Texas releases school accountability data suppressed during 2-year legal battle 

In a win for school accountability, Texas finally published its 2022-23 school district grades after the injunction preventing their release was lifted. 

The injunction was lifted April 3, nearly two years after a lawsuit was filed in 2023 by over 120 Texas districts that complained they weren’t given enough notice about the update in accountability standards. The grades were published last week. 

“For far too long, families, educators and communities have been denied access to information about the performance of their schools, thanks to frivolous lawsuits paid for by tax dollars filed by those who disagreed with the statutory goal of raising career readiness expectations to help students,” Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said in a press release.  

“Every Texas family deserves a clear view of school performance, and now those families finally have access to data they should have received two years ago. Transparency drives progress, and when that transparency is blocked, students pay the price.” 

The A-F accountability system started in 2018 and ranks schools by three metrics: student achievement, school progress and “closing the gaps.”  

The 2023-24 results are also being held up in court, but are expected to be released in August. 

According to the 2022-23 state summary, 19% of schools received an A grade; 34% a B; 25% a C; 15% a D; and 8% an F.  

Notably, several of the state’s largest school districts fell in the rankings.  

Fort Worth ISD fell from B to D, while Arlington, Dallas, Mesquite and Richardson fell from B to C. 

Despite more than half of schools still being graded A or B, data show many Texas students are still struggling.  

Only half (53%) of all students are reading at grade level and only 45% meet standards in math or science. 

Scores are particularly low for African American and Hispanic students.  

According to one Texas teachers’ union, schools tried to suppress the data because they knew it would make them look bad. 

The Texas AFT explained in 2023 that districts “don’t want to be measured using a standard that didn’t exist at the beginning of the school year” and feared the update would “negatively impact either campus or district accountability ratings.” 

“We are disappointed that the Texas Education Agency is using this change in the accountability system to paint a picture that public schools, including Del Valle ISD, are failing,” the Superintendent of Del Valle said at the time. “While we are focusing on your children’s success, we are being pulled into a political agenda.” 

But Commissioner Morath insisted the change was about helping families pick the best school for their child.  

“We want to make sure that families have that information so they can then make decisions that are in the best interest of their family,” he said at a press conference Wednesday. 

State Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, chair of the Senate’s Public Education Committee, praised the court ruling and subsequent data release on social media. 

“Today’s court ruling in the 2023 A-F ratings lawsuit is a victory for accountability in public education,” he wrote. “When it comes to our kids’ futures, what isn’t measured isn’t fixed. 

“With reinstated accountability, Texans can feel confident that the historic investments and reforms we are working on at the Capitol will further lift up public education, support teachers, and unleash the full potential of Texas schools.”