Nearly 94 Percent Of Texas School Districts Meet Academic Standard

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AUSTIN (AP) — Nearly 94 percent of districts and around 88 percent of public schools in Texas have met minimum education standards in the final year before shifting to an A-F letter grade accountability system.

The Texas Education Agency announced the results Monday. It has frequently overhauled ratings systems lately to ensure low failure rates, meaning this year's results are only fully comparable to the last three years'.

♦♦♦ Check Out The Accountability Ratings For ALL Texas School Districts ♦♦♦

In 2015, nearly 95 percent of school districts met minimum state standards and about 87 percent of schools did. The previous year, it was 90 percent of districts and 85 percent of schools.

Critics complain that Texas has watered down its accountability rating to near meaninglessness. Starting next academic year, though, the state will begin rating schools and districts with a system that includes controversial 'Fs.'

Texas Association of Business CEO Bill Hammond released this statement in regards to TEA rating of school districts:

"The TEA released the 2016 Accountability Ratings today. According to TEA, 93.7 percent of all school districts met the TEA standards. Much like first grade soccer where every kid gets a trophy, school districts are meeting standards just by having kids show up.  TEA Commissioner Mike Morath has cited that only 30 percent of students are career and college ready. Even a third grader would know that these two numbers just don't add up. As they tell the kids, always show your work so we know you are truly making the grades."

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