The Texas Education Agency (TEA) can now release A-F school accountability ratings for the last school year, after a long legal fight. A Texas appeals court ruled last week that the state education commissioner does have the authority to issue the ratings, rejecting a lawsuit brought by several districts to block the release. The school ratings from two years ago were released earlier this year, after the court rejected a similar lawsuit.
This ruling culminates a long fight for education reform advocates in Texas. "It took us three legislative sessions to get this passed," says Sherry Sylvester with the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF). "Then, once it was passed, (districts) started suing to not release the grades...but everywhere they have been released it has been really successful."
Sylvester tells KTRH these ratings are ultimately about parent empowerment, and will work hand-in-hand with the new Texas school choice program approved in this year's legislature. "If you're a parent, you'll be able to know,' she says. "If your school is not serving your child, you can go in and work with the school, look at what they're doing and what programs they offer."
"You can also look at other schools in your community and see if there is another school that might serve your child better."
Photo: Moment RF