SCHOOL NEWS
Judge blocks use of accountability ratings calling them ‘unlawful’
This week, a Travis County judge temporarily blocked the Texas Education Agency from releasing its annual school accountability ratings calling them “unlawful.”
A new updated rating system was set to debut back in August, but then the state pushed it to September, which has since been postponed as state officials said they needed more time to adjust scores under the new system.
The ruling from Judge Catherine Mauzy was released on Oct. 28 and stems from a lawsuit from more than 100 of school districts across the state that sued the TEA to delay the ratings claiming the new school evaluation methodology primarily changes to the calculation of the scores, would result in unfair drops in their ratings.
TEA officials have said they plan to appeal. Mauzy has set a trial day for Feb. 12, 2024. She stated the new rating system is “unlawful and would harm districts across the state.”
Districts allege TEA and Commissioner Mike Morath did not provide adequate notice of the changes being made. The school leaders testified earlier this month that the changes could have lowered the scores for campuses even if they had improved their performance.
Mauzy stated the districts had given sufficient evidence showing Morath’s implementation of the A-F accountability system for the 2022-2023 school year “violates Texas law and would cause irreparable harm” to school districts in the state.
Read the full story in the weekend Bowie News.
SCHOOL NEWS
Nocona senior takes state feature writing title
Abigail Hill, Nocona High School valedictorian, is the 2026 UIL feature writing state champion. Nocona faculty have been looking through school records and UIL records to see when Nocona last had someone won state. UIL record archives only date back to 1983 and they didn’t see anyone listed as winning a gold medal in Academic UIL. According to Nocona records, she is the first UIL Academic Champion since 1973. (Courtesy photo)
SCHOOL NEWS
Bowie Kindergarten students graduate
Bowie Elementary kindergarten students entertained the huge audience that attended the graduation ceremonies at the high school gym on May 21. Each kindergarten class performed a song for the guests. They also were invited to dress as their future career choice such as a doctor or a police officer.

Each class entertained with a song.
SCHOOL NEWS
Gold-Burg grad serving NASA internship
By Andy Newberry, MSU Texas
Midwestern State University junior Rykir Evans is not only building his skills during a NASA internship—he’s creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Evans has been a remote student at MSU Texas this semester while completing the internship. During that time, he had the opportunity to meet American naval aviator and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, as well as NASA Chief Flight Director Gene Kranz.
“It definitely has been an amazing experience thus far, and meeting all of the super inspirational figures in flesh and blood was definitely surreal,” Evans said.
Read the full story in Thursday’s Bowie News.
(Top photo) Rykir Evans had a chance meeting with Reid Wiseman NASA astronaut and commander of the Artemis II lunar fly-by mission. He also met famed NASA chief flight director Gene Kranz, who directed the first lunar landing mission, Apollo 11.

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