KIPP Texas board votes unanimously to close seven campuses amid enrollment declines
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Summary
The KIPP Texas Public Schools board approved a resolution to close seven campuses at the end of the 2025–26 school year, citing multi-year enrollment declines; leadership said each student will be offered a seat and transportation and described staff-retention and transition plans.
The KIPP Texas Public Schools Board of Directors voted unanimously on Dec. 10 to close seven campuses at the end of the 2025–26 school year as part of an organizational‑health review tied to multi-year enrollment declines. The board approved a resolution to transfer current students to other KIPP schools in Austin and San Antonio.
The decision followed months of internal review and community meetings under KIPP Texas’s 2030 multiyear plan. CEO Saba Ali told the board the organizational‑health framework was designed to identify shifts in enrollment and operational capacity and to recommend targeted actions to preserve academic quality across the network.
“The current risk that has the potential of impacting our students is our enrollment declines,” Ali said while presenting the recommendation. She read the list of campuses recommended for closure: KIPP Alegria Primary; KIPP Austin Academy of Arts and Letters; KIPP Austin Alvarez; KIPP Austin Beacon Prep; KIPP Austin Brave; KIPP Mundo Primary; and KIPP Camino Academy at the Commerce campus in San Antonio. The board chair called for a motion; Allison Thacker moved and Ethan Phillips seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
The decision drew an emotional public comment from Shannon Talibird Blackman, identified in the record as the school leader at "Kipemunda Primary" in San Antonio, who read a parent letter describing the child’s close ties to the school and urging the board to consider the human impact of a closure. The parent’s letter said, in part, that closing the school would “take away the stability and emotional foundation” their child relies on.
KIPP Texas leaders described several mitigation steps intended to reduce disruption. CEO Ali and operations staff said: every student at a closing campus will be assigned a seat at a KIPP school in their region and transportation will be provided; families will receive a systemwide printed and digital letter the day after the meeting and individualized letters to families of closing schools on Friday, Dec. 12; an intent‑to‑return Google survey will be distributed and families were asked to share initial decisions by Dec. 19; transition activities such as student shadow days and family events are scheduled for January; and staff will be offered retention incentives and prioritized transfer and interview opportunities.
Chief Academic Officer Rona Simmons said specialized programming will be treated on a case‑by‑case basis. She said the biomedical science program currently serves about 90 juniors and seniors and that continuation of that pathway at receiving schools will depend on enrollment; KIPP leaders said zone schools already have the software‑development pathway that many students can continue.
Chief Talent Officer Anne Scott outlined the staff process: a talent‑planning survey will launch on Dec. 12, vacancy assessments will begin in early January, and a prioritized transfer window with dedicated interview days will follow. Leaders emphasized that closing campuses will not affect operations during the current school year: campuses will remain open through June 2026 and counseling and wellness supports will be available for students.
The board’s vote ends the formal deliberation recorded in open session; KIPP Texas staff said they will follow up directly with affected families and employees about placement, transportation and program continuity. The consent agenda for the meeting also passed by unanimous vote earlier in the session.
