AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Education Agency announced Thursday the A-F rating system is on hold for the 2020-21 school year due to the ongoing issues related to COVID-19. 

What You Need To Know

  • Texas Education Agency Pauses A-F Ratings For 2020-21 School Year

  • STAAR testing will takes place in the spring

  • Testing results can be removed from teacher evaluations this year

“The issuance of A-F ratings for schools has proven to be a valuable tool to support continuous improvement for our students, allowing educators, parents, and the general public to better identify and expand efforts that are working for kids. But the pandemic has disrupted school operations in fundamental ways that have often been outside the control of our school leaders, making it far more difficult to use these ratings as a tool to support student academic growth. As a result, we will not issue A-F ratings this school year,” said Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath.

Although the STAAR test was put on hold last spring, students will be expected to take the test during the 2020-21 school year. The TEA said the test provides critically important information about individual student learning that teachers and parents can use to help students grow. The TEA said schools that use STAAR results for teacher evaluations can remove that component from evaluation this year. 

“The last nine months have been some of the most disruptive of our lives. The challenges have been especially pronounced for our parents, teachers, and students. We continue to prioritize the health and safety of students, teachers, and staff in our schools this year, while working to ensure students grow academically,” Morath said. 

The STAAR test results also give Texas education leaders and policymakers  a comprehensive picture of the pandemic impact on student learning, helping policymakers craft solutions for the years ahead.