After a long delay due to a lawsuit filed by about 100 school districts, Texas Educational Institutions have announced its 2023 AF Accountability Rating.
“For too long, families, educators and communities have been denied access to information about school performance, thanks to frivolous lawsuits paid by taxes filed by those who opposed the statutory goal of raising career preparation expectations to help students.”
Another ongoing lawsuit delayed the release of recent ratings from the 20232024 school year. School Performance Evaluations for the 20242025 academic year are scheduled to be published in August.
In the 2023 school year, about half of Texas schools won an A or B, with about 14% earning a D, and 7% received an FS, Dallas Morning News reported.
To view 2023 AF ratings for all Texas public school districts or campuses, visit txschools.gov. The state’s insurance crisis is hit by harsh weather from hurricanes, and property insurance costs are rising sharply as other weather events do not spare state public schools, the Houston Chronicle reported. District insurance costs have increased statewide 44% over the past five years, according to the TEA.
The problem is particularly severe in coastal areas hit by hurricanes and severe storms. Some of the major school finance packages that passed the House in April will reimburse 14 coastal county school districts for an increase in insurance above the state average.
Another bill, introduced by state legislator R-Corpus Christi, gives coastal county districts credit for paying for recapture of wind and hail coverage.
“You don’t want to be educated because you’re worried about getting money to cover the building for your kids,” Hunter said.
Abbott signs Texas law. The Texas office of regulatory efficiency is set to become law after Gov. Greg Abbott signed the law last week. The state office aims to eliminate state government waste, fraud and corruption, mimics the federal government efficiency (DOGE).
The office will be launched in 2026 with a two-year operating budget of $10 million.
“Texas has its own Doge known as the Texas Department of Regulatory Efficiency,” Abbott said. “The law will cut regulations, set strict standards for new regulations that could be expensive for businesses, and check the growth of administrative states.”
The new office also works to reduce state regulations that they deem obsolete or unnecessary.
The U.S. Small Business Administration approved Abbott’s request for a disaster declaration for a Northeast Texas community that suffered from tornadoes and bad weather earlier this month. The declaration includes Bowie, Camp, Cass, Marion, Morris, Red River, Titus, and Upshule County. This approval will allow homeowners, renters and businesses to access many low-interest loans in affected communities. Applicants can apply online by calling sba.gov/disaster or (800) 659-2955.
