With less than two weeks left before the end of the regular legislative session, the Texas House of Representatives and Gov. Greg Abbott are still far apart on whether and how to give some Texas families tax dollars to pay for private school. One current proposal could divert millions in state funding away from Austin ISD. Texas lawmakers are considering a range of legislation that could impact education, including a school voucher program called “education savings accounts,” which would give some families tax money to send their students to private school or pay for certain other educational expenses.

Last night, the board of trustees unanimously approved a new Austin ISD compensation package for the 2023–24 school year. 

Why it matters: The package provides meaningful raises for all teachers and staff: 

Austin ISD continues a month of celebrating the graduating Class of 2023 with a profile of Akins High School senior Elias Brown, who will be attending the University of Arizona on a full scholarship for wheelchair basketball.

 

After the COVID pandemic shut down his freshman year at Akins High School, Elias Brown focused his free time on what had previously been just a fun hobby – wheelchair basketball. He practiced 4-5 days a week with a coach, “and that’s when I started to get good,” Elias says, with characteristic understatement.

By Paul Stinson

Austin ISD is anticipating its secondary campus and district A-F letter grades will decline by one to two letters under new TEA rules for how scores are calculated and how letter grades are assigned.

Why it matters: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) oversees the state’s accountability ratings, and assigns A-F letter grades for schools and districts based on the scores they earn for student performance. Scores measure three areas: students ’ readiness for college or career, STAAR standardized tests and graduation rates.