AISD weighs charter schools Mon. night

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Monday night is the final public hearing before the Austin school board concerning the Facilities Master Plan.

One of the big components is an in-district charter school.

District officials currently believe they lose about $26 million a year in state funding to students going to charter schools outside of the Austin Independent School District -- one reason why they are looking into starting this new program.

Three schools are on the list to become charter schools :

• Alan Elementary
• Martin Middle School
• Eastside Memorial High School.

The district would utilize the IDEA charter schools to run the program. They are based in South Texas, and the program is designed to get students ready for college.

In the last five years, all of the students who have attended the IDEA school have been accepted to college. Some 90 percent have completed a college degree.

"I think the reality is: We lose many many kids to charter schools today," said board president Mark Williams. "So, many families are choosing charter as a program for their kids. If we can provide that choice within the public school system, so those kids are ours and we're working together collaboratively."

Monday night’s public hearing gets under way at 6 p.m at AISD Headquarters on West Sixth Street. Those who want to speak can sign up at 5 p.m.

The board will take a final vote on the Facilities Master Plan on Dec. 12.