Education
BY ELLE BENT
Austin ISD approved a proposal for a state- appointed monitor over the district’s special education department Sept. 26, four days prior to a deadline set by the Texas Education Agency that would have implemented a conservatorship for the department instead. The board’s 8-1 decision came with Vice Presi- dent Kevin Foster voting against. The breakdown Austin ISD agrees to state monitor plan district’s special education evaluations. Taking one step down, a monitor was offered to the district on Aug. 30 after an informal review by the TEA. On Sept. 25, additional changes were made to the deal. Before voting to accept the monitor, trustees in favor emphasized that agreeing to the proposal is the best option to ensure progress for special education as well as to maintain local control and district values. Foster, who voted against approv- ing the proposal, said he believes things would not get better for special education students with outside intervention.
Terms of the agreement
A state monitor will sit in on board meetings and report on AISD’s progress. AISD officials will receive state training and work with a governance coach. 50% of board meeting time will focus on student outcomes and special education. All TEA evaluations and requirements must be completed on a deadline.
Goals moving forward October-December Adopt Lone Star Governance goals January-March
By agreeing to the proposal from the TEA, AISD will now have a monitor sit in on board meetings and report on the district’s progress on its backlog of special education evaluations. The district will also pay for a Lone Star Governance coach to provide board training and evaluations focused on improving student outcomes, as required by the deal. AISD was notified by the state agency in March that it would seek to implement a conservatorship due to the findings of an investigation of the
If AISD doesn’t fulfill the terms in the agreement, the district then waives any right to petition for further state review to avoid stricter oversight and may be assigned a conservator instead. “I don’t feel we’re giving up anything by giving up our right to appeal, because we are currently in a situation where the commissioner could put the conservator here anyhow,” District 7 board member David Kauffman said on Sept. 25.
Complete all outstanding evaluations, develop a plan based on third-party audit, train staff using TEA guidance April-May Develop a special education evaluation manual outlining responsibilities, processes, and timelines
SOURCES: AUSTIN ISD, TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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