2015-16 A-F Ratings with Caveats

The 2015-16 A-F Ratings have been released by the Texas Education Agency, along with a TEA report to the 85^th Texas Legislature. In the report TEA offered several caveats which provided further insight into the current and future ratings.
 
Spotlight on Caveats

• Campuses and district ratings for 2017-18 will use different data and different indicators than those used for the current A-F ratings.
• Final targets used for A-F ratings assigned in 2017-18 are expected to be adopted in the Texas Administrative Code in spring 2018. The rule-making process will include a 30-day public comment period.
• The ratings DO NOT include data for all the indicators planned for 2017-18.
• The final methodology to determine the overall rating label, including the process to convert the domain outcomes to a scale that can be weighted across the five domains, will be developed with further stakeholder input and is expected to be adopted in the Texas Administrative Code in spring 2018. 
• The statutory constraint that a district cannot earn a rating of A in a domain if one of its campuses earn a D or F was not applied to the 2016 report bit will be applied in the 2017-18 ratings.

 
Spotlight on Domain I

• The data include more ELL and STAAR Alternate 2 assessment outcomes than does Index 1 in the current system.
• These ratings include outcomes for assessments at advanced level standards that are not explicitly required by statute.

Spotlight on Domain II

• The growth measure used may not be the same in the 2017-18 school year.
• The Domain II methodology will be reviewed with accountability advisory groups and other stakeholders for possible modifications prior to use in the 2017-18 rating system.

Spotlight on Domain III

• These ratings include only students who are economically disadvantaged.

Spotlight on Domain IV

• Data is not included in the 2016 rating for all indicators planned for 2017-18.
• CCR 2017-18 indicators will also include students who earn industry (nationally recognized) certifications or those that enlist in the U.S. Armed Forces.  
• Prep courses for middle school indicators will also include 7^th or 8^th grade students who received instruction in preparing for high school, college, and career (HB 18- 84^th R).
• Data in the 2016 ratings use chronic absenteeism from 2015-16 school year making it a current indicator but in future reports it will be a lagging indicator.

Spotlight on Domain V

• The Community and Student Engagement indicator missing from the 2015-16 ratings will be in the 2017-18 ratings. Three locally determined indicators that will be assigned by districts and campuses. All three CaSE indicators as well as the overall Domain V indicator will be rated A-F.