Strengthening Texas' Accountability System: Key Reforms in HB 4 and SB 1962 at a Glance - Good Reason Houston

Strengthening Texas’ Accountability System: Key Reforms in HB 4 and SB 1962 at a Glance

The state academic accountability system serves a vital role in public education by setting expectations for student learning, incentivizing school systems to meet those expectations, and tracking educational outcomes. Critically, A-F ratings are the only meaningful tool that parents, policymakers, community partners, and the public have for assessing district and campus progress, making them a vital tool for transparency.

House Bill 4 and Senate Bill 1962 clarify and strengthen the state’s academic accountability system, enhancing transparency, aligning with workforce outcomes, and reducing the burden on public school systems. Here are the improvements at a glance.

A-F ACCOUNTABILITY RATINGS RELEASED ON A CONSISTENT, ANNUAL BASIS

Last August, a court-ordered injunction prevented the release of accountability ratings for the second year in a row, marking the fifth consecutive year Texans started the school year without a clear understanding of how well schools are meeting students’ academic needs. In fact, since the Legislature established the current A-F rating system in 2017, there has been just one year when full accountability ratings were issued for all Texas public school districts and campuses.

With only 53% of students meeting grade level standards in reading and 41% proficient in math across all grade levels, the Texas public education system cannot afford to operate in the dark. HB 4 and SB 1962 guarantee the annual release of A-F ratings, providing transparent, accessible information to parents and other stakeholders that rely on academic ratings.

ADVANCE NOTICE OF CHANGES TO SUPPORT EFFECTIVE SCHOOL SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT

The state’s accountability system exists to improve academic outcomes, close achievement gaps, and ensure the state is a national leader in postsecondary readiness. HB 4 and SB 1962 require advance notice of changes to the accountability system, allowing school systems sufficient time to adjust their strategies to meet state standards and drive student growth. Each bill specifically requires the state to calculate and score changes for each campus and school district for two years in advance of proposed changes, increasing transparency and understanding of scoring adjustments.

ACCESS TO HIGH WAGE, HIGH DEMAND CAREERS THROUGH POSTSECONDARY ALIGNMENT

The Texas Workforce Commission projects growth in high-wage, high-demand jobs, and by 2030, over 60% of jobs in our region will require a postsecondary credential. However, Good Reason Houston’s recent analysis found that only 27% of Houston high school graduates attain a credential, and only 1 in 5 earn a living wage within six years.
HB 4 and SB 1962 update the College, Career, and Military Readiness indicators in the accountability system to better align with postsecondary outcomes, including wages and career opportunities. Weighting these metrics guides and incentivizes school systems to districts focus on rigorous, high-quality college and career readiness programming.

COMMITMENT TO CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Texas currently trails peer states academically, ranking in the bottom 26% in 4th grade reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and in the bottom 12% by 8th grade, with scores falling to their lowest levels in decades. directs TEA to leverage the accountability system to ensure that Texas ranks among the top 5 in the nation in postsecondary readiness. Both bills direct the state to leverage the accountability system to ensure that Texas ranks among the top 5 states in the nation in postsecondary readiness.

STAY ENGAGED

The Senate Education K-16 Committee plans to hear SB 1962 on April 1 and we expect the House to take up HB 4 in the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned in to these bills and other session updates by signing up for our In Session newsletter.

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