Austin’s AI School, AISD’s Equity Issues, and More Back-to-School News
Austin-area students are back in school, but things are looking a little different this year in classrooms. While the new Texas law requiring schools to display the 10 Commandments is on hold at Austin Independent School District, the law banning cellphones during the school day is in full effect. Three AISD campuses are going through changes to stave off closures for poor performance, and a slew of others are facing closures to help the district fight off a $19.7 million budget deficit. There’s still another year before Texas students will be eligible for school vouchers, but even now, new and innovative private schools — like the AI-driven Alpha School — are coming to town. Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by Community Impact’s education reporter Chloe Young and Sharon Jayson, a local independent reporter who recently wrote about the district’s new equity assessment for the Austin Free Press, to discuss it all.
Learn more about the sponsors of this September 3rd episode:
Want some more Austin news? Then make sure to sign up for our Hey Austin newsletter.
And don’t forget– you can support this show and get great perks by becoming a City Cast Austin Neighbor at membership.citycast.fm
Follow us @citycastaustin
You can also text us or leave a voicemail.
Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info HERE
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Austin and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
An Update From City Cast Austin
The City Cast Austin podcast is taking a brief break over the next few months to regroup and develop some new concepts. In the meantime,...

City’s Controversial Encampment Crackdown, Firefighter Wins in Court, & Austin’s Viral Owlet
The City of Austin is considering changing how it responds to homeless encampments, including deploying daily cleanup teams. But after a...

Is Austin Really a Blues City?
Decades ago, Stevie Ray Vaughan brought the Texas Blues to town — but since then, Austin has birthed a well-known blues festival and kept...

What You Don’t Know About Austin’s Trees
Austin’s tree canopy is something to be proud of — even more so if you don’t zoom in. Did you know that the disparities between East Aust...

Could Austin Lose $2.5M in State Grants? Plus, Rowdy Spring Weather and Unhappy Northeasterners
On today’s Tuesday News Roundup, host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec and Grace Reader, the city hall and...

Why AISD’s Deficit Just Keeps Getting Worse
The Austin Independent School District recently shared the troubling news that its deficit could balloon to $181 million next year, even...

Red River's Glow-Up, City Threatens Overpaid Workers, & Reggae Fest
The Red River Cultural District has unveiled a plan to revamp its so-called "Music Mile," a 10-block stretch from 15th to 5th streets. Th...

Are Austinites Happy?
Austin is officially the 39th happiest city in America to live in, according to a recent WalletHub survey. But what does that even mean?...

There’s More to Austin BBQ Than Franklin
Southern Living magazine has once again crowned Franklin Barbecue as the best in Texas, which made us wonder — is it? Host Nikki DaVaughn...

What the Data Center Boom Means for Texas. Plus, East Austin Shooting & Renaming Cesar Chavez St
State lawmakers held a hearing last week to examine the rise and impact of data centers in Texas, looking at both the economic benefits a...

