The specifics
The board of trustees approved the resolution during a regular board meeting on March 4 to speak in opposition to the “retroactive and drastic” mid-year change to the 2022-23 school year performance ratings. NBISD officials support the efforts to reform the Texas Education Agency’s accountability system and are advocating for a rating method that uses more than standardized testing, according to the resolution.
“There were a number of districts who filed a lawsuit against the TEA in the fall; New Braunfels ISD was not part of that lawsuit,” NBISD Superintendent Laurelyn Arterbury said. “But that does not mean that you can't have a voice in this.”
The background
The A-F rating system was implemented by the TEA in the 2017-18 school year. According to the TEA, the system analyzes student achievement and progress, closing performance gaps, career readiness, and community and student engagement alongside the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness performance.
In fall 2023, districts across Texas, including neighboring Comal ISD, joined a lawsuit against the TEA for changing the accountability system without notice. The changes would have resulted in a drop in district's accountability ratings. As a result of the lawsuit, accountability ratings have not been able to be released until the case is seen in court, according to the resolution.
Zooming in
Arterbury said the board’s decision to pass the resolution shows they value academic accountability and believe fair standards should be in place.
“It does not tie us to a lawsuit, but it just speaks publicly on behalf of the 9,800 students in NBISD that you support a fair accountability system for our students,” Arterbury said.
