Austin, TX—Tonight, the Austin Independent School District’s Board of Trustees voted to approve a plan to implement the Johns Hopkins Talent Development Secondary partnership and strengthen achievement for students feeding into Eastside Memorial High School. The plan will fulfill the requirements of the Eastside Memorial reconstitution plan AISD submitted to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and incorporate the work of the partner with the high school’s vertical team.

“AISD has been and remains fully committed to finding a pathway to ensure the success of Eastside Memorial students. We will continue to build upon our investments to help the school succeed,” Superintendent Meria Carstarphen said. “Moving forward, we are pleased to have worked collaboratively with the TEA and the community to develop a plan that will provide our school, our students and our community with the additional support they need and deserve.”

Earlier this month, AISD trustees named Talent Development Secondary as the district’s partner for school improvement at Eastside Memorial. Since then, AISD has been working with the TEA to answer the education agency’s questions and to make revisions to the plan, including addressing the Eastside Memorial vertical team.

The TEA requested AISD trustees take formal action on the plan to demonstrate the board is committed to the plan and to securing the resources required to implement the plan, which will cost an additional $5.3 million.

AISD’s trustees did approve the TEA request to add a provision to the plan that the board agrees that if the academic rating for Eastside Memorial High School is not acceptable for both 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 school years, the board will on its own motion order the campus closed for at least one full school year. The Commissioner reserves the right to close the campus or take any other action as authorized by state law. The board of trustees agrees that the Commissioner may order the campus closed on the basis of any material violation of this agreement by the district.

The TEA Commissioner is expected to make a decision soon on whether to accept the district’s proposal.

For more information, please call the Department of Communications and Community Engagement at 414-2414.