At their first opportunity to address the school board about the district's proposed consolidation plan, many expressed concerns about layoffs, academic continuity and the impact on low-income communities and emerging bilingual students.

Campuses slated for closure were also set to receive millions of dollars in upgrades under the largest bond in AISD history, approved by voters in a landslide 2022 election.

The move is expected to save the district $25 million and balance out enrollment across campuses. The school board will vote on the plan Nov. 20.

The universities reportedly received letters asking them to sign a "compact" banning the consideration of race in admissions, freezing tuition and more in exchange for a federal funding advantage.

The school consolidation plan, which is being released at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, will also detail the district’s new attendance boundaries, transfer policies and how programming will change at each school.

A federal judge in August issued a temporary injunction blocking 11 school districts, including Austin ISD, from implementing Senate Bill 10, the new Texas law requiring public schools to display the commandments. Fourteen additional school districts have now been sued by the same coalition of civil rights groups.

Calls for Welsh’s ousting intensified over his handling of a student’s complaints about gender identity discussions in a children’s literature class.

Jerry Hernandez pleaded guilty in June to two counts of manslaughter following the crash that killed a 5-year-old student and the driver of another car.

The district said it is retooling how it communicates with parents after last week's "failure."

House Bill 8 scraps the unpopular exam for three shorter tests at the beginning, middle and end of the year starting in the 2027-28 school year.