Texas Senate approves plan rating schools with letter grades

The Texas Senate has given preliminary approval to rating public schools statewide by letter grades A through F.

The proposal passed 20-10 Monday would issue grades based on student standardized test scores. A floor change, however, means the bill won’t take effect until the 2017-2018 academic year.

It now needs only a final, procedural vote before heading to the House.

Senate Republicans say grades are easy to understand and will spur parents to force changes at failing schools. Campuses are currently rated on a “met standards” or “needs improvement” pass-fail system.

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

Democratic opponents worry that attending an F-graded school could stigmatize students and say poor school ratings more reflect inadequate classroom funding than education quality.