Santa Fe ISD trustees received a review of the Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) 2023 accountability “refresh,” which staff said reset cut scores and altered assessment rubrics, producing lower letter grades even where students’ raw scores rose.

Miss Harris, the district presenter, told the board that the state’s redesign of STAAR and the scoring system — described in the meeting as a “refresh” — produced a mismatch: districts showed score increases but received lower A–F letter grades after TEA changed performance cut points and rubrics. She said TEA released some rubrics and guidance late in the year and that the redesign was the subject of litigation involving more than 120 districts.

Harris showed district-level comparisons and said surrounding districts also saw decreased letter grades. She noted the district had hoped for a B in 2023 and that the high school had received a B (80) while other campuses received varying results; several elementary campuses earned distinctions in areas including science and academic growth.

Board members and staff discussed next steps. Harris said the district will continue to comb through preliminary data to confirm calculations and check whether any data should be appealed. She provided projected 2024 calculations showing an improved district score and higher projected high-school results, and said staff will continue communicating with the public about what the scores mean.

Several trustees and a speaker on the dais urged caution about social media criticism of district staff, noting that public statements can affect students and employees, and encouraged residents who have concerns to contact trustees directly.

The district did not announce any formal appeal outcome at the meeting; staff said further review of the preliminary data is ongoing.