Austin ISD reports sharp drop in out-of-timeline special-education evaluations; district names new digital system and staffing plan

Austin ISD staff told trustees on Jan. 16 that the district has substantially reduced the backlog of special-education evaluations and is moving to institutionalize that progress by expanding staffing, professional learning and a new digital management system.

Superintendent Matias Segura framed the update as part of the districtagreed order with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the ongoing Priority 1A initiative to improve special-education services. Dr. Jennifer Baker and Dr. Cherry Lee presented an extended data analysis and a strategic-plan update that the board had received during 2024.

Top-line results - Initial evaluations: The district reported 0 initial evaluations exceeding the 45-school-day timeline since August 2024. - Reevaluations: The presentation showed a reduction in reevaluations past their three-year window from around 940 in January 2023 to 51 in December 2024 (about a 95% reduction). Staff noted the reevaluation pipeline is dynamic and will continue to require monitoring because reevaluation requests arrive year-round.

What the district did to reduce the backlog - Staffing and compensation changes: Administration said it raised compensation for educational diagnosticians and school psychologists in 2023 and hired aggressively; the evaluation team grew to 74–78 evaluators…