Texas Education Agency ends state monitoring of Austin ISD special education program

February 18, 2026

The Texas Education Agency informed Austin Independent School District on Tuesday that it will discontinue its state monitoring of the district's special education services after a three year period. The notification came in a formal letter from the agency to district officials.

State monitors had overseen the district's special education program for three years. During that time the agency reviewed how the district delivered services to students with disabilities and tracked the district's progress on required actions.

With the agency stepping back, Austin ISD will manage day to day administration of special education without direct state supervision. That shift means the district will handle compliance, program delivery, and routine oversight responsibilities locally.

Families of students receiving special education services and district staff will see the most immediate effects of the change. The end of state monitoring does not remove the district's obligations under federal special education law, and schools will still need to meet state and federal requirements for students with disabilities.

The Texas Education Agency's letter sets the formal end to the monitoring relationship, and district leaders will now carry out the program without the same level of state review. Local administrators will be expected to continue reporting as required by other state and federal processes.

State oversight of school programs is typically imposed when agencies identify concerns, and its removal signals a procedural change in how authorities interact with a school district. For Austin ISD, the letter marks a transition back to local control for its special education services, with ongoing obligations to ensure services meet legal standards.