Austin ISD is proud to celebrate Better Hearing and Speech Month, May 1–31.

More than 85 speech language pathologists serve students in elementary, middle and high schools throughout the district.

Speech language pathologists evaluate and treat children with educationally relevant or functional communication challenges.

Treatment includes addressing articulation impairments, language impairments, fluency disorders and voice disorders that can negatively affect students academically.

Austin ISD’s Liberal Arts and Science Academy has received another accolade, this time being ranked ninth in the United States by college data website Niche for best academics.

The site made its rankings of public high schools based on a variety of factors, including state assessment proficiency, colleges that students attend after graduation, AP enrollment and exam pass rates, graduation rates and composite ACT and SAT scores.

The Eastside Memorial High School Pantherettes Dance Team has been named the National Varsity Small Team Military Champions and National Varsity Small Team Prop Champions.  

The Pantherettes competed at the Halftime Entertainment National Championship competition in San Antonio, Texas.  

The team was also recognized for showmanship, costume and precision. These categories are ranked on energy, smiles, movement and expression throughout the routines.  

Austin ISD is proud to announce that Becky Jurgensen has been selected as School Nurse of the Year and Maryke Benner as School Health Assistant of the Year.

Jurgensen is the nurse at The Rosedale School, which serves students with complex medical and behavioral needs.

Her colleagues said she "is respected for being a great resource and teacher to other nurses as they attempt to manage medical conditions at their schools."

Staff members at Rosedale also recognized her exceptional communication and calm demeanor handling stressful situations.

Mathews Elementary School will induct three community members into the Mathews Hall of Honor, recognizing the significant effect their lives of service have made in the Austin community. 

The 2015 annual Hall of Honor induction ceremony begins at 9:15 a.m. Friday, May 8, at Mathews Elementary, with remarks from school and district officials, and Mathews students.

Following the ceremony, participants and visitors may take guided tours of the school, a state historic landmark.

This year's honorees are:

Council for a Strong America held a press conference at Austin ISD’s Uphaus Early Childhood Center on April 21 to support funding Pre-K. 

Austin ISD Police Department Capt. Chris Evoy, Austin Police Department Chief Art Acevedo and Travis County Sheriffs Office Capt. Frank Lofton spoke on behalf of funding Pre-K, with the message, “We’re the guys you pay later.”

According to “Fight Crime: Invest in Kids,” in Texas, an individual who does not have a high school diploma is more than three times more likely to be incarcerated than a high school graduate.