Austin’s Mayor Kirk Watson is advocating for the closure of two persistently underperforming middle schools as part of an initiative to maintain the independence of the local school district. This plan, which relies on parental support, was detailed in Watson’s newsletter released on Wednesday.
Watson’s proposal references a little-known provision in Texas law that empowers parents to petition for the closure of these schools, potentially averting a state takeover. Last month, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) issued preliminary failing accountability ratings for both Webb and Burnet middle schools for the 2025-26 academic year, which could trigger state intervention to either close the schools or replace the elected school board with a board of managers. Austin Independent School District (AISD) has until September 11 to contest these ratings, but if they become final, state law mandates intervention.
The intervention process will be determined by Education Commissioner Mike Morath. However, Watson points to a provision in state education law that requires Morath to honor a parent petition for closure if a majority of parents from both schools request it, thereby providing an alternative to a district-wide takeover. This situation comes at a critical juncture for AISD, which earlier this year saw its proposal to transfer control of three failing schools to an external operator rejected by the TEA. Watson expressed optimism that there are still alternatives available for AISD and mentioned ongoing discussions with district leadership regarding potential solutions.
“Texas law gives the parents at Webb and Burnet a powerful voice,” Watson stated. “This empowers the community to take action rather than passively awaiting decisions made on our behalf. It allows families most affected to have a say in the future.”
For the petition to be valid, it must be signed by parents representing the majority of students enrolled at each failing school and submitted to Superintendent Matias Segura for validation by October 15. Segura is then required to forward the validated petition to Morath by December 1, at which point Morath would be legally obligated to act on the parents’ request.
If the AISD Board of Trustees formally opposes the parent petition, it is possible that Morath could side with the board instead. Watson warned that if the state assumes control of AISD, it is likely that Burnet and Webb, along with other undisclosed district campuses, would face closure. He expressed trust in Segura and the board to establish a new educational facility on the grounds of the $158 million building currently under construction at the Burnet site, intended to serve the communities affected by the closures.
Watson highlighted the district’s recent improvements, noting its ascent to a B overall rating—its best performance in years—alongside a 42% increase in schools achieving A and B ratings since 2024, as evidence of progress within the district.
It remains unclear whether AISD leaders were consulted in the formulation of the mayor’s proposal or if the TEA is aware of it. At the time of publication, both AISD and the TEA had not responded to inquiries for comment.
Last week, AISD spokesperson Cristina Nguyen indicated that district leaders maintain consistent communication with city officials to keep them informed about developments within the Austin school district.
