Education
BY ELLE BENT, DACIA GARCIA & CHLOE YOUNG
Austin ISD to extend prekindergarten care Austin ISD will begin offering free after- school child care for eligible prekindergarten students at nine campuses this semester. The Travis County Commissioners Court approved a $3.7 million, two-year contract to fund the new centers on Aug. 26. The details Extended after-school care will be offered for around 300 eligible 3-year-old pre-K students from 3-6 p.m. each school day. Nine schools offering the program have 75% or more economically disadvantaged students or are located in areas lacking adequate availability of child care services. Participating schools include Allison, Padrón, Houston, Norman-Sims, St. Elmo, Andrews, Guerrero-Thompson, Langford and Harris elementaries.
AISD to intervene at 12 failing campuses Twelve AISD campuses will require immedi- ate intervention after receiving three F ratings from the Texas Education Agency, AISD officials announced Sept. 3. The district could choose to close these schools, or restart the campus by hiring new principals and staff or partnering with a charter school. Something to note This summer, AISD initiated a school consolida- tion process to close and merge certain campuses in the 2026-27 school year, due to budgetary constraints and declining enrollment. While AISD didn’t use A-F ratings to rank campuses for potential consolidation, the 2025 ratings may now limit the district’s ability to combine campuses, Superintendent Matias Segura said in a letter posted to the district’s website.
ACC enrollment increases by 10%
DSISD staff to see new pay increases Dripping Springs ISD staff will see salary increases for the 2025-26 school year. The details The starting teacher salary will increase by $500 to $56,000. Teachers with one or two years of experience will receive a $1,700 increase. Salary increases for teachers with three or more years of experience were funded through House Bill 2, passed by the 89th Texas Legislature. Teachers with five or more years of experience will receive a $5,000 salary increase, while teachers with three to four years of experience will receive a $2,500 increase. All other employees will receive a 3% midpoint salary increase.
Schools facing closure or restarts
"The enrollment surge is proof that more students are choosing ACC as their pathway to a better
future. That doesn’t happen without the
Barrington Elementary Dawson Elementary Linder Elementary Oak Springs Elementary Pecan Springs Elementary Sánchez Elementary
Current Austin Community College enrollment is nearing 44,000 students, showing a near 10% growth from fall 2024’s enrollment numbers. The details According to a news release, more than 10,300 students are using the college’s Free Tuition Pilot program, which allows students to take classes without paying tuition or general fees for up to three years. In fall 2024, only 4,800 students enrolled in the program. The program is open to students from the class of 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028, who graduate from high school, homeschool or earn a Texas GED in the ACC service area. Digging deeper The news release stated the college is witnessing growth in various areas of study, with the largest
dedication and teamwork of our faculty and staff." RUSSELL LOWERY-HART, ACC CHANCELLOR
growth in health sciences, up in enrollment by 19%. What else? With the growing student population, ACC added an estimated 500 course sections and hired about 100 adjunct faculty members. The college has also announced new resources to help students in their education journeys. These include Riverbat Bites Food Pantries, wayfinding improvements and student advocates.
Widén Elementary Winn Montessori
Woolridge Elementary Bedichek Middle School Martin Middle School Paredes Middle School
AUSTIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
BRODIE LANE 4970 W Hwy 290 (512) 366-8260 BEE CAVE 13015 Shops Pkwy (512) 263-9981
SOUTHPARK MEADOWS 9900 S I-35 Frontage Rd (512) 280-7400
DRIPPING SPRINGS 166 Hargraves (512) 432-0186
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