Texas Schools Halt A to F Ratings Amid Legal Battle

A Texas judge has issued a temporary restraining order halting the release of A-F ratings for schools and districts, following a lawsuit from several school districts claiming that the ratings could cause them irreparable harm. The plaintiffs argue that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) failed to independently validate state assessments, as required by Texas Education Code, thus invalidating the test scores. The judge determined that the TEA would not suffer harm from the delay, allowing the pause until a hearing scheduled for August 26.

The controversy centers on the methodology used for scoring, particularly for extended writing assessments, which were computer-scored without independent validation. The school districts contend that the lack of validation undermines the reliability of the scores, which could misrepresent student performance.

Despite the ongoing legal issues, local education officials emphasized the importance of multiple data sources for assessing student performance, noting that the STAR assessments are just one part of a broader community-based accountability system. They reported that Alamo Heights students continue to perform above state averages in various subjects, although math scores across Texas remain concerningly low.

The meeting also highlighted recent STAR assessment results, revealing improvements in reading scores compared to pre-pandemic levels, while math scores showed stagnation. Writing scores, which are part of the contention in the restraining order, indicated a rise in performance, although some high schools reported a significant percentage of non-scorable responses.

As the situation develops, education leaders remain focused on ensuring that students receive the support they need, regardless of the ongoing legal challenges surrounding state assessments.