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August 14, 2024 - School districts across Texas anxiously awaited the release of 2023-24 accountability A-F ratings set to be released August 15. However, there has been a recent development regarding the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and the release of school ratings. For the second consecutive year, a Travis County judge has issued a temporary restraining order, blocking the TEA from releasing its ratings of school districts and campuses.
This legal action is part of an ongoing dispute over the changes to the metrics used to measure school performance. Last fall, a similar lawsuit led to a temporary block on the 2022-23 ratings. Many school districts, including over 120 involved in the current lawsuit, believe that the stricter standards being implemented could result in unfair drops in their ratings. As the community may recall, while Midland ISD agreed with the nature of the lawsuit, instead of joining, the district sought to channel its resources and efforts into improving student outcomes.
The basis of this year’s lawsuit claims that the TEA did not establish the validity of the test by having it independently evaluated prior to testing and acted outside its authority. This differs from the 2023 lawsuit, which questioned the timeliness of the release of the accountability manual.
“Accountability ratings provide districts with a roadmap that guides us toward ensuring student success,” said MISD Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Howard. “Our continued focus will be set on student needs and success regardless of the ongoing legal processes.”
It is important to note that this is the fifth year without a complete set of school ratings. The COVID-19 pandemic led to the suspension of ratings in 2020 and 2021, and in 2022, schools that were struggling and at risk of receiving a D or F rating were granted extra relief through Senate Bill 1365.
Next Steps
MISD has set a North Star Goal of having 70% of students in the district attend an A or B-rated campus by 2028. Through its annual school planning, the district has laid out a roadmap with actionable steps that will lead to the success of this goal.
“With or without the release of ratings, we are committed to providing a high-quality education for all students in Midland,” said Howard. “This will not slow us down in our continuous improvement efforts.”
The district has entered year two of its Strategic Plan and has seen progress.
According to STAAR data, MISD saw the following:
- 54% of MISD students met academic growth
- 70% of campuses show academic growth
- 35% of campuses saw double-digit growth
- College, Career and Military Ready (CCMR) increased from 52% to 76%
The delay in the 2023-2024 ratings will not hinder the district's commitment to its students. Key areas for improvement have been identified, including a literacy reset, data-driven protocols, and high-impact instructional strategies to drive continued growth.
As the proceedings progress, MISD will continue to keep the community informed.
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