Parents press Austin ISD for better Spanish outreach and special‑education supports during Montessori forum
November 05, 2025 | AUSTIN ISD, School Districts, Texas
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Several parents said that translated slides and live interpretation alone did not create understanding for many Spanish‑speaking families. "La trasducción no sí quiere decir entendimiento," one commenter said, arguing that materials and outreach must be tailored and actively distributed so families know what is changing and how it affects enrollments.
Parents also flagged special‑education capacity as a concern. One parent noted the receiving campus cited in the draft has a high concentration of students with special needs (referred in the meeting as roughly "39 percent") and asked how the district would ensure sufficient therapists, aides and transportation if Montessori students moved there.
District staff acknowledged gaps in participation at some campuses and said they are increasing direct outreach — including text messages, translated materials and follow‑up meetings — and will collect survey data to gauge family preference and likely enrollments before making final recommendations.
Officials reiterated that they plan to preserve transportation access if a program’s configuration remains unchanged, and they invited principals and parents to engage in targeted conversations to identify sites and supports that would sustain program quality. Staff urged continued community input and said staff will present revised recommendations to the board after additional outreach.
The parents’ call for clearer, earlier notice and for district‑level Montessori leadership to advocate for the model was a recurring theme. Several attendees asked the district to identify Montessori‑knowledgeable campus and district leaders early in the hiring or placement process so parents can evaluate proposed leaders before registrations open.
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