We have had a tremendous start to the 2023-2024 school year and are so glad to have our students back with us.

Temple ISD is committed to supporting our students in reaching their maximum potential and preparing them for their futures. One way that we measure our success is through comprehensive student progress data. The data from the 2022-2023 school year demonstrates the following significant gains:

• Increased scores on all five high school end of course STAAR exams
• 1061 dual credit college hours earned
• 669 college credit hours earned through AP & IB exams
• 368 industry-based certifications earned by students in CTE
• Increased scores on all 8th grade STAAR assessments
• Increased scores on all 3-5th grade reading and math STAAR assessments
• Improved in 19 of 23 accountability system indicators across the district

This data clearly indicates that our students are growing and excelling across the board. The Texas Education Agency released students’ scores to districts and families in mid-August and many of you have had a chance to see this growth and progress firsthand.

However, last minute changes made to the accountability system by the Texas Education Agency, which have still not been released or explained in their entirety, will confuse parents and the public when campus and district ratings largely drop across the state. Under the newly written rules of the accountability system, seven out of every ten school districts across Texas – despite glaring gains - will drop when these new ratings are released end of September.

How is this possible? The changes made to the accountability system are not just tweaks, but rather deliberate and significant changes applied after results have finalized. While we are proponents of high expectations, the drastic nature and late timing of these changes are a cause for alarm and suspicion. Further, these actions are a violation of state law. The proposed changes are unprecedented in four ways:

• the volume of assessment and accountability changes in a single year,
• the lack of transparency afforded to educators and the public,
• the retroactive application of scores, and
• the removal of the traditional transition year for implementation of new standards.

These last minute rule changes will inherently lower campus and district ratings, including schools in Temple ISD, no matter our significant gains in student performance.

The purpose of an accountability system is to accurately inform the public. These proposed rules will provide a false narrative about public schools. Less than a month ago Governor Abbott thanked public school teachers for statewide gains on the STAAR tests - in which he was correct in his assessment. The release of these ratings will collapse his statement and once again, prove to confuse communities.

Due to this attempt to discredit public schools, and to do it at the costs of violating legal requirements, the Temple ISD Board of Trustees passed a resolution to enter into a lawsuit against the TEA. The grounds of this lawsuit challenges the legality of the timing and lack of transparency behind the changes made to the accountability system. Entering into this lawsuit also takes a position that recognizes the successful gains of our students and families as well as the hard work of our staff and teachers. It cuts through the political games and simply sends the message that it is time to do what's right by children, public education and communities.

As updates come available I will be sure to communicate those to you in a timely manner.

Regardless of litigation outcomes and distorted ratings, the district will continue to inspire, motivate, and empower students to reach their maximum potential.

I would like to thank all of you for a successful 2022-2023 school year as we look forward to continued success this year.

Sincerely,

Bobby Ott