What they’re saying
NISD has questioned the TEA’s decisions in the past for making significant changes to student and school performance measures while at the same time changing the accountability system.
In a statement, NISD officials said they remain steadfast in their belief that significant overhauls to the STAAR and the accountability system should not take place during the same year. Such simultaneous changes call into question the validity of both systems. Additionally, district officials said they do not believe a single-day assessment defines a student’s or school's success.
In a statement from KISD, Chief Communications Officer Bryce Nieman said district officials are glad to see the TEA is taking the time to re-evaluate its calculation of its A-F accountability ratings.
“We hope that the eventual ratings accurately reflect the success of our students,” Nieman said.
What’s happening
According to a news release, the TEA is delaying the release of A-F accountability ratings for Texas school districts and campuses to review student data and re-evaluate the methodology used in calculating these ratings.
Zooming in
According to the TEA, the A-F rating system is a tool that evaluates how well districts and campuses help students reach certain learning goals. A-F ratings must balance multiple objectives to ensure a rigorous, transparent and fair system. The ratings are based on:
- Student Achievement: how well all students have learned certain academic content
- School Progress: how much all students have gained academically over the course of the year
- Closing the Gaps: how well schools raise academic performance among certain groups of students
