Early Voting Favors Two Austin ISD Board Candidates
Families in Districts 6 and 7 should track final results as the district works through its deficit and state takeover risk.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Administration
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Early voting totals show Sarah Dille leading in Austin ISD District 6 and Laurie Solis leading in District 7 for seats on the nine-seat school board. Totals may still change as Election Day votes are counted.
Why it matters
Austin ISD is grappling with a fiscal deficit and the threat of a state takeover, so the board members elected will shape decisions that affect families across Austin. Austin ISD administrators closed Paredes Middle School weeks before the new school year to avoid a fifth failing accountability rating.
Early voting gives Dille 60% in District 6 and Solis 60% in District 7, with the candidates competing for one of nine seats on the Austin ISD school board. Election Day totals will determine the final outcome.
The players
Sarah Dille
A candidate for Austin ISD District 6 school board with 25 years of education experience.
Laurie Solis
A candidate for Austin ISD District 7 school board leading early voting totals.
Texas Education Agency
The state agency that rates Texas schools and reassigned Paredes Middle School's failing history to Bailey Middle School.
The details
Austin ISD administrators said Paredes Middle School was closed to avoid a fifth failing accountability rating this school year. The Texas Education Agency reassigned Paredes Middle School's failing history to Bailey Middle School, which is a B-rated school in District 7 and received most of Paredes's students. Bailey Middle School must receive a rating of D or higher from the TEA this year to avoid triggering the state's intervention law.
Timeline
Paredes Middle School was shuttered weeks before the start of the 2026-27 school year.
Bailey Middle School must earn a D or higher from the TEA this school year.
Early voting totals for the Austin ISD school board races were released on November 3, 2026.
The Home Front
Austin's school-board races come as the district faces financial strain and the threat of state intervention under Texas accountability rules. Families weighing neighborhood school options in Austin are watching how these ratings and closures unfold.
If your child attends or may attend Bailey or Paredes Middle School, check the school's accountability rating and enrollment information with Austin ISD before the year proceeds. Keep track of the school board results, since the new board members will influence budget and school-closure decisions.
The takeaway
School closures and board elections in Austin ISD are tied to the district's financial and accountability pressures. Note your school's TEA rating and follow the final Election Day results before the new board takes office.
Further reading
For broader context on how districts are run, see Administration coverage on school leadership and budgets.
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