Austin ISD likely to hand control of three middle schools to charter partners to avoid state takeover

January 20, 2026

Austin ISD leaders announced that the district is likely to transfer control of three middle schools to outside charter operators as part of a strategy to avoid a potential takeover by the state. Officials cautioned that recent academic gains have not come fast enough to eliminate the threat of intervention, and they view partnership with charter organizations as a path to accelerate improvement.

District leaders said the plan would move management of the identified campuses out of traditional district control and into the hands of approved charter operators. That approach would change who makes day-to-day decisions about staffing, curriculum and school operations, while the district would retain broader oversight responsibilities for its remaining schools.

The prospect of handing over campus control comes as the Texas Education Agency continues to monitor school districts that fail to meet performance benchmarks. If the agency determines local efforts are insufficient, it can impose interventions that range from placing the district under conservatorship to ordering complete governance changes, officials said.

School leaders described charter partnerships as an alternative to more severe state action, arguing that charter operators can bring new management practices and targeted resources to underperforming campuses. They emphasized urgency, saying the district needs measurable progress within a short window to reassure state regulators and maintain more of its local authority.

Community members, staff and families are likely to see immediate effects if the transfers go forward, including new leadership at campus level and potential changes in programming. District officials indicated they will seek qualified partners and work through contractual agreements, though they did not announce specific operators or a firm timeline for the transitions.

Officials said the next steps include pursuing partnership agreements, monitoring early indicators of student progress, and keeping the public informed as plans advance. If academic measures do not improve quickly enough, district leaders said they will move ahead with transfers to try to protect the district from direct state control.