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November 5, 2009

One of two ratings appeals OK’d for PAISD

MARY MEAUX

PORT ARTHUR — Port Arthur ISD claimed a victory in one of two accountability rating appeals listed with the Texas Education Agency.

DeEtta Culbertson, spokesperson with TEA, said Lee Elementary went from not rated status to academically acceptable status while Tyrrell Elementary remained academically acceptable with no rating change.

Mark Porterie, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Operations and Leadership Support for PAISD, said the district appealed the Lee rating because the campus missed the rating by 2 percent in one sub-category. The school was rated as recognized in 2008.

Tyrrell School’s rating was appealed due to a coding issue, Porterie said. Tyrrell was rated academically acceptable in 2008.

Appealing TEA ratings is a common practice, he said.

The TEA appeals process is multifaceted.

Once the appeal is filed with TEA, the information is analyzed by staff researchers and each appeal is handled individually, Culbertson said. An external panel consisting of three independent members researches the issue and supporting documentation and make a recommendation. The recommendation then goes to the Texas Education Commissioner.

Accountability appeals changed the ratings of 19 school districts and 64 campuses, according to a press release from TEA.

After appeals, six campuses moved up to an exemplary rating and 19 campuses and five districts moved up to a recognized rating while 18 campuses and 14 districts managed to upgrade their academically unacceptable rating.

However, ratings remained unchanged for most districts and campuses. Overall 81 of the 234 district or campus appeals were granted.

mmeaux@panews.com

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