Texas public school districts can now access their A–F accountability ratings for the 2022–23 school year after the Fifteenth Court of Appeals overturned a previous injunction, allowing the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to release the data.
The case to release the 2024 A-F accountability ratings is pending with the 15th Court of Appeals after a judge blocked the TEA from doing so. More than 30 school districts filed a separate lawsuit alleging that the STAAR test’s redesign unfairly relied on automated grading methods to score essays, which disproportionately impacted Black students.
More than 120 school districts sued the TEA in August 2023 to stop it from revamping its calculations for accountability ratings, based on students’ performances in standardized tests. Cy-Fair ISD, Humble ISD, Klein ISD and Spring ISD claimed TEA’s Commissioner of Education Mike Morath attempted to issue ratings after the Texas Education Code’s statutory deadline (Aug. 15), using updated standards after the school year ended.
Morath’s new formula required schools to achieve stricter criteria to receive an A grade, including higher scores on standardized tests like the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR). Per the new calculations, high schools could get an A grade only if 88% of their seniors enrolled in college, pursued a non-college career or entered the military, which was previously capped at 60%.
A Travis County judge found that the changes were unlawful and would harm the school districts, issuing an injunction.
On Oct. 5, 2023, Morath challenged the court injunction. However, the trial court ruled in favor of blocking school accountability ratings.
Morath appealed the decision. In April, an appeals court ruled that the trial court erred by not dismissing the school districts’ lawsuit.
The appeals court further emphasized that Texas law requires annual school performance ratings, which haven’t been issued for the past five years due to the pandemic and temporary injunctions issued by two Travis County courts.
Additionally, the court found Morath acted within his legal authority (Chapter 39 of the Texas Education Code) and he can set the A–F accountability standards retroactively after a school year ends, as the law prioritizes the existence of ratings over strict deadlines.
The court noted that while ratings can be challenging for schools, increasing standards is part of the law’s intent. It rejected the school districts’ request to cancel 2022–23 ratings, stating that the decision lies solely with Morath, not schools, districts, or courts.
Earlier, the school districts argued the 2023 ratings were invalid because the new STAAR tests were not evaluated by an “independent body.” The appeals court also upheld the legitimacy of the Texas Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), confirming it meets the independence requirement despite being appointed by the Commissioner.
A TEA spokesperson called the ruling “an important victory” that restores transparency into the 2023 district and campus performance.
“Yet, there is still a second lawsuit that denies parents and the public access to 2024 accountability ratings,” the spokesperson added. “[The] TEA remains hopeful that the best interests of students, families and communities will prevail in this second suit and will share additional information on the issuance of 2023 A-F ratings soon.”
School districts react
Appearing before the 89th legislative session, HISD Superintendent Mike Miles spoke in favor of accountability ratings (Senate Bill 1962), which would amend the Texas Education Code to limit school districts’ ability to legally challenge the state’s ratings in court.
“A high-performance culture requires raising expectations and developing a mindset of continuous improvement; it also requires rigorous accountability,” Miles told the Texas Senate Committee on Education. “Accountability without support just breeds a culture of fear, but accountability with strong support leads to a high-performance culture.”
HISD also released its own accountability ratings for 2023 and 2024, claiming the district’s schools improved drastically a year into the TEA takeover of HISD.
Michelle Williams, president of the Houston Education Association, said TEA’s accountability ratings will confirm if HISD’s assessment was accurate.
“Mike Miles said HISD did all these wonderful things and these schools did go from an ‘F’ to an ‘A,’” Williams said. “I’m anxious to see what is actually the ratings these schools have.”
Veronica Garcia, executive director of Houstonians for Great Public Schools, said the accountability ratings ensure transparency.
“Without a clear, consistent measurement system, we can’t track gains in our schools or identify where students need the most support,” Garcia said. “For Houston ISD, continued improvement is key to restoring local leadership and shaping the district’s future.”
Aldine ISD noted its response to the 15th Court of Appeals’ decision to reverse the trial court’s ruling in a statement to the Defender.
“While this ruling could have implications on how school districts across the state are rated and evaluated, Aldine ISD will continue to focus on providing our students with a dynamic and unparalleled education that guarantees choices and opportunities today and in the future. We are proud of our educators and administrators who strive daily to create an environment where every student is prepared to succeed in college, career, and life,” the statement read.
