Dallas Schools Encounter New Accountability Ratings

Dallas schools face new accountability ratings amid community concerns.

News Summary

The Texas Education Agency has released the 2022-2023 accountability ratings for Dallas schools following a two-year delay due to legal disputes. The new ratings show a significant decline in performance, with 20% of Texas schools receiving failing grades, affecting the Dallas Independent School District particularly hard. Community leaders express concerns over the fairness of the new evaluation methods, prompting a call for collaboration to improve school performance and transparency moving forward.

Dallas Schools Face New Accountability Ratings

In the vibrant city of Dallas, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has recently released its much-anticipated 2022-2023 school accountability ratings after a prolonged legal tussle that delayed this information for nearly two years. The wait is finally over, and the results are in. However, they tell a story that many in the community might find troubling.

What Caused the Delay?

The delay stemmed from a lawsuit filed by various school districts against the TEA regarding an updated rating system that caused a bit of chaos among the rankings. Superintendents raised concerns that schools rated as “A” in the past could now find themselves categorized as “C” or worse. This seems like an unfair shake for schools that believed they were doing well and made it tough for them to prepare for the ratings changes.

Community members and leaders are understandably frustrated. They felt that the TEA’s actions could present schools in a negative light, especially since the changes seemed to coincide with discussions surrounding school choice legislation. An appellate court decision in early April 2023 ultimately allowed the TEA to share these important scores with families that had been kept in the dark for far too long.

How Did Schools Perform?

The newly released accountability ratings highlight a considerable dip in school performance. About 20% of Texas schools received failing ratings (D or F) in 2023, a major jump from just 9% the previous year. In Dallas Independent School District (DISD), a whopping 45 out of 232 schools scored D or F. Fort Worth Independent School District didn’t fare much better, with 77 out of 108 schools also receiving failing grades. That brings up a pressing question: What is going on?

A New Way to Rate Schools

The TEA’s accountability scores for the 2022-2023 school year represent a significant shift in the rating process, part of a five-year review. This shift made comparing last year’s scores with the new ones challenging, resulting in the TEA publishing “what if” scores for 2022, hoping to provide some clarity on the trends. It’s worth noting that only 13% of Texas schools managed to improve their ratings, while 44% were able to maintain their previous ratings.

Setting Higher Standards

One of the main drivers behind this surge in failing campuses is the introduction of higher performance standards, particularly in high schools that focus on College, Career, and Military Readiness. The TEA also cited that the ratings for 2022 were heavily affected by pandemic-related disruptions and the legislative push that prevented failing ratings during that timeframe.

What Lies Ahead?

As if the situation isn’t complex enough, it is important to note that ratings for the next school year, 2023-2024, are currently on hold due to ongoing litigation. The community eagerly awaits the next set of ratings, scheduled for release in August 2025. In the meantime, critics, including many superintendents, have voiced concerns regarding the fairness of the new evaluation methods, especially in light of the challenges posed by COVID-19.

TEA’s Push for Transparency

TEA Commissioner Mike Morath stated that ensuring transparency with school performance ratings is essential for driving progress in education. The A-F rating system, which debuted in 2018, was instituted to evaluate schools based on three fundamental areas: Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the Gaps.

Looking Forward to Future Improvements

As the people of Dallas digest this fresh information, many are left wondering what these changes mean for the future of their schools. With only a small percentage of improvements and a large portion of schools facing struggles, it’s clear that a community effort will be vital to address these challenges head-on. Let’s rally together and work towards ensuring that all schools in our city receive the support they need to help their students thrive!