News Summary
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released the A-F accountability ratings for the 2022-2023 school year, after a lengthy delay caused by lawsuits and COVID-19 impacts. The ratings system, established in 2017, assesses school performance based on updated criteria every five years. This year, changes to evaluation methods have been instituted, especially affecting high schools, leading to varied outcomes across 8,368 campuses. The TEA aims to ensure greater accessibility to these ratings for parents and stakeholders.
Texas Education Agency Releases A-F Accountability Ratings for 2022-2023 School Year
Austin, Texas – The Texas Education Agency (TEA) published the A-F accountability ratings for the 2022-2023 school year on Thursday, following a ruling from the Texas 15th Court of Appeals. This development ends a prolonged delay that stemmed from lawsuits and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The A-F accountability ratings system, which assesses the performance of schools across the state, was established in 2017 by a Texas Legislature bill. Under this framework, the criteria for the ratings are updated every five years, a shift from the previous practice of annual updates prior to 2017.
Key Changes and Rating Distribution
In June 2022, preliminary changes to the accountability criteria were shared with the public, with the final set of guidelines expected to be released between February and March 2023. To prepare school districts for these updates, the TEA provided “What If?” scores in 2022 that projected how districts might fare under the new grading system. These scores impacted approximately 8,368 campuses, revealing a mixed outcome: 43% of these campuses experienced a decline in their scores, 13% noted an increase, while 44% saw no change.
This year, the TEA faced legal challenges, particularly after missing the August 15 deadline for the release of updated criteria. Over 120 school districts filed lawsuits against TEA Commissioner Mike Morath, raising concerns about the accuracy and fairness of the redesigned A-F ratings and the distribution of STAAR test results. Initially, the courts placed a temporary block on releasing the 2023 and 2024 A-F ratings until the appeal court intervened, allowing the 2023 ratings to be made public.
Understanding the A-F Accountability System
The A-F rating system employs a 70-30 formula to evaluate schools, where 70% of the rating is based on student achievement as measured by STAAR test results, while the remaining 30% focuses on school progress and efforts to “close the gaps” among various student groups. An ‘A’ rating signifies consistent performance that aligns with long-term educational goals, whereas a ‘C’ rating represents average performance.
This year’s refresh maintained the STAAR test cut-off points for elementary and middle schools but introduced higher weightage on closing achievement gaps and accelerating instructional methods. For high schools, however, the requirements have become more stringent; the threshold for students meeting college, career, and military readiness (CCMR) increased from 60% to 88%. These adjustments make it easier for elementary and middle schools to achieve an ‘A’ rating but present a steeper challenge for high schools.
Alignment and Accessibility of Ratings
The newly updated ratings have refined how individual campus ratings relate to the overall district rating. Now, the district rating reflects the average of all campus scores, weighted according to student population size. Parents can conveniently check their child’s school or district rating through the TEA website, which offers analytical tools and search functions for greater accessibility.
Looking Ahead
As school districts adjust to these new ratings, the next round of A-F accountability ratings is anticipated to be released on August 15 during the 2024-2025 school year, pending any further legal disputes.
This release of the A-F accountability ratings marks an essential step for Texas schools, allowing them to assess performance, support student learning, and address academic disparities more effectively.
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Additional Resources
- KBTX: TEA Releases 2023 A-F Ratings
- Wikipedia: Texas Education Agency
- Lubbock Online: 2023 TEA Accountability Ratings
- Google Search: Texas Education 2023 A-F ratings
- ABC13: TEA Releases 2022-2023 Accountability Ratings
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education
- KHOU: TEA Delayed 2023 School Accountability Ratings
- Google News: Texas Education Accountability Ratings
