The state agency publicly released its A-F accountability ratings for Texas school districts April 24. The release of the scores was stalled for two years after more than 100 school districts sued the TEA over changes to the A-F rating system.
On April 3, a state judge ruled that the TEA could release ratings for the 2022-23 school year.
The overview
Each school year, the TEA’s accountability system rates districts from A-F based on student achievement, school progress and closing the gaps for certain student populations, such as racial and socioeconomic groups. The ratings factor in State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness scores; student preparedness for college, career and military service; and graduation rates.
For the 2022-23 school year, GISD received an overall C rating of 75 out 100 compared to a B rating of 82 the year prior.
Of 17 rated campuses, GISD schools received the following scores:
- 1 received an A
- 4 received a B
- 5 received a C
- 4 received a D
- 3 received a F
Something to note
The TEA also published “what if” scores for the 2021-22 school year, reflecting how schools would have performed under the current accountability system that became effective in the 2022-23 school year.
GISD received a C “what if” score of 72 in 2022. According to TEA data, the district would’ve seen improvements in its overall score from 2022 to 2023 if it was graded under the same accountability system.
The backstory
Schools have not received complete A-F ratings since 2019. Accountability ratings were not issued at all in 2020 or 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic. In 2022, schools that received a C or lower were deemed “not rated” as they recovered from pandemic-related learning loss.
In 2023, the TEA introduced a “refreshed” A-F rating system that changed how ratings were calculated “to more accurately reflect performance,” according to a TEA news release. Districts argued the agency made “unlawful” changes to the system that they said would result in lower ratings despite indications that performance had improved, according to court documents.
The changes raised the bar for schools to receive an A based on the college, career and military readiness of students from 60% to 88%, a 28 percentage point increase, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath told reporters the changes better reflect “how well schools close the gaps between students and how well they're accelerating students, basically catching students up to grade level.”
Campus performance declined statewide between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years. Of the 8,368 campuses given both 2022 “what if” scores and 2023 ratings, 44% received the same grade, 13% received a higher grade in 2023, and 43% received a lower grade in 2023, Morath said.
The impact
Around 41% of rated GISD campuses received a D or F rating. The TEA may intervene and require the district to implement improvement plans at these campuses, according to the TEA’s website.
If a campus receives a failing grade for five consecutive years, the TEA commissioner must close the campus or appoint a board of managers to replace the board of trustees.
What they’re saying
“Accountability works—the public issuance of ratings for school systems does positively affect the academic and life outcomes of children,” Morath told reporters on April 22. “We do this because it helps children. ... When we don't do it, you don't get the benefits of those public ratings, and it is very logical to then presume that performance declines as a result.”
In a letter to GISD families, Superintendent Devin Padavil said the district is proud of the daily work occurring in its classrooms. GISD is improving its curriculum and resources to “support the hard work” of teachers and staff, he said.
“In Georgetown ISD, we embrace accountability in the sense that we have high expectations for the learning of our students,” Padavil said. “We want the results to reflect the incredible quality of educators who serve the children of this community. We are guided by a vision of inspiring and empowering every learner to lead, grow and serve. That means creating learning experiences that are meaningful, inclusive and driven by a commitment to excellence.”
Stay tuned
The TEA remains blocked from issuing ratings for the 2023-24 school year due to a separate lawsuit, which is pending in the state appeals court.
Morath said he plans to release ratings for the 2024-25 school year Aug. 15, per state law.
Hannah Norton contributed to this article.
