School closures on the horizon in Austin

Austin ISD officials are working toward a plan to close schools over funding concerns and amid declining enrollment.

Why it matters: District leaders say their resources are spread too thin and consolidation will allow more investment in fewer campuses.

Driving the news: District officials are holding workshops with parents and teachers this week to solicit their input on closures and introduce a data tool the district will use to evaluate which schools to close and combine, and how to redraw boundaries.

  • Officials will publish the results of the first part of the data rubric on Aug. 14.
  • The rubric will provide each school with a score that indicates how well a school’s size, building condition, number of students, and costs all work together, according to district spokesperson Jorge Maldonado.

What they’re saying: “This score will help us figure out which schools might need changes, like new boundaries, different transfer rules, building repairs, program updates, and/or which should close or join with another school,” Maldonado told Axios in an email…

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