Hello Families,
April has arrived! We officially have eight weeks left of the 2024-25 school year. Time sure does fly by!
This week we’ll hope you’ll show some love to our Assistant Principals and School Librarians as we kick off Assistant Principal Appreciation and School Librarian Appreciation Week. This week also begins the recognition of Arab American Heritage Month.
Don’t forget…Open Enrollment is happening now! Austin ISD general registration for Prek-12th grade for the 2025-26 school year opened April 1st. Learn more about finding your seat through our Enrollment page.
Let’s get started….
1 big thing: Urgent action needed for Dobie Middle School as Austin ISD navigates separate consolidation talks
Austin ISD must consider some difficult options for Dobie Middle School after an appeals court dismissed the lawsuit blocking TEA from releasing its 2023 “A-F” school accountability ratings.
Why it matters: Texas has the ability to take serious actions against school districts that allow a school to fail for five years in a row, including but not limited to assigning a Board of Managers to oversee the entire district, replacing the current locally elected board.
This is not a risk the district is willing to take, which means Austin ISD must consider closing the school or partnering with a charter school — much like what happened at Mendez Middle School — to avoid a potential takeover.
For more information on how we got here, view our Dobie Middle School Turnaround FAQs
What to know: While Austin ISD is beginning conversations about a districtwide school consolidation plan, the urgency around the situation at Dobie has put the school on a separate, expedited timeline.
We do not have a list of schools that could face closure.
The district is developing a process for how school consolidation decisions will be made over the next several months, which we will present to the board this month.
That process will be thoughtfully developed with the community this spring.
The process will include developing guardrails for the process, establishing a tool to determine which schools could be considered for closure and analyzing options that will get students in the best possible learning environments.
We anticipate having a detailed plan outlining specific school consolidations by mid fall, 2025.
The bottom line: We understand that these conversations put a strain on our school communities. We are committed to a transparent, human-centered process and maintaining our focus on student achievement and wellbeing.
Austin ISD survey shows positive feedback on Special Education services
The big picture: Austin ISD surveyed 1,367 families of students receiving special education services. The results, gathered from February 14-28, 2025, show positive feedback and areas for improvement.
Key takeaways: The Special Education Family Advisory Committee (SEFAC) reviewed and analyzed the results, focusing on 3 key areas:
ARD Committee Meetings:
72%+ of respondents agree or strongly agree communication around services and accommodations is clear.
87%+ of respondents agree or strongly agree ARD meetings have enough time to discuss needs and feel comfortable asking questions and expressing concerns.
What’s next: Survey results will guide training for staff, improve family engagement efforts, and address areas for growth.
Go deeper… with the full survey results.
Join VELA - an organization that empowers parents of children with disabilities to become their child's greatest advocates through hands-on courses, support and community building - and other families, for this 3-part interactive virtual series to learn how to become your child's greatest advocate. Join to gain knowledge, strategies, and resources.
Mark your Calendar
Austin ISD General Registration for PreK-12th grade for the 2025–26 school year is now open!
Austin ISD In the News
Big things are happening at Odom Elementary School! Check out the school's Ribbon Cutting Ceremony!
Saturday is Rebel Fest at Travis Early College High School! Festivities start at 1pm and include a Student BBQ Competition!
Reminder: Traffic and road closures will be in place this weekend for the Cap 10K! If you’re running or walking in the race, good luck! We’ll be cheering you on!
Have a great weekend!
-JJ
Have a story idea?
Got a great story about an Austin ISD student, staff, parent, or community member? Share it with us! It could be featured on our website, in our newsletters, on social media, or even on the news!
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.
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