The AISD Afterschool Centers on Education (ACE Austin) program provided academic assistance, enrichment, college and career readiness, and family engagement activities at seven elementary, one middle, and two high schools through Cycle 10 funding through the Texas Education Agency. ACE Austin was found to have a positive impact on students'…

This study investigated argumentation patterns resulting in teacher-guided and peer-guided group discussions on four socioscientific-issues (SSI). Two groups, each including five students from grade 7, studied on a different SSI during four weeks. Discussions within both groups were observed, videotaped, and analyzed qualitatively. After four…

These maps provide an overview of existing dual language programs in the district for the 2011-2012 school year and the distribution of English language learners.

This report presents data on equity in AISD, using an index of student performance, an index of the instructional services provided to students, and school per pupil expenditures.

Results from a January 2013 phone survey indicated that 5 out of 6 parents who responded believed Austin Independent School District's dual language program was effectively helping their student learn a second language.

This report includes results for Austin Partners in Education (APIE) programs in 2019-2020 including math classroom coaching, GEAR UP tutoring, college readiness, and mentoring. It highlights continued academic programs serving students in middle and high school and describes APIE support provided to teachers' instruction. As classroom instruction…

The purpose of this study was to prove to what degree using the arts could increase developing student critical thinking skills. The thesis is based on Paul, Elder, and Bartell assertion that intensive arts training, can prepare students for life and work by developing in them the general skills and attitudes, the habits of heart and mind they…

Learning strategy instruction is an evidence-based practice for teaching adolescents with mild disabilities. However, researchers have not developed strategies for every content area or skill. Therefore, teachers need to be able develop strategies based on the needs of their students. This article reviews the process for developing and teaching…

The purpose of this research was to examine the effectiveness of the dialectical journal as a tool for teaching critical thinking skills, and to assess middle school teachers' perception of critical thinking. Two groups of middle school students were split into one control and one experimental group. Both groups took a critical thinking test…

The present study has two aims. Firstly, it aims to determine eighth grade students' conceptual understanding of floating and sinking through formative assessment probes. Secondly, it aims to determine whether or not there is a significant difference between students' performance in formative assessment probes and their achievement in the…

The Teaching, Empowering, Leading and Learning (TELL) AISD Survey gathers information about school conditions from the educators working in schools. TELL obtains perceptions on a variety of issues related to student achievement and staff retention. In 2016, 5,309 AISD teachers (91%) and 3,092 other campus employees completed the survey. This is…

This research brief highlights results from the full report (published separately) that summarizes results of the 2014-2015 Austin Partners in Education (APIE) program evaluation. [For the full report, see ED626421.]

This research brief provides an analysis of 2017-2018 AISD student data, showing significant gaps in school perceptions and experiences of transgender and gender-nonconforming students relative to their peers, illustrating the need for additional policies and procedures to support AISD transgender and gender-nonconforming students. A separate full…

This report summarizes Austin Independent School District English learner students' (ELs) TELPAS performance on the 2018 Spring administration. TELPAS is the state of Texas' student assessment of English language proficiency. Performance is summarized by domain and composite ratings, and years in U.S. schools. The changes made to the test are also…

In Texas, English language learner (ELL) students are assessed annually in academic subject areas using the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) at elementary and middle school levels. This report describes continuously enrolled Austin Independent School District (AISD) ELLs' performance as compared with all AISD students'…