Austin ISD approves SB 1882 nonprofit partnership to operate Burnet, Dobie and Webb middle schools
A new operating model for three North Austin campuses
Austin ISD trustees approved a nonprofit partnership framework that would shift day-to-day operations of Burnet, Dobie and Webb middle schools to an outside operator under Texas’ SB 1882 “Texas Partnerships” law. The decision positions the district to submit an application to the Texas Education Agency by March 31, 2026, seeking state accountability relief tied to the partnership model.
The campuses—located in North Austin—have been under intensive improvement requirements after receiving repeated unacceptable state accountability ratings in recent years. District documents describing the “restart” strategy show the schools were placed on a district-managed turnaround track for the 2025–26 school year, with a contingency option to pursue an SB 1882 operator beginning in the 2026–27 school year.
Who will run the schools and what changes
The approved partner is the Texas Council for International Studies (TCIS), a Texas nonprofit that works with International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. The proposal also includes collaboration with Education Service Center Region 1, a public education service center that provides technical assistance to districts.
Burnet, Dobie and Webb would remain public schools serving Austin ISD students.
Operational control for academics and campus management would move to the SB 1882 operating partner for the term of the agreement.
The district would pursue SB 1882 “benefits,” which can include a temporary pause in escalating state interventions when a qualifying partnership is approved.
Timeline and accountability targets
Austin ISD’s published restart timeline frames SB 1882 as a contingency tied to accountability deadlines. The partnership is slated to start in the 2026–27 school year, following the 2025–26 restart year already underway.
Contract expectations described in publicly shared materials set short-term performance benchmarks. Under the proposed three-year structure, the operator would be required to improve campus accountability outcomes on an accelerated timeline, with specified rating targets beginning in 2026–27.
The district’s turnaround planning materials describe a district-managed restart for 2025–26, followed by a potential SB 1882 partnership model starting in 2026–27.
How this fits into broader Austin ISD changes
The move comes amid multiple district-wide initiatives responding to state accountability pressures and long-term operational constraints. Austin ISD has adopted numerous state-required turnaround plans across campuses and has separately advanced a consolidation and reassignment plan scheduled to begin in the 2026–27 school year. District planning documents also note that campuses with ongoing turnaround requirements face limits on consolidation options while those plans are active.
For families at Burnet, Dobie and Webb, the immediate next steps center on implementation planning ahead of the 2026–27 transition, including staffing, academic programming, and community engagement processes required under both turnaround and partnership frameworks.