Hinojosa, who served on the Austin ISD Board of Trustees from 2012 to 2015, won the governor's race decisively last week. Her victory came after two North Austin middle schools received their fifth consecutive failing ratings in August, triggering a state law that compels intervention and potentially the loss of local control over the district.

"I think what it means for Texas schools is that we have a state government that is committed to public schools as a public good," said Lynn Boswell, president of the Austin ISD school board, speaking on election night as an individual rather than for the board. "That is committed to doing what it really takes to get education right."

On the campaign trail, Hinojosa was vocal in her opposition to state takeovers of local districts. Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath has taken over Houston and Fort Worth ISDs in the past three years, replacing locally elected school boards with TEA-appointed managers. On election night, Hinojosa vowed to fire Morath, though his current term runs through January 10, 2027.

"We are taking our children's education back from a government that has failed them. Schools will not be taken out of our control. They will not be shuttered or suffocated," Hinojosa declared. "Being a parent is hard enough without carrying the burden of a government's failures."

Hinojosa has also criticized the state's A-F accountability system, which grades schools and districts largely based on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness exam, which is partially graded by artificial intelligence.

David DeMatthews, a professor in UT-Austin's Department of Educational Leadership and Policy, said current state law still requires intervention in Austin ISD. "I think what that intervention looks like will probably be quite different under Gina Hinojosa and a new commissioner than Greg Abbott and Mike Morath," he said.

With 20 F-rated campuses in 2026, DeMatthews said the district has significant room for improvement. He suggested the state work with Austin ISD to evaluate campus improvement plans for schools close to triggering even one failing rating.

"Certainly, I think there is a need for a bit of a more hands-on approach, but I don't think that justifies replacing a school board or superintendent, or closing schools," he added.

Arati Singh, an eight-year Austin ISD trustee whose term ends this month, said she is confident Hinojosa's victory will allow the district to keep its elected board and that intervention could look "more supportive, less punitive, and more democratic."

"It also means the school board may revise our internal district success metrics to expand beyond test scores and address the whole child," Singh wrote.

At the end of October, the Austin ISD board presented a list of legislative priorities for the 90th session, asking for increased state funding, protection of librarians' ability to curate their own collections, and reforms to recapture payments, charter school evaluation, and A-F accountability ratings. Boswell said the list will likely be revisited.

"I think this is a moment to think about whether those are exactly right, or whether we need to rethink them," she said. "It's exciting to think about. And you know, I think our state has gotten a lot of things right, but our schools wouldn't be struggling if our state hadn't also gotten a lot of things wrong."

DeMatthews argued the state's oversight role should not be reduced but that Texas should be "equally as responsible as school districts" for student success.

"Right now, we have a state that has not adequately funded education. We have a state where, no matter where you look, there are teacher shortages, uncertified teachers, and vacancies," he said. "What I would like to see is not that school districts have less accountability from the state, but that the state is also transparent and accountable for doing its part."

He emphasized that a primary problem with the A-F system is its over-reliance on STAAR scores and the need for the TEA to identify multiple measures to evaluate schools. "We want to have a system of accountability and transparency that is oriented towards improvement and not punishment," he added.

DeMatthews said Hinojosa faces a huge task in repairing years of damage from underfunding. "Texas is pretty far behind," he said. "I don't think the question is whether or not she will be able to effectively advocate for increased public school funding, but can she get enough to really make a dent — especially after years of the state failing to keep pace?"

Singh noted that Hinojosa and the now Democrat-majority State Board of Education can influence the state's academic curriculum and charter school system. Public school advocates have criticized the previous board's approval of Bible-infused curriculum and wide approval of new charter operators.

"Governor Hinojosa's TEA head is likely to stop the irresponsible expansion of ineffective charter schools that has plagued our cities," Singh wrote. "This act alone would save taxpayers millions and prevent the closure of traditional public schools that would otherwise thrive with increased investment."

Singh also pointed to the 15th Court of Appeals, where three Abbott-appointed judges were ousted by Democrats. "With the flipping of the 15th Court of Appeals, I believe school districts will have real legal recourse against state agencies if needed," she wrote.

Boswell emphasized that whatever Hinojosa accomplishes will build on the work of longtime advocates. "And I think it's very exciting to think about, what more could be done? How can we do that together in the state?"