The Coalition to Oppose State Takeover is a coalition of active community groups and members who believe in democracy in our schools and are opposed to a state takeover. We believe in the need for community action in response to Texas Education Agency’s move to circumvent democratic processes and appoint a Special Education conservator in Austin ISD.

Though the district has a track record of failure in supporting its special education students, we believe in confronting these problems democratically, and we have confidence in our community’s ability to hold Austin ISD accountable in serving our students. We have zero faith that a heavy-handed TEA takeover would do anything more than cause immense harm to an already vulnerable population.

Texas has a history of bulldozing local democratic institutions and putting unelected, unaccountable bodies in their place. Just this year, TEA replaced the elected board of Houston ISD with its own state-appointed superintendent. Already, Houston is seeing devastating consequences, with massive layoffs, an elimination of the current compensation system, and the replacement of school libraries with detention centers. We will not allow that game plan to be used in Austin schools.

In Austin, we know what strong community action can look like. Last November, we elected a slate of strong, union-backed candidates for AISD school board. These trustees have joined a willing board in making drastic changes to respond to the needs of our students and community. We see the work being done, and we will see it through democratically. Nobody knows Austin more than the people who live, work, and go to school here.