Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Waco ISD superintendent warns of voucher bill, criticizes TEA mid‑year accountability changes
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Spicer updated trustees on legislative activity — noting the Senate advanced SB2 (education savings accounts) — and criticized the Texas Education Agency for introducing STAAR and A–F accountability changes mid‑year and employing AI in scoring without timely disclosure.
Superintendent Dr. Spicer used her report to brief trustees on several near‑term items and to raise concerns about state decisions affecting district schools. She told the board the Senate voted 19–12 to advance a House version of Senate Bill 2 creating education savings accounts (school vouchers) and acknowledged the district cannot yet predict the bill’s full local impact.
“Just today, the senate voted 19 to 12 to advance the house version of senate bill 2, the bill creating an education savings account or a school voucher,” Dr. Spicer said. She said district staff will continue to monitor the legislature and assess potential impacts.
Dr. Spicer and trustees also criticized recent changes by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to STAAR test scoring and the A–F accountability methodology. She said the agency introduced methods — including use of artificial intelligence in scoring — after the academic year had begun, leaving districts without a clear baseline and little time to adapt. “These labels do not capture the heart of what our schools do every day to educate, to nurture, and to support our students,” she said, urging the public to consider the broader context when viewing A–F ratings.
Trustees echoed frustration, urging community contact with legislators and pledging to continue advocating for full funding of public schools. Board members said they will set district goals now that scoring rules are known and pursue strategies to help schools reflect their performance under the new system.
