In Austin, Texas, public school advocates are voicing strong opposition to the Austin Independent School District's proposed "turnaround" plan for three underperforming middle schools Dobie, Burnet, and Webb. On Thursday, ATX United for Public Schools, a coalition of parents, staff, and educators, staged a protest demanding transparency, job security for teachers, and more time to explore alternatives to disruptive reform.

The district's proposed “district-managed restart plan” comes in response to consecutive low state accountability ratings for the three schools. If a school continues to receive failing grades over five years, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) is authorized to mandate drastic changes, such as closing the campus, turning it over to a charter, or appointing an external board to manage the entire district.

Parents like Vincent Tovar and Vanessa say they support change but not at the cost of community stability. “We oppose mass dismissals of teachers and administrators who have the support of their staff and communities,” said Tovar. The TEA has faced lawsuits regarding the fairness of school ratings, which many say were affected by inconsistent standards and were not released for 2023–24.

AISD says the restart plan includes staff evaluations, revised curriculum, and added student support. Teachers not retained will be supported in securing other roles within the district. The Board of Trustees will hold a public hearing on June 26 to gather further input before submitting the final plan to the TEA by June 30. With the next school year approaching, the debate over school reform in Austin reflects a broader statewide struggle between state mandates and local control, with communities fighting to preserve equity and stability in public education.