Austin Independent School District introduced a public dashboard on September 15, giving families, teachers and community members real‑time access to key performance data for the 29 campuses currently operating under state‑mandated turnaround plans (TAPs). The tool, posted on the district’s School Improvement page, is part of Superintendent Matias Segura’s effort to increase transparency and ensure resources are directed where they are most needed.
Why the dashboard matters
Under Texas Education Agency (TEA) rules, schools that receive repeated “unacceptable” ratings must develop and execute turnaround plans that demonstrate measurable academic improvement or face heightened state intervention. The 29 campuses on the new dashboard are subject to these requirements, and the district hopes the public display of data will foster greater accountability and community support.
Schools under turnaround plans
The list includes Burnet, Webb and Dobie middle schools, which the district now fully operates after ending a management partnership with an outside nonprofit in July. The TEA declined to approve that partnership in May, meaning the schools’ accountability ratings could not be paused. Several campuses previously on the list have closed, most recently Paredes Middle School, whose 635 students were reassigned to Bailey and Mendez middle schools. The TAPs for closed schools have been absorbed by the receiving campuses, though final TEA approval for those changes is still pending.
What the dashboard tracks
The dashboard presents both static and regularly updated metrics, including:
- Principal experience for the 2026‑27 school year
- Core and overall teacher vacancy numbers and rates
- Percentage of certified and experienced teachers
- Teacher attendance against a 95% goal
- Active Parent Teacher Association status
- Measures of Academic Progress assessment data, with beginning‑, middle‑ and end‑of‑year comparisons to the prior year and quarterly growth tracking
Updates will be posted on the 15th of each month, allowing stakeholders to see how each campus is progressing throughout the school year.
Superintendent’s perspective
Segura emphasized that the dashboard is intended to make the district’s efforts visible and to help families understand where resources are being allocated. “We are being really clear on how each of these data points shows for each of these schools, so if there is an area of need in resource allocations, our community is aware that we understand what it is and we’re making adjustments to support those students in those schools,” he said.
Community response
Parents and local education advocates have welcomed the move, noting that easy access to data can empower families to engage more effectively with school leadership. Some critics, primarily from education policy think tanks, caution that raw data without context may lead to misinterpretation, but the district plans to pair the dashboard with explanatory notes and regular community meetings.
Looking ahead
The district intends to expand the dashboard to eventually cover all AISD schools, not just those under TAPs. By providing a consistent, transparent view of staffing and academic trends, the district hopes to build trust, support targeted interventions, and ultimately improve outcomes for students across Austin.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Austin — read the source article.
