Austin ISD

Ten local districts teamed up for a news conference Friday to discuss how they’re responding to the recent rise in violent threats. School leaders are asking families to help their children understand the impact of making threats. Austin ISD said it received 30 threats last week alone.

Disability Rights Texas filed a federal lawsuit against the school district in 2021 over its failure to conduct special education evaluations within the legally required timeframe. The Austin ISD school board voted to approve the settlement last month.

The school's principal told parents in an email Wednesday that the campus would reopen next week. District officials have said crews are working on repairs after a fire broke out at the school late Monday night.

District officials said if a voter approval tax rate election is successful in November, it will generate $41 million in additional revenue for the district. Nearly $18 million of that would be used to increase at least 60% of employees’ pay.

Superintendent Matias Segura placed CFO Ed Ramos on leave on July 31 after he was arrested for alleged insurance fraud. Ramos had already been planning to leave AISD.

Central Texas schools are finding ways to cut down on spending in the face of budget deficits. Reshuffling staff and delaying the opening of a new school are just a few of the steps districts are taking.

Opening night is July 18, but before that, the students shared their reflections on how the performing arts have helped them find community at school — and just like ogres and onions, they have layers.

KUT teamed up with The Austin Common to create this guide to help you see and know where democracy is happening in Austin.

The size of Austin ISD’s budget deficit and salary increases for staff largely depend on whether the board calls a Voter Approval Tax Rate Election to generate millions in revenue. Without the funds generated by a new tax rate, the district will be $78 million in the hole.

Austin ISD is staring down a nearly $60 million budget deficit. District officials and school finance experts say adjusting per student spending for inflation would alleviate some of the financial strain public schools are facing.