Innovative Schools…
for a creative economy.
Leaders of Central Texas Interfaith (then known as Austin Interfaith):
- Engage business and political leaders in developing a comprehensive strategy for education and workforce (pre-k-16, community college, university, after school programs, college scholarships, adult job training and vocational training).
- Work to maintain funding for full-day Pre-K for all students on a sliding scale.
- Hold school districts accountable to preparing students for the skills needed in the new economy.
- Broaden performance standards beyond standardized tests to include graduation rates, college readiness, and workforce placement; this would require changing instruction and impacting federal, state, and school district policy.
- Develop strategies to make college more affordable for all students.
- Develop a constituency of parents, teachers, school employees, and community members to support public education.
In 2014, in partnership with Education Austin, Central Texas Interfaith (then known as Austin Interfaith) created an Innovation District in which administrators, teachers, school staff, parents, and community members can shape curriculum, allocate finances and decide school policy with relational autonomy. This effort was supported unanimously by the school board after witnessing a historic school election at Travis Heights Elementary School in which over 90% of teachers and parents supported the joint effort.
2013 PRESS
August 27, 2013
Austin Interfaith's First In-District Charter Leads the Way
"The switch at Travis Heights has been in the making for nearly three years. Austin Interfaith, a coalition of schools, churches and unions, and district labor group Education Austin …reached out to 100 campuses before they found a partner in Travis Heights willing to become a charter.
Their volunteers then went door-to-door, garnering support and hosting school meetings to find out what parents and teachers wanted in a school. They reached 90 percent of the school’s households and got 99 percent support from parents and 97 percent support from staff…."
[Photo Credit: Ralph Barrera, Austin American Statesman]
Switch to Charter Means More Innovation at Travis Heights, Austin American Statesman
How Travis Heights Elementary Could Change Schools in Austin, KUT News
AISD's First Homegrown Charter School Promises Real Life Lessons, KVUE & KHOU