Unity Prep Assumed Operations of Stewart Elementary
The transition took effect July 1, 2026, marking a change in management for the San Antonio campus.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Administration
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Unity Prep officially took over operations of Stewart Elementary on July 1, 2026, following the departure of Democracy Prep. The shift follows the district's long-term strategy to manage underperforming campuses through outside partnerships.
Why it matters
The change aims to keep resources and decision-making authority within the local community. San Antonio ISD initially began partnering with external groups to bypass state penalties tied to poor academic ratings.
Stewart Elementary received $514,090 in extra funding for the 2025-26 school year. The school, which maintains a high population of emergent bilingual students, recently held a D state rating.
The players
Unity Prep
This organization is a charter school operator now managing operations at Stewart Elementary.
Democracy Prep
This charter network previously operated the Stewart campus from 2019 until the summer of 2026.
San Antonio ISD
The local school district oversees partnerships with outside operators to address academic performance.
Texas Education Agency
This state agency regulates and approves partnerships between school districts and external operators.
The details
Under the new management contract, Unity Prep has established its own local human resources and finance teams to support the campus. The agreement also grants Unity Prep exclusive authority to hire teachers for the school.
Timeline
Senate Bill 1882 was passed in 2017.
SAISD signed a 10-year partnership contract in 2018.
Unity Prep took over school operations on July 1, 2026.
Students returned to the Unity Prep campus in August 2026.
The SAISD contract with Unity Prep is set to expire in 2028.
Roadmap
This transition aligns with the implementation of Senate Bill 1882, which provides school districts the authority to partner with outside operators. Such arrangements are intended to improve academic outcomes at campuses that struggle under traditional management.
Parents and students should expect new administrative oversight at Stewart Elementary as Unity Prep assumes control of hiring and operations. The local community will look for stability and academic improvement as the new management takes hold.
The takeaway
Communities often see shifts in charter partnerships as districts prioritize local control to address specific academic needs. Families should monitor updates from the district regarding future performance benchmarks at the school.
What happens next
SAISD is scheduled to reevaluate the contract renewal for the Stewart campus in 2028.
Further reading
For more on district operations, see Administration.
Source note: This article includes information reported by San Antonio Report.
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