Webb Middle School Petition Faces State Complaint Review
The TEA is now evaluating the process after local parents alleged they were pressured into signing the closure petition.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Families at Webb and Burnet middle schools are navigating a conflict over a recent petition to close their campuses in a bid to avoid a state-ordered takeover of the Austin Independent School District. The Webb Middle School PTA has filed a formal complaint with the Texas Education Agency, alleging parents were pressured into signing the documents.
Why it matters
The petition process serves as a potential alternative to a state takeover, which would result in the replacement of Austin ISD's elected board and superintendent with state-appointed officials. As the district faces a fifth failing grade under the state's rating system, the legitimacy of this closure effort has become a central point of tension for local parents.
The effort to close campuses follows the district receiving a fifth consecutive failing grade under the state's A-F rating system. While signatures were collected from 6% of Burnet families and 2% of Webb families, the Texas Education Agency is still reviewing the validity of these petitions.
The players
Webb Middle School PTA
A parent-teacher organization that filed a formal complaint regarding the campus closure petition.
Texas Education Agency
The state agency overseeing public schools that is currently reviewing the complaint.
Austin Independent School District
The local school district currently facing a potential state takeover after receiving five failing grades.
Kirk Watson
The Mayor of Austin who proposed the parent petition process for school closure.
Jake Kobersky
A spokesperson for the Texas Education Agency who confirmed the agency is reviewing the complaint.
The details
The petition process, proposed by Mayor Kirk Watson, allows families at struggling campuses to seek closure to prevent a state takeover. The Webb PTA complaint questions the origin of the petition and alleges that outsiders influenced the process, which volunteers had conducted door-to-door in English and Spanish. Austin ISD is now tasked with verifying all signatures against enrollment records before the December deadline.
Timeline
September 2026: Mayor Kirk Watson proposed the parent petition process.
October 13, 2026: Volunteers collected signatures door-to-door two days before the cutoff.
October 15, 2026: The deadline passed for families to sign the school closure petition.
October 20, 2026: The formal complaint filing was confirmed publicly.
December 1, 2026: Austin ISD must finish verifying petition signatures.
The Texas Context
This dispute follows the district's fifth consecutive failing grade under the Texas A-F school rating system. The petition process attempts to bypass the state takeover mechanisms triggered by these recurring low marks.
Austin ISD families should expect verification updates regarding the petition signatures by December 1. The outcome will determine if the closure process proceeds or if the district faces a state-imposed board and superintendent replacement.
The takeaway
Parents should watch for the district's signature verification report due by December 1 to see how this impacts campus status. Staying informed on the Texas Education Agency review is essential for families concerned about the future of district leadership.
Further reading
Learn more about the district's ongoing academic challenges and school governance at Secondary Education.
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