Central Texas school districts react to release of TEA accountability scores for 2022-23 school year

(KWTX) — Following an almost two-year postponement, school districts throughout Texas have now received the performance outcomes for their schools during the 2022-23 academic year via the accountability ratings issued by the Texas Education Agency.

The ratings were blocked from going public by a lawsuit from teachers who said the TEA left them out of the loop when changing the grading system, leaving many districts unprepared.

Education authorities throughout Central Texas have deducted points due to adjustments made in their evaluation criteria.

Copperas Cove ISD joined the lawsuit in 2023, and Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins said that while their reports have seen improvement across the board, it has been difficult to maintain their B rating after the grading was changed.

“When parents, students and staff put the work in and have great outcomes, but we sit on the scores, it’s kind of a detriment. When people do a good job, credit earned, credit given is what needs to happen.”

The scores for Salado ISD dropped from 88 to 79. Although Superintendent Dr. Michael Novotny mentioned that these ratings can assist schools in improving, he emphasized that this information should be available before the school year begins.

I believe we ought to adhere to more stringent benchmarks, and our aim is always to provide the utmost care for our children. However, modifications to the system should ideally be implemented beforehand—rather than during or at the conclusion of the academic year.

Temple ISD said in a statement that the scores do not reflect the current state of student learning, as they have seen double-digit increases in college readiness at the high school.

Killeen ISD said in a statement that the scores are based on outdated data and shifting TEA standards.

In the Waco ISD school board meeting on Wednesday, Dr. Susan Kincannon spoke with the community, urging parents to look beyond the grade to see the hard work their students put in.

“These labels do not capture the heart of what our schools do every day to educate, to nurture and support our students.”

In a roundtable discussion earlier Tuesday, Commissioner Mike Morath noted that the lawsuits took a lot of time and energy away from helping schools.

“Both the districts themselves spent a lot of time and energy filing motions and investing resources in the lawsuit, and then we had to spend time and energy on that. I would rather spend that money and time and energy trying to help those schools get better.”