The Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Mar. 27 to enter a three-year partnership with the Texas Council for International Studies (TCIS) to support Burnet, Dobie, and Webb middle schools. The decision aims to provide additional resources and time for these campuses to improve academic performance and reach acceptable accountability standards.
This development is significant as it addresses the need for sustained improvement at these schools, which have shown progress under a district-led restart plan during the current school year. The new partnership is expected to accelerate academic growth for students by leveraging TCIS’s experience in school turnaround efforts.
According to the district, “While these campuses have made significant progress under the current district-led restart plan during the 2025–26 school year, this partnership ensures they have the time and resources to accelerate academic improvement for our students.” Since 2019, TCIS has helped other Texas districts achieve higher ratings. For example, Harris Middle School in San Antonio rose from a rating of 59 in 2023 to 71 in 2025; Briscoe Elementary improved by 20 points; and Woodlawn Hills Elementary gained 17 points. In Longview Independent School District, all six TCIS partner schools currently hold acceptable ratings, with four achieving an “A” rating in 2025.
The agreement will bring several changes while maintaining stability for families. Academic programming will be strengthened with continued core elements such as double-blocking reading and math classes, instructional coaching, and extended learning time. An estimated $1,000 increase per student is projected to add hundreds of thousands of dollars to school budgets. Staff who are driving success at each campus are expected to remain employed by Austin ISD with full benefits.
Community partners as well as after-school programs, fine arts activities, and athletics will continue without interruption. Next steps include submitting an application for benefits under Section 1882 of state law to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) for final approval. TCIS also plans staff and community meetings this spring.
The Austin Independent School District supports a multicultural environment with over 100 languages spoken by students according to the official website. The district operates more than one hundred diverse school communities across elementary through high school levels according to its official website, educates more than seventy-two thousand students with over five thousand classroom teachers according to its official website, maintains a graduation rate above ninety-three percent while exceeding state averages on SAT and ACT scores according to its official website, provides instruction in more than one hundred languages including eleven other than English according to its official website, and focuses on partnering with families and communities so that students gain skills needed for college or career success according to its official website.
Broader implications include ongoing efforts by Austin ISD leadership toward improving student outcomes through partnerships while maintaining existing support systems within their diverse educational community.