For the second consecutive year, Texas school districts have taken legal action against the state’s A-F accountability ratings. And for the second year in a row, a judge has prevented Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath from releasing these grades. The temporary restraining order issued on Monday, Aug. 12, has halted the release of the ratings, which were scheduled to be shared with districts on Tuesday and the public on Thursday.
Five school districts in Texas filed a lawsuit in a Travis County District Court, seeking to prevent the release of the A-F ratings. Judge Karin Crump granted their request and issued a temporary restraining order until a hearing on Aug. 26.
Attorneys Nick Maddox and David Campbell from the law firm O’Hanlon, Demerath & Castillo represent the school districts involved in the lawsuit. Last year, the lawsuit focused on changes in how accountability was measured after students had graduated. This year, the lawsuit challenges the standardized tests that form the basis of the accountability ratings.
Maddox argues that there are significant errors in the STAAR test, which is used for the ratings. He questions the use of artificial intelligence to grade written responses on the test and highlights issues with access to alternative tests for special education students. The lack of analysis by psychometricians is also a point of contention.
The Texas Education Agency is reviewing the new lawsuit and considering its next steps. Agency officials defend the A-F accountability system, stating that it benefits students by improving learning quality, providing clarity to parents about school performance, and setting expectations for school leaders. They express disappointment that a small group of school boards and superintendents are trying to block the ratings, preventing families from knowing how their schools are faring.
Last year’s lawsuit is currently in the appeals process, with over 100 districts joining the legal action. Maddox anticipates more districts will join this year’s lawsuit. The initial plaintiffs include Forney ISD, Crandall ISD, Fort Stockton ISD, Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD, and Kingsville ISD. Forney ISD, the largest district among them, has around 17,000 students.
The hearing on Aug. 26 will determine whether the restraining order will be lifted or if the commissioner will continue to be blocked from releasing the ratings until the case is resolved. Additional school districts may join the lawsuit, as the process unfolds.
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