The governor has signed HB 22, which makes changes to the A-F accountability system. The final version:
- does not delay A-F ratings for districts (first official ratings scheduled for August 2018)
- delays A-F for campuses until 2019
- requires an overall rating as well as a rating for each domain
- reduces the system from five to three domains: Student Achievement, School Progress, and Closing the Gaps
- differentiates between D (needs improvement) and F (unacceptable) ratings
- requires that the method used to evaluate performance for purposes of assigning school districts and campuses an overall and a domain performance rating allows for the mathematical possibility that all districts and campuses receive an A rating
- gives commissioner broad authority
- requires the commissioner to adopt rules for a local accountability system regarding the assignment of campus performance ratings by school districts and open-enrollment charter schools
TASA issued the following statement on the final version of HB 22 once it emerged from conference committee in the final days of the legislative session:
“TASA commends Chairmen Huberty and Taylor for their efforts to improve the A-F accountability system. There are several positive aspects to the final version of HB 22, including the delay of campus ratings to 2019, the differentiation of ‘D’ as ‘needs improvement’ and ‘F’ as ‘unacceptable,’ and the new local accountability system to replace the existing CASE self-evaluation. However, we are disappointed the Legislature did not delay the 2017-2018 district-level A-F ratings.”
HB 22 takes effect immediately because it received a vote of at least two-thirds of all the members elected to each house.
