Texas School Accountability: Good For kids? Parents? Texas? – Reform Austin

What’s in a name? That which we (Texans) call an accountability system would smell just as foul. My apologies to Shakespeare, but the dilemma of our public schools certainly feels tragic.  You might wonder how this issue climbed to the top of the “story of the day” under the Texas education section. After all, it would be easy to delve into public education’s lack of funding or the battle over educational savings accounts, aka vouchers. While those issues are certainly on the minds of anyone connected to public schools and being written about and discussed quite frequently, the issue up for review is the A-F accountability system- our state’s not-so-sneaky plan to punish or, even worse, attempt to extinguish Texas public school districts.

I spent 30 years in public schools as a teacher and campus administrator. In that time, I watched our state move from TAAS to TAKS to STAAR tests. Throughout that time, I remember hearing how each assessment was so much “better” and more rigorous than the previous one.  I remember hearing how each assessment would hold schools accountable for student learning, which I always found interesting.  In my mind, I always felt accountable to my students for their success or lack thereof.  I never felt like I needed the state of Texas to make me feel that.  The many people I worked alongside throughout my career seemed to hold the same belief.  We all felt accountable. 

I want to go on record and say I am not against some form of formal accountability.  We are all vested in ensuring children learn and can be successful adults.  My contention lies within the system and its ultimate intent.  I don’t think most people would believe one multiple-choice test a year would be a valid and reliable indicator of a student’s success beyond their formative years into adulthood.  None of those assessments tests for empathy, perseverance, or being able to work cooperatively with others.  Traits I hear many employers talk about needing in today’s world. 

I could go on and on about my issues with the tests themselves, but that’s not my intent.  My concern lies with the accountability system itself.  I recently read an article about school districts suing TEA over accountability ratings for the second year in a row, and I began to reflect on how ridiculous the system has become. 

In my last year as a high school principal, we had the “pleasure” of implementing the state’s remediation plan for students who did not pass the STAAR.  The plan, which was basically untenable for 99.9% of all school districts, had a prescribed directive requiring more time and staff than schools had.  Ironically, schools have had plans in place for years for students who did not pass these tests, and while I won’t pretend all plans were successful for all students, campuses and districts working in tandem were able to show significant gains from year to year. Again, the people working each day with kids feel accountable.

This lawsuit from five districts across Texas against TEA stems from yet another example of punitive measures against public school districts.  The initial lawsuit from a year ago included over 100 school districts across the state.  Superintendent Brent Jaco from Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD said, “We wholeheartedly believe that accountability is a good process to measure a district’s success.  However, we also believe the proposed adjustments to the A-F Accountability Ratings system do not accurately reflect our students and staff’s hard work and progress.”  According to the current suit, the districts assert, “Commissioner Morath did not provide notice of the measures, methods, and procedures he would use to evaluate school districts and campuses.” The other issue involved College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) accountability scores- particularly that “students who already graduated were being measured against new standards that were not even in place when they were in school.”  Yes, that’s correct.  Students who have already finished their high school careers would have their scores recorded on their CCMR.  Except, not really.  Students were not going to be called back to high school because of the new scoring formula. 

What was going to happen and would have happened if not for the lawsuit and the TRO issued by a Travis County judge was districts and campuses would be penalized retroactively.  The worst part is schools are unable to even help the students who now no longer meet the standards because they’re off to… college or military or to perform a trade/start a career. What’s the saying? From the ridiculous to the sublime.  

I encourage you to read the article I mentioned earlier to get a full perspective of what is involved in this suit.  TEA says the A-F accountability system is “good for kids and gives parents a clear understanding of how well their schools are performing.  I agree that parents can understand that an A is a good score and an F is a bad one; what parents don’t understand is the convoluted, unfair way TEA arrives at those ratings.  As far as “good for kids,” the only people who would say and actually believe this are folks who have spent little to no time in a public school talking to public school children, their teachers, or their parents.  Trust me when I tell you, none of those people would ever say that current state testing is good for kids without their tongues planted firmly in their cheeks. 

In case you’re wondering if other options/solutions to the current accountability system have been presented.  They have.  Many and often.  And disappointingly, our state continues to not listen to the very folks who work with kids every day.  Until that day comes, I am not hopeful that it will happen anytime soon.  The system that’s supposed to be good for kids is the one that continues to punish them.  The system that’s supposed to give parents a clear understanding does no such thing. 

I can tell you Texas public schools are not afraid of accountability.  They thrive in it.  They feel it every day they step into a classroom, on campus, or in a district administration building.  All working together to hold themselves accountable to the children and to the parents of the very community they serve.  That accountability by any other name would smell…well, you know the rest.