San Antonio, Texas, August 22, 2025
News Summary
The Texas Education Agency has unveiled the 2024 and 2025 Accountability Ratings for school districts, providing insights into student achievement and progress. Commissioner Mike Morath emphasized the importance of these ratings for schools to leverage their successes and identify areas for improvement. Concurrently, a legislative initiative aims to replace the STAAR exam with shorter assessments. New policies, including a statewide cellphone ban in schools, are set to shape the educational landscape in Texas, raising discussions among educators and policymakers about student engagement and educational effectiveness.
San Antonio, Texas – The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has released the 2024 and 2025 Accountability Ratings for school districts across the state, including those in San Antonio. These ratings evaluate various factors such as student achievement, school progress, and initiatives aimed at closing achievement gaps.
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath highlighted that these accountability ratings serve as valuable resources for schools, helping them to identify both their successes and areas in need of improvement. On August 15, 2025, Commissioner Morath visited Harmony Hills Elementary School in the North East Independent School District to engage in discussions surrounding school ratings and the improvements being made to enhance student educational experiences.
In conjunction with the release of the accountability ratings, the current legislative environment is also shifting. Governor Greg Abbott is pushing for the abolishment of the STAAR exam, a standardized testing system that has been a topic of contention. As part of this effort, proposed legislation aims to replace the traditional high-stakes assessments with shorter and more frequent evaluations throughout the school year.
House Bill 8 is central to this legislative initiative and is currently under consideration. It seeks to implement a new assessment strategy for the 2026-2027 school year, which is being positively received across party lines. However, concerns have arisen regarding the design of the new tests and their potential impact on the A-F accountability ratings for school districts.
The proposed testing format is known as “through-year testing,” which would consist of multiple short exams rather than the traditional single comprehensive test. This approach is designed to enhance the testing experience for both students and teachers. Since 2022, a pilot program testing this new method has produced mixed results but indicated higher satisfaction levels among both students and educators.
As part of the ongoing developments in Texas education policy, recent legislation has also restricted school districts’ ability to sue the state over their A-F accountability ratings. This new measure seeks to address the previous delays in the release of scoring data, which were often a result of ongoing lawsuits.
Another significant development is the statewide ban on cellphones in schools, which will take effect at the start of the 2025 academic year. This mandate requires school districts to formulate their own policies regarding the use of personal communication devices on school premises. The newly signed House Bill 1481 states that while schools can permit phones, they must remain powered off and stored out of sight during school hours. Parents are urged to contact school offices directly to communicate with their children during the school day.
The Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) has expressed support for the cellphone ban, suggesting that it could lead to improved student engagement within classrooms. Nonetheless, mental health professionals have voiced a mix of concerns and support regarding the ban, underscoring the need for essential in-person communication for healthy child development.
As these new policies and ratings roll out, both educators and policymakers will closely monitor their impact on student performance and overall school effectiveness in Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 2024-2025 Accountability Ratings?
The Accountability Ratings evaluate school districts based on student achievement, school progress, and efforts to close achievement gaps.
Who released the Accountability Ratings?
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) released the Accountability Ratings for all school districts in Texas.
What changes are being proposed regarding standardized testing?
Governor Greg Abbott is proposing to replace the STAAR exam with shorter, more frequent assessments through a measure known as House Bill 8.
What is “through-year testing”?
“Through-year testing” refers to a new assessment approach that consists of multiple short exams throughout the year instead of one high-stakes exam.
Is there a cellphone ban in Texas schools?
Yes, as of the 2025 academic year, Texas schools are required to implement a ban on personal communication devices during school hours.
Key Features of New Policies
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Accountability Ratings | Assess schools based on student achievement, progress, and closing achievement gaps. |
| Proposed Testing Changes | Replacement of STAAR exam with shorter, more frequent assessments. |
| Through-Year Testing | Multiple short exams for improved assessment experience. |
| Cellphone Ban | Prohibition of cellphones during school hours starting 2025. |
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Additional Resources
- Houston Chronicle: Texas Legislature Exam Replacement
- Wikipedia: Standardized Testing
- KSAT: No Phones in Texas Schools
- Google Search: Texas Schools Cellphone Ban
- San Antonio Express-News: Accountability Grades
- Google Scholar: Texas Education Accountability
- San Antonio Current: DEI Ban in Schools
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Texas Education Policy
- KENS 5: Texas School Ratings
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