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Austin ISD updates trustees on TEA agreed order work and special‑education data system migration to Frontline
Summary
The district told trustees it has closed priority 1 of the TEA agreed order, is advancing MTSS implementation, and has contracted with Frontline for a new special‑education plan and service management system; staff outlined training and a July system launch ahead of required TEA reporting.
Austin ISD administrators on March X updated the Board of Trustees on progress under the Texas Education Agency (TEA) agreed order related to special education and described a planned migration to a new special‑education data management system.
What the district reported: Dr. Jacob Reach, Chief Officer for Government Relations and Board Services, said Priority 1 of the TEA agreed order (closing corrective action plans tied to original complaints) is complete. District staff continue work on Priority 2 (MTSS implementation) and priorities 3 and 4 (data systems and reporting). Dr. Reach said the district will prepare and submit required MTSS annual progress reports to TEA, including campus‑by‑campus universal screening data and intervention entry/exit tracking.
New vendor and systems work: To address persistent data and reporting concerns identified by TEA, the district initiated a procurement process and contracted with Frontline Education for a plan and service management solution that will integrate with the district's existing human resources/ERP systems. The new system is intended to manage IEPs, service tracking, Section 504 plans, and Medicaid/SHARS billing processes.
Implementation and training timeline: The district described a phased rollout: vendor selection (completed), system configuration and integration (underway), and professional learning and implementation (summer and early fall). Staff reported focus groups with teachers, principals and central staff, train‑the‑trainer sessions and an intention to launch the system in July with further training for special education staff before the academic year. Dr. Reach said the district is required to provide TEA with updated reporting in August and emphasized the need for on‑demand support once staff return in August so teachers can use the system from day one.
Stakeholder engagement: The administration has engaged special education staff and family groups, and it described ongoing meetings of the Special Education Family Advisory Committee; the committee's next public meeting was scheduled for April 28 with comment opportunities.
Why this matters: TEA monitoring and reporting requirements are tied to federal and state obligations for special education; systems that produce accurate IEP and service data help the district comply with state reporting and ensure students receive required services.
Administration commitments: Dr. Reach emphasized three priorities: continuous stakeholder engagement, robust professional development for special education staff, and on‑demand technical support through the fall. The district said eight concurrent projects support the migration (data migration, configuration, validation, change management, training and offboarding of the prior system) and said leadership expects Frontline to be configured for a July launch and full staff training in August.
Ending: The board heard the status as part of ongoing agreed‑order work and was told that TEA reporting, MTSS progress reports, and family advisory committee meetings will continue as part of the district's compliance and improvement path.
