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Education

Urban Land Institute offers a glimpse at plans for UT's many real estate holdings in Austin

From the development of the life sciences Innovation District to land eyed for possible use by federally funded semiconductor research and manufacturing, the land holdings of the University of Texas continue to play a huge role in the development efforts…

Austin ISD considers adding 70 police officers to comply with new Texas school safety law

Lee esta historia en español The Austin Independent School District is considering nearly doubling the size of its police department to comply with a new state law that takes effect Sept. 1. House Bill 3 is a piece of sweeping school…

More Austin ISD students will eat breakfast for free after Texas ups funding for school meals

On a bright, hot July day, students trickle into the cafeteria at Akins Early College High School in South Austin. There, they can grab chicken, grilled cheese sandwiches, carrots and peas, fresh fruit and a roll for free. They’re greeted…

Austin ISD is getting federal money to install solar panels at more than a dozen campuses

The Austin Independent School District is one of two dozen school systems nationwide to get a new federal grant to make campuses more energy efficient. Austin ISD will receive nearly $15 million for its Solar for Schools project through the…

Austin ISD school board approves deficit budget as recapture payment nears $1 billion

The Austin ISD Board of Trustees has adopted a deficit budget for the next fiscal year, which starts July 1. The vote happened a little before 1 a.m. Friday. The deficit was not a surprise. Back in May, the board approved significant…

Austin ISD requests review of state’s plan to manage its special education department

The Austin Independent School District announced Monday that it is requesting an informal review of the state’s plan to oversee the district’s special education department. Texas Education Agency officials announced last month that they wanted to install conservators because Austin…

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There's no easy fix to Austin ISD's special education evaluation backlog. Students are left waiting.

Kathryn Whitley Chu’s daughter was 2 and a half years old when the COVID-19 pandemic began. While stuck at home, her family had gotten used to the way the young girl spoke. But when she returned to preschool 17 months later,…

Travis County celebrated teaching Black history, despite attempts to ban it

The Travis County Commissioners Court officially proclaimed February 2023 as Black History Month in a unanimous vote last month. The proclamation was made in conjunction with the Austin Independent School District’s celebration of African American heritage. Commissioners drew attention to…

AISD celebrates $4 million in federal educational funds to boost outdoor learning, college prep

The Austin Independent School District is celebrating $4 million in federal appropriations that will expand outdoor learning and college prep for students. The district commemorated the funding at a Tuesday press conference held at St. Elmo Elementary School in South…

What's at stake in the Texas school voucher debate

Three terms are coming up over and over again this legislative session: school choice, school vouchers and education savings accounts. They’re all related to the goal of giving families state money to send their kids to nonpublic schools. One of…

Austin ISD expects to complete all 2022 bond projects in the next six years

Lee esta historia en español. The Austin Independent School District plans to modernize more than two dozen campuses over the next six years. Some campuses will be partially renovated, while others will be completely rebuilt. The projects are part of…

Austin ISD is looking for a new superintendent. The school board says community input is key.

The Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees is hammering out the details for its superintendent search. Trustees held a board retreat Monday with GR Recruiting, the search firm it hired last month to help find the district’s next leader. The meeting…

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