(Texas Scorecard) – A Midland school board trustee has petitioned to intervene in a lawsuit aimed at preventing the Texas Education Agency from releasing A-F accountability ratings of school districts across the state for a second year.
Brandon Hodges, a trustee with Midland Independent School District, wants the ratings released, arguing that the data is “essential” to his job.
Hodges also argues that state-mandated STAAR exams are “a wasted effort” without the release of the A-F accountability ratings.
“This petition is essential not only for my own responsibilities, but also for the broader implications this holds for the governance and operation of our Texas school districts,” Hodges wrote in a press release announcing his petition.
“I believe that my participation in this case will provide a vital perspective that will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the actual issues at hand and bring to light the negative consequences this lawfare tactic presents for millions of Texans utilizing our public schools,” his statement continued.
The students spend many days myopically focused on TEKS material. This educational time investment is directly correlated to the STAAR exam. The amount of educational time, tax dollars, emotional and physical stress incurred by our students for this exam is a wasted effort without the release of the A-F accountability.
More than 100 Texas school districts sued the TEA last year to block release of the 2023 ratings, claiming changes in how the scores were calculated unfairly assigned lower grades to the districts. A judge put a hold on releasing the ratings while that litigation is pending.
Another lawsuit filed earlier this month by five school districts—Crandall, Forney, Fort Stockton, Kingsville, and Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISDs—resulted in a judge temporarily blocking release of the ratings for 2024.
Hodges is seeking to intervene in the new suit.
He notes that the A-F accountability ratings are not only used by officials tasked with governing the state’s public education system, but are also part of school report cards issued by TEA to inform Texas families about their local school districts.
“Available for each campus in Texas, the [school report card] is intended specifically to inform parents and guardians about a school’s individual characteristics and its academic performance,” wrote Hodges.
“This is the second year in a row that lawfare tactics have been utilized for preventing citizens across Texas from knowing the overall health of their local school districts,” he added.
In an interview Thursday about his petition, Hodges told KWEL, “The most important thing we have going on in November is school board elections. If Midland is serious about changing the trajectory of local school boards and benefitting our kids, then pay attention to the school board elections that are coming up this November.”
