October 3, 2015 6:32 PM

Education Commissioner faces harsh criticism from school leaders for tougher accountability standards

Frustrated trustees and superintendents give Michael Williams an earful about STAAR tests, questioned agency intervention measures and dismissed the upcoming A-F rating system as a gimmick

Education Commissioner Michael Williams may not be the one who created the school accountability system, but he’s definitely the one taking heat for it right now.

During a question-and-answer session at the TASA/TASB conference in Austin, Williams had to face frustrated trustees and superintendents who doubted the validity of the STAAR tests, questioned agency intervention measures and dismissed the upcoming A-F rating system as a gimmick rather than solution.

“I don’t think it’s a flawed system,” Williams said when confronted point blank by a trustee. “I think it can be improved.”

Williams, who has been on the job for more than three years, has been forced to make more tough decisions than any of his predecessors. It was on his watch that the Texas Education Agency appointed a board of managers for El Paso and Beaumont ISDs and consolidated North Forest ISD into Houston ISD.

By Kimberly Reeves