Austin Families Urged to Sign Petition for Middle Schools
Parents may petition for closure at Burnet and Webb to avoid a district-wide state takeover.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Administration
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Austin Independent School District leadership has backed a parent-led petition to close Burnet and Webb middle schools following their fifth consecutive year of failing state accountability ratings. This move seeks to avert a broader intervention by the Texas Education Agency that could see the district board and superintendent replaced.
Why it matters
The petition offers parents a way to address academic outcomes at individual campuses while protecting the district from a total state takeover. Persistent failing scores at these schools have put the entire district at risk of state-level oversight in the 2026-27 school year.
Burnet and Webb middle schools have recorded five consecutive years of failing accountability ratings. Nine schools across the district are now at risk of triggering state intervention during the 2026-27 school year.
The players
Matias Segura
The Superintendent of the Austin Independent School District who currently supports parent-led efforts to manage local school outcomes.
Kirk Watson
The Mayor of Austin who proposed the petition process for parents of students at Burnet and Webb middle schools.
Texas Education Agency
The state authority responsible for school accountability ratings and the power to replace local school boards and superintendents.
Texas Council for International Studies
An education organization that previously managed Burnet and Webb before its partnership with the district was dissolved in July.
The details
The state education commissioner possesses the authority to intervene if schools repeatedly fail accountability benchmarks, including closing campuses or replacing district leadership. Parents are being asked to sign a petition to authorize the closure of these specific schools, an effort supported by Superintendent Matias Segura to give families a voice in student success. This process comes as the district attempts to navigate past failures, including the closure of Paredes Middle School and the recent dissolution of a management partnership with the Texas Council for International Studies.
Timeline
July 2026: The district ended its partnership with the Texas Council for International Studies.
August 2026: The state confirmed the closure of Paredes Middle School.
September 2026: Mayor Watson proposed the parent petition and Superintendent Segura offered his support.
December 2026: The state agency is expected to release final accountability ratings.
2026-27: This period marks the potential year for state intervention in the district.
The Home Front
This situation follows the strict requirements of the Texas Education Agency school accountability system regarding campus performance. It marks a significant escalation in oversight, mirroring the state-mandated closure of Paredes Middle School earlier this year.
Families with students at Burnet and Webb should monitor communications from the district regarding the petition status and upcoming town halls. Review the latest school accountability reports provided by the state to understand how your child's specific campus is currently being evaluated.
The takeaway
When schools face recurring state-level accountability challenges, local petitions can provide a structured way for parents to influence closure or intervention decisions. Families should keep track of the December ratings announcement to understand how it may impact local campus operations.
What happens next
Final accountability ratings for the schools are expected to be released by the Texas Education Agency in December 2026, which will clarify if state intervention will move forward.
Further reading
Learn more about local school board decisions and district policy updates on the Administration page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Texas Tribune.
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Should parents have a direct say in local school closure decisions during state intervention?
