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Two Austin middle schools just hit a five-year streak of failing grades, putting the entire district at risk of a state takeover. This is a massive wake-up call that could lead to a total overhaul of how our local schools operate.
At a glance
Stable — consistent level of discussion. 2 mentions in the last 30 days, 3 the 60 before.
A state takeover could lead to costly legal battles and the potential loss of local control over how our tax dollars are spent on education.
Students might finally get the resources and structural changes they need to actually succeed in the classroom.
Local taxpayers and parents who value community-led school boards could lose their say in how the district is managed.
The lieutenant governor said that state legislators would file a bill next session that requires the Texas Education Agency to lower a school's accountability grade if it has any copies of a challenged book on its shelves.
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As Austin Independent School District students return to class Tuesday, uncertainty remains over whether the state could step in and take over the district. But Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said recent academic gains should weigh heavily in any decision.