District and school targets
The new accountability ratings for public schools were released by the Texas Education Agency this summer. In August, districts and campuses received ratings of Met Standard, Met Alternative Standard or Improvement Required based on student State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness and end-of-course exam results from the 2014-15 school year and other indicators. Students began taking STAAR and end-of-course exams in 2012, but during the 2013 legislative session lawmakers reduced the number of end-of-course exams from 15 to five. High school students are required to pass algebra I, U.S. history, biology, English I and English II end-of-course exams before graduating.
