According to public media in Houston, the state court of appeals unblocked Thursday regarding the release of Texas Educational Institutions’ school accountability assessments.
Texas adopted the accountability system in 2017, using standardized test scores for schools and districts on the A-F scale, including factors such as university preparation and standardized test scores. Parents can use ratings when choosing a school for their children, and states can use them to assess school and district performance.
That was what the state did in 2023, and after the high school achieved some grades, it controlled the state’s largest school district, the Houston Independent School District. Texas removed the district’s trustees and appointed its own supervision.
That same year, tea commissioner Mike Moreto changed the standard for top accountability ratings. Previously, the district could have earned an A rating if 60% of students were deemed career or college ready, but that year he revised the threshold to 88% of students.
More than 120 school districts in Texas have sued tea, claiming that schools have not been informed enough about the change. Shortly afterwards, a Travis County judge blocked the release of the state’s school rating system.
The 15th Texas Court of Appeals Thursday’s decision overturned that decision and found that Morath has the authority to issue ratings whether or not previous deadlines have been met.
As reported in Houston’s public media, the courts do not provide a “precise deadline for adoption or explanation of recruitment standards.”
Tea was eager to the verdict in a statement, saying that it would “restore clear lenses to district and campus performances in 2023.” The attorney representing the school district in the case did not respond to HPM’s request for comment.
Lt. Colonel Dan Patrick also praised the ruling, calling the new system of accountability “one of the best tools to create competition and excellence.”
The state has not issued an accountability assessment since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and separate pending lawsuits.
In 2024, another school district filed a lawsuit against Tea to implement a computer system to assess the state’s standardized testing, leading to another Travis County judge blocking the release of the 2024 accountability results. These records have not been released yet.
The legislative meeting, Mike Miles, the state appointed overseer of Houston ISD, testified in support of the 1962 Senate Bill. As of Thursday, the bill had been recommended by the Senate Education Committee.
