San Antonio holds nearly a third of the state's 1882 schools

Nearly one-third of the 115 schools in Texas operating under Senate Bill 1882 are located in the San Antonio region. These partnerships allow outside groups, such as nonprofits, universities, and charter networks, to run schools within traditional public school districts. The law was passed nearly a decade ago to formalize these deals and provide state incentives.

San Antonio Independent School District and Edgewood ISD were the first local districts to adopt the model after it took effect in 2018. SAISD now operates 26 Texas Partnership schools, the highest number of any district in the state. Edgewood ISD has five such schools. Harlandale ISD and East Central ISD also use 1882 partnerships, while the area's other dozen districts have generally avoided them.

This school year, SAISD and Edgewood signed new contracts with Third Future Schools, a nonprofit known for turning around failing schools. The partnership offers a way to pause the effects of low accountability ratings, helping districts avoid state intervention. SAISD officials plan to make recommendations on Monday regarding the future of 11 of their partnership campuses. Melissa Alcala, an instructional superintendent at SAISD, said the district is weighing parent input and working with partners to meet state academic standards.

Edgewood ISD is taking a different approach by slowly reducing its reliance on outside partners. Last year, the district ended contracts with A&M-San Antonio, the Texas Council for International Studies, and Friends of P-TECH. Theresa Salinas, assistant superintendent of academic services, said the district is pausing new partnerships to build internal capacity. She noted that ending some deals allows the district to retain more control over how it meets community needs.

Local groups and universities operate most of these schools. Partners include UT San Antonio, San Antonio College, St. Phillips College, and A&M-San Antonio. Local nonprofits like Pre-K 4 SA and CAST Schools also run campuses. CAST operates five partnership schools and is expanding its footprint with other districts. A&M-San Antonio recently began operating an alternative education program at Frank M. Tejeda Academy in Harlandale ISD.

State politics are also influencing these decisions. Recent midterm elections gave Democrats control of the Texas House, though the Senate remains under Republican control. New state leaders have focused on school vouchers and funding rather than repealing SB 1882. Meanwhile, declining student enrollment is prompting districts to reevaluate their strategies. Some districts are using state grants to launch unique programs without handing over full control to outside partners.

Northside ISD recently rejected a proposal to convert its CAST Teach magnet program into an 1882 school. Board president Sonia Jasso said local oversight is important. She argued that while the partnerships provide additional funding, districts must consider the cost of giving up operational responsibilities to outside organizations.