Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency announced last month it wanted to install conservators to oversee special education services in the district. The proposal came after an investigation that found AISD repeatedly failed to meet the needs of students with disabilities.

The Texas Legislature passed a bill two years ago requiring the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness be administered online by the 2022-2023 school year. But school districts and some lawmakers are concerned the change is going to negatively affect students and test scores.

Austin ISD has struggled to address a backlog of special education evaluations, leaving many students without critical services. And, just as the district began rolling out a plan to make things better, the Texas Education Agency announced plans for state oversight.

The Texas Education Agency announced last week it wants to install a management team to oversee AISD’s special education department, citing systemic issues. The district's school board has until mid-April to request a review of the agency’s proposed conservatorship.

The Texas Education Agency has been investigating the school district for years because it hasn't been evaluating students within a legally required timeframe. TEA wants to install a management team in the special ed department to come up with a plan to fix this problem.

The TEA recommended the move, citing the district’s failures serving special education students. The announcement comes two weeks after the agency appointed a board of managers to oversee Houston ISD.

The 46-member committee’s report found compensation, training and better working conditions were key in helping Texas retain and hire teachers.

Disability Rights Texas first filed a lawsuit against Austin ISD over delayed evaluations for special education services in 2021. The group sent a letter to the Texas Education Agency on Thursday calling for an investigation into the ongoing backlog.

Public education advocates hope lawmakers will spend more on schools, raise teacher salaries and prioritize mental health resources. The last time the Texas Legislature made a major financial investment in the public school system was before the pandemic in 2019.

Raise Your Hand Texas released a report Tuesday that outlines ways to change how standardized testing is used to evaluate students and schools. The recommendations come just months ahead of the next legislative session.