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Overview

The purpose of this communication is to inform school systems that the updated 2028 Refresh ��–F Accountability System Framework is now available. The framework provides an overview of the proposed adjustments to the ��–F Accountability System to be implemented with the statutorily required refresh for the 2028 accountability ratings year. Any changes discussed in this framework do not impact A-F ratings in the current school year (2026) nor in the following school year (2027).

Background

Before ��–F began with the passage of House Bill 22 in 2017, Texas accountability rules were changed every year, with goals for students continually increasing. With ��–F, the statutory requirements changed from annual to periodic, and a commitment was made to maintain the same calculations and cut scores for up to five consecutive years without annual changes to allow for better year-over-year performance comparisons.

In 2023, the ������ (TEA) conducted the first 5-year refresh since the initial 2018 campus ratings were introduced under ��–F.

The passage of House Bill (HB) 8 (89th Special Session, 2025), codified this 5-year refresh cycle in Texas Education Code (TEC), §39.053(f-1). Cut scores may be increased only every five years, unless an indicator requires adjustment before that school year to ensure consistency in performance standards. The next 5-year refresh is scheduled for 2028. Additionally, HB 8 established that, with each refresh, the agency must increase the rigor of performance ratings to ensure Texas is positioned to rank among the top 5 states nationally on both the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and postsecondary readiness within 15 years of the refresh.

The passage of HB 8 in Fall 2025 has had additional impacts on this framework, which was preliminarily released in Summer 2025, and the updates to the framework meet the requirements of the new statute.

Preliminary 2028 A-F Accountability Rating System Framework

TEA extensively engages educators, superintendents, school board members, community and business leaders and other groups from across the state for feedback, offering a variety of proposals for consideration and gathering feedback on those proposals. These considerations, as well as topics that emerged from extensive data modeling and analysis of the ��–F system, were discussed with the Texas Accountability Advisory Group (TAAG), an RDA/��–F Integration Taskforce, and a Distinction Designations Committee. With the guidance and recommendations of these advisory groups, the Preliminary 2028 ��–F Accountability System Framework was released on the Accountability System Development webpage on August 28, 2025, more than two years prior to the 2027–28 accountability ratings year. The updated 2028 A-F Accountability System Framework reflects the requirements of HB 8 and other legislation, as well as feedback from key stakeholders and the public. This updated framework is intended to preview anticipated changes that will be incorporated into the Proposed Accountability Rating System Manual for 2028 ratings.  

Resources with information about the updated framework are now available on the Accountability System Development webpage: 

• Updated 2028 ��–F Refresh Framework provides detailed technical descriptions of the proposed A-F refresh changes  
• 2028 ��–F Refresh Summary of Stakeholder Feedback and Adjustments to Framework provides a summary of how stakeholder feedback has informed updates to the framework since the August 2025 release  

The Accountability Rating System Manual for 2028 ratings will be proposed for adoption into rule later this year.

Differential Weighting of College, Career, and ������ Readiness (CCMR) Indicators for 2031 Ratings

Included in the 2028 ��–F Accountability Rating System Framework is the framework for differential weighting of CCMR to be implemented beginning in the 2031 accountability ratings.  Pursuant to legislative requirements, the relationships between individual CCMR indicators and postsecondary outcomes have been evaluated through comprehensive internal and external research. The proposed framework for differential weighting of CCMR will begin with the class of 2030, largely comprised of students entering 9th grade in the 2026-27 school year. Beginning with 2031 accountability ratings, CCMR will be evaluated using three postsecondary readiness levels, aligned to each indicator’s correlation to positive postsecondary outcomes. These tiers will establish higher or lower point values for different levels of college readiness, different levels of career readiness, and different levels of military readiness.  

The differentiated levels of career readiness will utilize the tiered Industry-Based Certifications (IBCs) list. With the June 11, 2025, amendment to 19 TAC §74.1003, each IBC has been tiered based on the extent to which each certification is high skill, in demand, and associated with higher wages. Tiers are intended to signify an IBC’s potential value to students and to serve as guidance for school system staff when selecting IBCs to align with the programs of study offered in their local school systems. The preliminary tiered IBC list was announced in July 2025, and the final IBC list was posted October 31, 2025. 

Continued Communication and Support

What If Ratings

To support educators’ continued understanding of the refreshed 2028 accountability system and in accordance with HB 8, the agency will generate 2026 What If Ratings and 2027 What If Ratings based on the 2028 accountability system methodology. The 2026 What If ratings are expected to be released in the TEA Login (TEAL) Accountability after final official ratings are issued for 2026, and the 2027 What If ratings will follow a similar release timeline.  Prior to the actual 2028 refresh, these ratings will only be issued in TEAL for educator review.

When ratings are issued in 2028 under the refreshed accountability rules, What If ratings from 2027 will be published on TXschools.gov, in the “Change Over Time” performance history section, so that the public will be able to understand how performance in 2028 compared with performance in 2027 even though standards changed with the refresh.  

What If ratings do not replace the final 2026 or 2027 ��–F ratings and do not carry accountability consequences; instead, they will be provided as a reference for administrators in advance of 2028 and as a comparison for the public in fall 2028.

What If Differential Weighting CCMR Raw Scores

In addition to What If ratings for 2026 and 2027, the agency will also generate CCMR raw scores for 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030 using the calculation of CCMR indicators under differential weighting for 2031 that is outlined in the framework document.

Further opportunities for regional and school system leaders representing students across Texas to engage with the Performance Reporting Division on the refreshed 2028 ��–F Academic Accountability Rating System will be announced soon. to stay up to date on ��–F.  

Additional Questions or Support

Please direct questions to the TEA Performance Reporting Division at the .