HOUSE APPROVES SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY OVERHAUL

  

The Texas House has approved an overhaul of an academic accountability rating system that issues schools and school districts A-to-F letter grades.

The grading scale only passed last session and hasn't been fully implemented, but has been widely criticized by teachers and several groups that originally promoted it.

The system grades schools on five categories and relies heavily on student performance on state-mandated standardized tests.  The proposed bill cuts the graded categories to three while focusing on student achievement beyond standardized tests.

It passed Wednesday via simple voice vote, and needs just a final, largely procedural vote Thursday to go to the Senate.