Accountability Ratings
State accountability ratings are based on student performance on state exams mandated by the Texas Legislature and the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The system rates school districts and campuses as Exemplary, Recognized, Academically Acceptable, or Academically Unacceptable.
In 1993, the Legislature enacted statutes that mandated the creation of the Texas public school accountability system to rate school districts and evaluate campuses. The original system initiated with the 1993 legislative session remained in place through the 2001-02 school year, and the ratings issued in 2002 were the last under that system.
In 2003, a new assessment, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS), was administered. The TAKS includes more subjects and grades, and this test is more difficult than the previous statewide assessments. With such fundamental changes, the accountability system was redesigned. Ratings established using the newly designed system were first issued in the fall of 2004. State standards for each accountability level increase each year.
The Alternative Education Accountability (AEA) system for alternative education centers, such as STARS Academy, only rates campuses as Academically Acceptable or Academically Unacceptable. There is no Exemplary or Recognized rating for those schools.
Students assigned to the Behavior Transition Center are included in their regular campuses.
A recent change in state law will replace the TAKS test with end-of-course exams in secondary grade levels, but this transition will not occur until the 2010-11 school year.
