Paxton Investigating Austin Independent School District Over CRT

Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has announced an investigation against the Austin Independent School District (AISD), accusing the district of violating state law by promoting elements of Critical Race Theory (CRT) in its curriculum.

In a press release issued this week, Attorney General Paxton revealed that his office is seeking to depose AISD Superintendent Matias Segura and members of the district’s Board of Trustees as part of a formal investigation.

The investigation follows reports that AISD employees allegedly made statements supporting materials related to the controversial 1619 Project and suggested there were ways to circumvent the state’s CRT ban.

The 1619 Project is the New York Times’ initiative that reframes American history around the legacy of slavery.

Texas lawmakers passed legislation in 2021 restricting how race and history can be taught in public schools, specifically banning the use of CRT-related concepts and any curriculum derived from the 1619 Project.

“It’s outrageous that Austin ISD officials think they can ignore state law to put woke indoctrination in Texas classrooms,” the attorney general said in a statement. “We will fully investigate the district’s policies involving the teaching of illegal CRT curriculum to make sure state law is enforced.”

Attorney General Paxton claims that district leaders are directly involved in shaping classroom policy and may have knowingly allowed content in violation of Texas law. His office asserts that the legal action is necessary to ensure compliance and accountability.

Austin ISD has not issued a formal response to the announcement, but the district has previously defended its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in education.

The investigation marks the latest chapter in the ongoing clash between Texas Republicans and local school districts over how issues of race and history are addressed in the classroom.

The attorney general, who is currently running for the senate, previously sued Coppell ISD, accusing them of teaching a "woke" and "hateful" curriculum.