In conjunction with Morgan Smith's "Death of a District" series, the Tribune presents a special video report on the role of accountability and whether the state's current standards are helping or hurting failing districts in Texas.
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Comments (10)
Proud Texan
It's ironic that the Texas Legislature wants to hold school districts accountable for things like financial performance when they can't pass a true balanced budget themselves. School districts don't have the accounting tricks and fund balances that can be used to certify a "balanced" budget like the state does. When districts get funding cuts, they have to adjust immediately. When the legislature gets cut, they accelerate tax collections from the next biennium, they defer payments into the next biennium, and they just don't fund 25% of one of the largest expense items. I can only imagine the legislative scrutiny if school districts tried to employ those kinds of gimmicks.
If more legislators had kids in public schools or spouses that worked for public schools, we wouldn't be in this mess. What's missing is more legislators having a personal understanding of what's going on in schools across the state.
Luisa Inez Newton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Republicans have said for years they want to "starve" government, and in doing so, they starve children.
Warren Hershberger via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Isn't it the definition of "average" that half of those tested are average or below? Is it possible for districts to all be above avererage?
Martha Dunkelberger via Texas Tribune on Facebook
In response to the question about accountability measures working statewide -- NO!
Dorieta Rogers via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Ever since lawmakers have decided they know what is good for education it has gone down hill. An important aspect of our democracy is that everyone goes to school and learns to the best of their ability and then we have a literate citizenry without which we can not have a democracy. We have to know how to think for ourselves and make decisions.
Dorieta Rogers via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Stressing testing and scores makes us become an elitist society and the rich rule and the rest work and do as they are told. This is not what our founding fathers wanted. A few did but they were outvoted lets see that we stand firm again!
James Stewart via Texas Tribune on Facebook
@Warren - don't mess up a subjective, alarmist argument with your objective Aristotelian logic.
Matt Prewett via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Excellent reporting! Good job TT!
Jeremy Jones via Texas Tribune on Facebook
@Warren, this is actually a great question. You're right. This isn't the Lake Wobegon effect where all the districts are above average. However, what we can do, overtime, is increase the basic level of proficiency. So, as more districts become "average" the state board needs to increase the rigor, raise the bar, on what it takes to become average.
Kenneth Franks
Just look at the chart. The rich districts do better and the poorer districts do worse. Tax payers in poorer districts have a higher tax rate and the rich districts have a lower tax rate. Shame on the legislature for not leveling the playing field enough that all districts can see some level of success and get the funding they need.