Final A-F Accountability System Manual for 2027
| Date: | March 19, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Final A-F Accountability System Manual for 2027 |
| Category: | Performance Reporting |
| Next Steps: | Share with appropriate staff |
The purpose of this communication is to inform school systems about the publication of the final rule adopting the ´¡â€“F Accountability Rating System Manual for 2027 accountability ratings.
In response to stakeholder feedback, the final ´¡â€“F Accountability Rating System Manual for 2027 is now available earlier than ever, providing school systems with notice prior to the start of the 2026–27 school year of the methodology that will impact their 2027 ratings. The Accountability Rating System Manual for 2027 was filed on March 9, 2026, and will be published in the March 20, 2026, issue of the Texas Register with an effective date of March 29, 2026. The manual is available today on the 2027 Accountability Manual webpage. The final manual reflects feedback collected from the proposed rules posted on December 11, 2025.
The ´¡â€“F Accountability Rating System Manual for 2027 ratings describes the 2027 accountability system and explains how information from various sources is used to measure district and campus performance, assign accountability ratings, and award distinction designations. The manual also covers topics related to designations under the federal accountability system and Results Driven Accountability (RDA).
´¡â€“F Accountability
The Texas ´¡â€“F accountability system is a tool to help school systems continuously improve student performance to achieve the goals of eliminating achievement gaps based on race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status and ensuring Texas is a national leader in preparing students for postsecondary success. One of the design commitments of ´¡â€“F is that the system maintains, to the extent possible, the same calculations and cut scores for up to five consecutive years without annual changes or updates, allowing for better year-over-year performance comparisons.
In the 2022–23 school year, the ´¡â€“F system was refreshed. The refresh included changes to cut points, domain, and indicator methodology, and the overall system. To honor the ´¡â€“F commitment to maintain the refreshed system without annual changes or updates for up to five consecutive years, 2027 cut points, domain and indicator methodology, and the overall system remains the same as those communicated and established in rules previously adopted.
´¡â€“F Accountability Rating System Manual for 2027 Ratings
2027 Academic Accountability System Resources regarding the updates are available on the 2027 Accountability System webpage. After the public comment period, the proposed updates have been incorporated into the final ´¡â€“F Accountability Rating System Manual.
Previously adopted manuals included early communication of changes that would impact future accountability cycles to ensure the manual remained relevant across multiple cycles. The following rules for the 2027 accountability year that have been previously adopted include the following:
- College Preparatory Course Requirements: CCMR credit will be earned in 2027 accountability for those courses meeting requirements aligned between districts and the partnering IHEs taken by students who were in their 12th grade year.
- Programs of Study and Industry-Based Certification (IBC) Alignment: College, Career, and ºÚÁÏÉç Readiness (CCMR) credit will be earned in 2027 accountability for successfully earning an approved IBC from either the 2022-25 list (with sunsetting limit) or the 2025-30 list, with CTE Completer status in an aligned program of study.
Two minor updates were made related to the ´¡â€“F Accountability Rating System for 2027, which include:
- Related to ´¡â€“F appeals: A granted Closing the Gaps appeal can update comprehensive, targeted, or additional targeted support intervention federal identifications.
- Related to campus number requests: In alignment with anticipated changes to 19 Texas Administrative Code §97.1066, the campus request deadline in the ´¡â€“F Accountability Rating System Manual for 2027 has been moved from September 1 to May 31.
Edits for clarity regarding consistent language and terminology throughout each chapter are also embedded in the final ´¡â€“F Accountability Rating System Manual based on public comment.
Contact Information
For any questions about the final ´¡â€“F Accountability System Manual for 2027 ratings, please contact the Performance Reporting Division via the .