Stay informed with a quick rundown of important news from Austin ISD.
The Austin ISD Board of Trustees approved the Recommended School Closures and Programmatic Reassignments plan during their regular voting meeting on Nov. 20. These changes, focused on consolidations tied to Texas Education Agency turnaround plans, are slated to go into effect in the 2026-27 school year and will impact schoolwide dual-language programs at four campuses. District leaders are currently developing a timeline for additional consolidations and boundary changes linked to balanced enrollment. Details regarding transition support, including principal assignments for receiving campuses, will be shared in the coming weeks.
An important health alert details Austin ISD's collaboration with Austin Public Health to manage the spread of pertussis, also known as “whooping cough”. Key symptoms to monitor include a sickness that starts like a cold but progresses to uncontrollable coughing fits, a "whooping" sound when inhaling, and vomiting or exhaustion after coughing. The best way to protect against pertussis is vaccination (DTaP or Tdap), as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Austin Trail of Lights Essay and Illustration Contest. Fourth and fifth graders were challenged to draw and write about "The one gift you would like to give to everyone in the world". Congratulations go to Grand Prize Winner Luis Dimas from Barbara Jordan Elementary for his entry, "The Gift of Equality," and finalists Serhan Hossain ("The Empathy Stone") and Arthur Burnham ("The Gift of Food").
Finally, listeners are reminded that all Austin ISD schools and offices will be closed Nov. 24-28 for fall break, with students returning on Dec. 1. Information is shared for families needing food support, directing them to community partners such as The Central Texas Food Bank and the United Way for Greater Austin. Additionally, those wishing to support food needs for Austin ISD families can donate to the Austin Ed Fund’s “Crisis Fund”.
Find all this information and more on the Austin ISD website.
