House And Senate Differ On Grade System For Schools

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A proposal to issue A through F grades to rate public schools' academic performance is headed to the House floor, but features different criteria than a similar, Senate-approved plan.

The House Public Education Committee late Tuesday endorsed distributing letter grades based on student and school performance, and parent engagement.

Students are evaluated using standardized testing and any academic improvement they demonstrate, and schools on graduation rates.

Parents active in their children's education, meanwhile, can bolster school grades.

The version that cleared the Senate, meanwhile, relies more heavily on student and teacher performance.

Texas already has approved a letter-grade system for school districts, but not individual schools.

Supporters say grades are easier to understand than the current "academically acceptable" rating system. Opponents argue that attending an F-rated school could stigmatize students.