School districts across West Texas start classes this week, while at the same time they await their first official report cards under a new accountability system that assigns A-F grades for all Texas school districts.
As The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports, the controversial new grading system has already drawn widespread disapproval, as 600 school boards statewide have adopted resolutions opposing the ratings.
Much of the criticism derives from the fact that the new valuation system reduces numerous district performance measures, including standardized test scores, into a single letter grade. The grades released this week will mostly be based on the 2018 STAAR tests, or State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, as well as the districts’ End-of-Course exams.