Texas Schools Receive 2023 A-F Ratings After Legal Delays and Controversy

Release of 2023 Texas School Ratings

• 📌 The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released the 2023 A-F accountability ratings for schools and school districts.
• ⚠️ This release follows a significant 19-month legal battle concerning changes to how the ratings are calculated.

Overall Decline in Ratings

• 📉 Data indicates that the 2023 ratings have decreased overall compared to 2022.
• 📊 The primary reason cited for this decline is a drop in student academic growth rates.

District Reactions and Controversy

• 🏫 Houston ISD received a C rating, Tomball ISD an A, and Aldine ISD a D.
• 📣 Katy ISD is notably speaking out against its B rating, attributing the issue to flawed metrics rather than a lack of academic merit.
• 🗣️ Katy ISD's superintendent expressed disappointment, stating that student outcomes in reading, math, and science actually improved, contradicting the downgrade.

Concerns Over Changed Benchmarks

• ⚖️ The Texas State Teachers Association views the ratings as a "gotcha" for educators.
• 📈 A key point of controversy is that the benchmarks for achieving higher ratings were raised for the 2022-2023 school year without sufficient notice.
• 🏛️ Several districts sued, claiming they would receive lower grades due to these unannounced changes. A judge initially found the TEA's changes unlawful, but the agency appealed.

Advocacy for Systemic Change

• 📢 The Houston Federation of Teachers is advocating for a different system, suggesting that changes must be made through the legislature to alter the laws and regulations governing the TEA.
• 🔗 Parents can find their school or district's ratings on the TEA website via a link available on khou.com.