TEA releases preview of new grading system

Megan Lin, Editor-in-chief|January 12, 2017

In the preliminary progress grades for the state’s public schools issued by the Texas Education Agency, Frisco received relatively higher grades than some other schools in the state, with A’s in student achievement and progress, a B in closing performance gaps, and a C in postsecondary readiness. The new rating system goes into effect in August of 2018.

Maddie Owens

In the preliminary progress grades for the state’s public schools issued by the Texas Education Agency, Frisco received relatively higher grades than some other schools in the state, with A’s in student achievement and progress, a B in closing performance gaps, and a C in postsecondary readiness. The new rating system goes into effect in August of 2018.

The state of Texas released preliminary progress grades for the state’s public schools, the A-F grading system on Jan. 6 with the new system set to go into effect August 2018. The Texas Education Agency’s new grading system grades on four criteria: student achievement, student progress, closing performance gaps, and postsecondary readiness.

However, many school districts across Texas have rallied against the system criticizing it to be over simplistic.

“I think this is just going to create more confusion for everyone — the board members, parents, the community,” Dallas ISD superintendent Michael Hinojosa said. “But that’s what’s going to happen when you try to give a simple solution to a complex issue.”

Frisco received relatively higher grades than some other schools in the state, with A’s in student achievement and progress, a B in closing performance gaps, and a C in postsecondary readiness. Despite that, the district agrees with the criticism surrounding the new system.

“A valid system would drive genuine school improvement,” superintendent Jeremy Lyon said on the FISD site. “There’s nothing within the context of the ratings that have been released on a pilot basis that really we can find useful in improving a campus’ performance.”

Regardless of the skepticism surrounding the system, the district remains open to a grading system.

“We believe our state’s future prosperity relies on a high-quality education system that prepares students for college, careers, the general workforce, and to be contributing members of their communities,” communications executive director Chris Moore said. “We support development of a community-based accountability system that empowers school districts to design their own internal systems of assessment and accountability that, while meeting general state standards, allows districts to innovate and customize curriculum and instruction to meet the needs and interests of each student and their communities. A new system should reduce the use of high-stakes, standardized tests, encompass multiple assessments, reflect greater validity, and, more accurately reflect what students know and can do in terms of the rigorous standards.”