Optional Alternative Evaluation and Appeal Systems Reopened

To the Superintendent Addressed:

The 2021 Optional Alternative Evaluation Request System in the Texas Education Agency Login (TEAL) Accountability application has reopened. The optional alternative evaluation data, as prescribed by Senate Bill (SB) 1365 (87th Texas Legislature), for eligible campuses are also now available again in TEAL Accountability. SB 1365 established a 2021 alternative evaluation option for campuses that met participation requirements in 2021 and earned an unacceptable rating for the most recent year they were rated.

 

2021 Optional Alternative Evaluation Data

The data released today includes the following for SB 1365 campuses: the most recent SB 1365 eligible rating, the year of such rating, and the 2021 participation rate across all subjects. If the campus meets both the rating and 95 percent participation requirements, scaled scores for the Student Achievement and School Progress, Part B: Relative Performance domains are displayed along with the averaged, overall score. If the overall scaled score is at least a 70, the campus is eligible to receive a 2021 Acceptable rating.

 

To receive the 2021 Acceptable rating, districts/open-enrollment charter schools must submit a request certified by the superintendent via the 2021 Optional Alternative Evaluation Request System in TEAL Accountability between November 15 and December 15, 2021. Districts that submitted a request in September 2021 do not need to resubmit a request. If a request is not submitted for an eligible campus, the Acceptable rating will not be applied.

 

Appeal of Consecutive Years of Unacceptable Performance
Under SB 1365, districts/open-enrollment charter schools may also file an appeal for the determination of consecutive school years of unacceptable performance ratings under TEC, §39.054 for the district, open-enrollment charter school, and/or campus. The 2021 preliminary 2021 Consecutive School Years of Unacceptable Ratings listing has been updated on the 2021 ratings page. This listing was updated by incorporating all potential pauses under SB 1882 and Math Innovation Zones. The count of years was also updated to begin with 2013–14 accountability ratings and excludes ratings prior to August 2014.

If a district/open-enrollment charter school wishes to appeal the count of consecutive years of unacceptable ratings, an appeal must be filed through the TEAL 2021 Consecutive School Years of Unacceptable Ratings Appeal System by December 15. Documentation supporting such an appeal is required, and the appeal must follow the guidelines provided in the Guidelines for the 2021 Appeal of Consecutive School Years of Unacceptable Performance Ratings.

What’s Next?

 

How to Access the TEAL Accountability Application

• Log on to TEAL Accountability Application https://tealprod.tea.state.tx.us/TSP/TEALcurePortal/Access/LogonServlet.
• Launch ACCT – Accountability listed as one of the web applications at the top.
• You may also use this reference page to reset your TEAL username or password if needed.

For additional information, please view the 2021 Alternative Evaluation FAQs and the Senate Bill 1365 Accountability System Impact document on the Performance Reporting Resources webpage as well as the Preliminary Count of Consecutive Years of Unacceptable Performance on the 2021 Accountability Rating System webpage.

If you have further questions about the 2021 optional alternative evaluation process or the consecutive years of unacceptable performance appeal, please reach out to Performance Reporting at (512) 463-9704 or performance.reporting@tea.texas.gov.  

Thank you.