The Texas Education Agency (TEA) today released the final 2017 state academic accountability ratings for more than 1,200 school districts and charters and more than 8,600 campuses. The final ratings include the results of an appeals process that provides districts and charters an opportunity to contest preliminary ratings.
Preliminary state accountability ratings were announced by TEA in August. The Texas Education Code requires the commissioner of education to provide a process for districts and charters to challenge their accountability ratings. School district appeals are first carefully reviewed by an independent appeals panel before being sent to the commissioner for a final decision.
The Texas Education Agency received 66 school district and campus-level appeals in 2017, compared to 104 in 2016, 72 in 2015, and 90 in 2014.
Two of 14 district appeals were granted by the commissioner. The final district ratings for Grandfalls-Royalty ISD and Ranger ISD were changed from Improvement Required to Met Standard.
Under the final 2017 ratings, more than 90 percent of school districts and charters across Texas achieved the rating of Met Standard. Districts, campuses, and charters receive one of three ratings under the state’s accountability system: Met Standard, Met Alternative Standard, or Improvement Required.
The 2017 ratings are based on a system of indices that provides a comprehensive evaluation of the performance of a district or charter and each individual campus throughout the state. The performance index framework includes four areas: student achievement, student progress, closing performance gaps, and postsecondary readiness. An overview of the accountability system can be found at https://tea.texas.gov/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?
Parents and the general public seeking a quick overview of the state accountability system and what goes into the annual ratings of schools, districts, and charters can watch an informational animated video at http://youtu.be/cbEgrdijuc8.
This is the last year that academic accountability ratings will be based on the four-index framework. Beginning with the 2017–18 school year, both districts and campuses will be rated on the new domain system established by House Bill 22 (85th Texas Legislature, 2017).
Next year, districts will receive grades of A, B, C, D, or F, and campuses will receive Met Standard, Met Alternative Standard, or Improvement Required labels. Campuses will begin receiving A–F grades in the 2018–19 school year.
To view the 2017 state accountability ratings for districts, charters, and campuses (that include a listing of any distinction designations earned at the campus and district level), visit the Texas Education Agency website at http://tea.texas.gov/2017accountability.aspx.