We, the undersigned, call on the Austin ISD Board of Trustees to protect bilingual education programs, dual language campuses, and the teachers who serve emergent bilingual students in our community.

On June 18, 2026, the board votes on a budget that threatens:

— Bilingual and special education teacher stipends
— Four dual language receiving campuses serving displaced students from Becker, Reilly, Ridgetop, and Sunset Valley
— 558 positions district-wide, twice the number originally projected

Austin ISD faces a $181 million deficit. We understand the fiscal reality. But we do not accept that the cost should fall hardest on the students least able to absorb it.

The Texas Education Agency released Spring 2026 STAAR results this week. Economically disadvantaged students — the children in our bilingual programs — improved in every subject tested. Biology up 10 points. Algebra up 7. These programs are working.

We are asking the board to:

1. Protect bilingual and special education stipends in the final budget
2. Ensure no dual language program is eliminated without full board approval and community input
3. Implement the Gibson Consulting audit recommendations — $63.1 million identified, only $9.6 million implemented — before cutting classroom programs

The board has a legal and moral obligation to these children. We will be watching on June 18.

Signed,
Parents, educators, and community members of Austin ISD