ATPE issues statement in support of A-F ratings pause

In a move that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has apparently made in the best interest of educators in Texas, A-F Accountability Ratings for school districts around the state will be put on a temporary pause due to the pandemic, according to the Association of Texas Professional Educators' (ATPE) website. 

The ATPE, the largest such association in the state of Texas, has voiced its support. Though the measure doesn't go far enough to relieve teachers from the state, they said it is a "step in the right direction."

On Dec. 10, the TEA announced that A-F ratings, which are designed to test the aptitude and performance of educators and school districts, would be put on pause. They said that the added stress of continuing with the A-F ratings would be even more unfair to educators than the situation that they have already been put in. 

“As an association representing 100,000 educators across the state, who have made extraordinary sacrifices during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are grateful that TEA and Commissioner Morath have taken some of our advocacy to heart. These changes do not quite go as far as we wish and have fought for these last few months, but we appreciate that TEA has clearly heard us," ATPE Executive Director Shannon Holmes said.

The ATPE has expressed concerns about the A-F letter-grade system for years since it was implemented in 2018, stating that it holds teachers responsible for something they have little control over. They said that it the system is too reliant on standardized testing data. 

“For now, at least, our state’s dedicated educators have one less thing to worry about. We believe that waiving the STAAR test mandate completely for the year is the best move for our Texas public schools. However, removing the added pressure of the A-F ratings is a step in the right direction," Holmes said.

The decision comes not long after the ATPE pleaded with TEA and Gov. Greg Abbott to waive state testing requirements during the pandemic.