EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Austin & Dripping Springs ISDs
HIGHLIGHTS DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD On Jan. 23, the Dripping Springs ISD board approved a contract that will provide funds for two additional mental health staff, said Tisha Kolek, director of counseling and health services for DSISD. The social service funding agreement is with Hays County, which received funds from the Behavioral Health for Schools Grant through the American Rescue Plan Act. The county is providing up to $200,000 for salaries, contract behavioral services and indirect costs. DRIPPING SPRINGS ISD On Jan. 23, Dripping Springs ISD shared its early budget projections for the fiscal year 2023-24 which includes a 3% pay increase for staff. In 2022-23, DSISD included a 7% raise for educators. Austin ISD Will meet March 9 and 23 at 6 p.m. 4000 S. I-35, Austin www.austinisd.org Dripping Springs ISD Will meet March 20 at 6:30 p.m. and March 27 at 6 p.m. 510 W. Mercer St., Dripping Springs www.dsisdtx.us MEETINGS WE COVER
AISD to improve special education training
SPECIAL EDUCATION FOCUS
Austin ISD exceeds the state average for special education students meeting expectations. It has a goal of 60% by 2026.
All AISD students
All Texas students
AISD special education students
Texas special education students
50% 60% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%
BY AMANDA CUTSHALL
AUSTIN ISD Leaders in the district will receive additional training as Austin ISD focuses on improving special education scores. The most recent data shows 26% of special education students in kindergarten through eighth grade met or exceeded grade-level expec- tations in the 2021-22 school year in Austin ISD. While that is slightly higher than the state average of 24%, district officials said it is not good enough. “This is nowhere near the level of excellence that we need for our stu- dents,” said Dru McGovern-Robinett, assistant superintendent of special education programs. Robinett said district officials must provide the right structure and sup- port to teachers and students to boost
2020-21
2021-22
2018-19
STUDENTS WERE NOT TESTED IN 2019-20 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC
SOURCE: AUSTIN ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
the number to the district’s goal of 60% by 2026 for special education students in grades K-8. Frances Stetson of Stetson & Associates Inc., the educational consulting firm tracking and helping the district with special education scores, said there are “districtwide issues and department issues.” “We’ve begun robust efforts to train leaders, including principals, and we’re asking them what needs to be done to address this,” she said. Stetson said 125 leaders in the district were brought together to seek
out solutions and find strategies that enrich instruction while not putting a burden on teachers. “Starting today, we are launching foundational training that we found, across the country, results in systems changes that improve instructional outcomes for all learners,” Stetson said. “We will train every school in the district by the end of the spring semester.” Stetson said this will result in a common vision and common vocabulary to meet the goals set out by the district.
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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN - DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION • FEBRUARY 2023
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