Burnet and Webb middle schools in Austin ISD have each received five consecutive F ratings from the state, a streak that could trigger a Texas Education Agency takeover of the entire district. In September, Mayor Kirk Watson proposed a Parent Petition for Action as a way to keep intervention at bay, and volunteers spent recent weeks collecting signatures at both campuses, with Thursday marking the deadline to deliver them to the superintendent. From there, the petition has to reach the TEA by December 1 before it gets any consideration.

The effort has also stirred up tension among parents. Webb Middle School PTA President Vanessa Gámez said she understood the Austin Council of PTAs would provide information, not send people to approach parents and solicit signatures in that manner. Austin Council of PTAs President Crystal Brothwell Hernandez said the group is very close to reaching its goal, though official numbers may not be available until after the board meeting. Meanwhile, at least one Burnet parent declined to sign, saying families still lack enough information and noting that a petition doesn’t guarantee the state stays out.

For families across the district, the stakes are real. A takeover could reshape how thousands of students are taught and how their schools are run, and confusion over the petition process isn’t helping anyone make a confident decision. What would you want to know before signing something like this? Let us know in the comments.