The commissioner must determine each school district’s accreditation status every year and may consider several performance and compliance factors. A district that is not accredited cannot receive agency funds or hold itself out as operating a public school in the state.
Sec. 39.052. DETERMINATION OF ACCREDITATION STATUS OR PERFORMANCE RATING. (a) Each year, the commissioner shall determine the accreditation status of each school district. (b) In determining the accreditation status of a school district, the commissioner: (1) shall evaluate and consider: (A) performance on achievement indicators described by Section 39.053; and (B) performance under the financial accountability rating system developed under Subchapter D; and (2) may evaluate and consider: (A) the district's compliance with statutory requirements and requirements imposed by rule of the commissioner or State Board of Education under specific statutory authority that relate to: (i) reporting data through the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) or other reports required by state or federal law or court order; (ii) the high school graduation requirements under Section 28.025; or (iii) an item listed under Sections 7.056(e)(3)(C)-(I) that applies to the district; (B) the effectiveness of the district's programs for special populations; and (C) the effectiveness of the district's career and technology program. (b-1) Consideration of the effectiveness of district programs under Subsection (b)(2)(B) or (C): (1) must: (A) be based on data collected through the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) for purposes of accountability under this chapter; and (B) include the results of assessments required under Section 39.023; and (2) may be based on the results of a special investigation conducted under Section 39.003. (c) Based on a school district's performance under Subsection (b), the commissioner shall: (1) assign each district an accreditation status; or (2) revoke the accreditation of the district and order closure of the district. (d) A school district's accreditation status may be raised or lowered based on the district's performance or may be lowered based on the performance of one or more campuses in the district that is below a standard required under this subchapter. (e) The commissioner shall notify a school district that receives an accreditation status of accredited-warned or accredited-probation or a campus that performs below a standard required under this subchapter that the performance of the district or campus is below a standard required under this subchapter. The commissioner shall require the district to notify the parents of students enrolled in the district and property owners in the district of the district's accreditation status and the implications of that accreditation status. (f) A school district that is not accredited may not receive funds from the agency or hold itself out as operating a public school of this state. (g) This chapter may not be construed to invalidate a diploma awarded, course credit earned, or grade promotion granted by a school district before the commissioner revoked the district's accreditation. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, Sec. 1, eff. May 30, 1995. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 396, Sec. 2.21, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1514, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 4.009, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1269, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2006, 79th Leg., 3rd C.S., Ch. 5 (H.B. 1), Sec. 3.12, eff. May 26, 2006. Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 895 (H.B. 3), Sec. 59, eff. June 19, 2009. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1094 (H.B. 2804), Sec. 14, eff. June 19, 2015. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 807 (H.B. 22), Sec. 7, eff. June 15, 2017. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., 2nd C.S., Ch. 6 (H.B. 8), Sec. 2.002, eff. December 4, 2025.