TEA pauses A-F ratings for 2020-2021 school year

This year, the A-F ratings will be paused, according to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), which also said STAAR testing will continue for the school year, but to help asses individual student learning to help them grow. 

“The last nine months have been some of the most disruptive of our lives. The challenges have been especially pronounced for our parents, teachers and students. We continue to prioritize the health and safety of students, teachers and staff in our schools this year, while working to ensure students grow academically,” Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath said in the Texas Education Agency press release. 

But the Texas Education Agency also said schools that use STAAR testing are allowed to remove it from the school year for the 2020-2021 year.

STAAR will remain available for schools in the state to show parents and teachers how students are performing this year. This will also give education leaders and policy makers in the state a clear idea of the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on education. 

“The issuance of A-F ratings for schools has proven to be a valuable tool to support continuous improvement for our students, allowing educators, parents and the general public to better identify and expand efforts that are working for kids. But the pandemic has disrupted school operations in fundamental ways that have often been outside the control of our school leaders, making it far more difficult to use these ratings as a tool to support student academic growth. As a result, we will not issue A-F ratings this school year,” Morath said in the Texas Education Agency press release. 

While the A-F ratings are paused, schools are still required to make STAAR testing available to every student. 

"The test will be administered on school campuses across the state or at other secure alternative testing sites. The test is an assessment of the grade level expectations of Texas students, with questions designed by subject matter experts and committees of Texas teachers to measure how well students have mastered knowledge and skills in various grades and subjects. STAAR will continue to be administered only in secure environments to ensure the results remain valid and reliable," TEA wrote in the press release.