The Texas Education Agency is grading schools this year based on a measure that allows students credit for improvement even if they fail the standardized test.
Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott is set to release school accountability ratings Friday. He recently cautioned that student progress is being overshadowed by criticism of the Texas Projection Measure. That boosts school ratings by factoring in a projection of students' future performances on the test.
In a letter to school administrators earlier this month, Scott said he may suspend the practice in 2011.
Advocates say it rewards schools with a large percentage of disadvantaged students who are making consistent improvements, even if they fall short of minimum standards. Critics say the projection measure masks struggling students.
