TEA Releases 2023 A-F Accountability Ratings

After a prolonged delay because of a lawsuit filed by about 100 school districts, the Texas Education Agency has released the 2023 A-F accountability ratings, indicating the share of campuses that received a passing ranking dropped by 14% from 2022.

“For far too long, families, educators and communities have been denied access to information about the performance of their schools, thanks to frivolous lawsuits paid for by tax dollars filed by those who disagreed with the statutory goal of raising career readiness expectations to help students,” said Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath.

A separate, ongoing lawsuit has delayed the release of more recent ratings from the 20232024 school year. School performance ratings from the 20242025 school year are set to be issued in August.

For the 2023 school year, about half of Texas schools earned an A or B, while roughly 14% scored a D, and 7% received Fs, The Dallas Morning News reported.

To view 2023 A-F ratings for all Texas public school districts or campuses, go to Txschools.gov. State Insurance Crisis is Hitting Schools Severe weather from hurricanes and other weather events has not spared the state’s public schools, resulting in skyrocketing property insurance costs, the Houston Chronicle reported. Insurance costs for districts have increased by 44% statewide in the past five years, according to TEA.

The problem is particularly acute in coastal areas hit by hurricanes and severe storms. Part of the major school finance package passed by the House in April would reimburse school districts in 14 coastal counties for insurance increases above the state average.

Another bill, filed by state Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, would give districts in coastal counties a credit against recapture payments for wind and hail coverage.

“You don’t want education to suffer because you’re worried about getting money to cover buildings for the kids,” Hunter said.

Abbott Signs Texas Version of DOGE into Law The Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office is now set to become law after Gov. Greg Abbott signed the measure into law last week. The state office aims to eliminate waste, fraud and corruption in state government and is patterned after the federal Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The office will launch in 2026 with a $10-million, two-year operating budget.

“We in Texas will now have our own DOGE, known as the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office,” Abbott said. “This law will slash regulations, put stricter standards on new regulations that could be costly to businesses, and put a check on the growth of the administrative state.”

The new office will also work to reduce state regulations that it considers outdated or unnecessary.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved Abbott’s request for a disaster declaration for Northeast Texas communities hit by tornadoes and severe weather earlier this month. The declaration includes Bowie, Camp, Cass, Marion, Morris, Red River, Titus, and Upshur counties. The approval gives homeowners, renters and businesses access to a number of low-interest loans in affected communities. Applicants can apply online at sba.gov/disaster or by calling (800) 659-2955.