD operated Pease Elementary School until 2020. Since then, district leaders have worked with the community to repurpose the building.
The childcare center will be managed by Goodwill Central Texas and serve up to 130 kids from six months to five years old. Austin ISD teachers, staff and families will be prioritized.
The building will undergo renovations and operations are slated to begin in 2027.
Classroom, second floor hallway, call center
And as you know, the 89th legislative session has already started and we’re already monitoring the bills that could impact us. Here are some of the bills presented to the trustees:
We have our eye on two budget bills: House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 1, both of which would boost funding for education and provide tax relief.
HB 1 adds $4.85 billion for public schools, $450 million for the Teacher Retirement System, and $3.5 billion for property taxes relief (pending other legislation).
SB1 proposes increases for teacher pay by $4,000 for all teachers and an additional $6,000 for rural teachers, totaling a $10,000 increase. Plus, $3 billion in residential property tax relief and $500 million for businesses.
Vouchers are still the talk of the legislature with Senate Bill 2, which creates an Education Savings Account (AKA voucher) program.
Under this plan, every Texas student can apply for an ESA, whether they are in public, private or homeschool. Vouchers are worth $10,000 or $11,500 for students with disabilities. Homeschool students could get $2,000. Want to learn more? Read the details of the bill.
Learn more about the district’s legislative priorities approved by the Board of Trustees.
Last but not least, the board discussed its quarterly Lone Star Governance Progress Report. The board achieved a rating of “meets focus” for the third consecutive quarter, which means they are on track to complete the requirements ahead of schedule.
Catch up quick: Lone Star Governance is a framework our board has committed to as part of the TEA Special Education Order, and is rooted in an intesse focus on student academic achievement. Trustees receive coaching and are graded on their alignment with the five pillars of the Texas Framework for School Board Development:
That’s all for now! Mark your calendars for the next Board Information Session happening Feb. 13.
Share your thoughts on streamlining magnet transportation
Austin ISD is exploring ways to maintain transportation services for our magnet schools while addressing financial challenges.
Why it matters: Austin ISD is committed to providing accessible transportation to all families.
A $92M budget deficit caused by stagnant state funding over the last six years has led us to consider options like regional transportation hubs and streamlined routes to reduce costs while maintaining equitable access.
Share your thoughts and suggestions by completing our short survey. Your feedback will directly inform any decisions we make regarding transportation for magnet schools.
What's next: The survey closes Friday, Feb. 7—so act fast!
We will be sure to share any potential changes as soon as we process your feedback and develop workable solutions for our families.
Looks like we’re getting a break from the cold this weekend—got any big plans?
Unfortunately, my family and I caught whatever bug’s been going around, but hopefully, we’ll be back to normal by the end of the week and can enjoy the weekend.
…and a huge shout out to the Sunset Valley Elementary School Cheetah Cheerleaders!
As I mentioned in last week’s newsletter, these amazing students competed and did amazing! Not only did they win first place in their division, but they also earned a spot to compete at Nationals! 🏆
Big congratulations to our Texas Cheerleader State Champions!!!
Have a great weekend!
Nayeli 💛
For questions or comments please email me at nayeli.santoyoflores@austinisd.org
For languages other than English and Spanish, we use an AI-powered translation tool. As a result, there may be some contextual inaccuracies or other errors. We apologize for this. Please email translation@austinisd.org if you are in need of clarification. To change your preferred correspondence language, contact your school's front office.
