Superintendent Backed Parent Petition for School Closures
Parents seek to close Burnet and Webb middle schools to avoid a district-wide state takeover.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Administration
Live Poll
Should parents have a direct say in local school closure decisions during state intervention?
Families at Burnet and Webb middle schools are moving to trigger closure petitions after Austin ISD Superintendent Matias Segura expressed support for the effort. The move aims to prevent the Texas Education Agency from taking over the district following five years of failing accountability ratings at the campuses.
Why it matters
The district faces a potential state takeover in the 2026-27 school year if nine campuses triggering state intervention are not addressed. Parents are acting now to secure local control before the state education commissioner decides whether to replace the board or close schools.
Burnet and Webb middle schools have recorded five consecutive failing accountability ratings, contributing to a total of nine schools currently at risk of triggering state intervention. Final ratings from the state are expected in December, leaving the district's immediate future uncertain.
The players
Matias Segura
He is the superintendent of Austin ISD who recently voiced support for a parent-led closure petition.
Kirk Watson
He is the Mayor of Austin who proposed that parents use petitions to address failing school ratings.
Texas Education Agency
This state body oversees public education and holds the authority to intervene in district governance.
The details
Parents may sign a petition to request the closure of their specific campuses, a strategy suggested by Mayor Kirk Watson to forestall a broader intervention. The district previously attempted to manage these schools through a partnership with the Texas Council for International Studies, but that arrangement was dissolved in July. If the schools close, the district must navigate the precedent set by Paredes Middle School, whose failing history was transferred to Bailey Middle School by the state.
Timeline
July 2026: Austin ISD dissolved its partnership with the Texas Council for International Studies.
August 2026: The state agency confirmed the closure of Paredes Middle School.
September 2026: Superintendent Matias Segura and Mayor Kirk Watson discussed the parent petition strategy.
December 2026: The state agency expects to release final accountability ratings.
2026-27: The period identified for potential state intervention in district governance.
The Texas Context
This effort follows the precedent set by the closure of Paredes Middle School, which demonstrated how state intervention can migrate failing accountability records to receiving campuses. The current push extends that history by forcing the district to manage potential closures before the state commissioner mandates a board takeover.
Parents at Burnet and Webb middle schools now face a decision on whether to sign closure petitions to preempt state-mandated district restructuring. The results of the state's accountability review will be finalized in December and may dictate the operational future of both campuses.
The takeaway
Parents should watch for the state agency's release of final accountability ratings in December to understand the long-term status of their campuses. Monitoring the district's appeal process remains the most important step for families concerned about potential state intervention in school governance.
Further reading
You can find more background on the district's oversight efforts in the Administration section of our site.
Live Poll
Should parents have a direct say in local school closure decisions during state intervention?
