By KRWG News
El Paso – School districts in the state's five largest cities failed to meet federal education standards amid discrepancies in how the state and federal government count tests taken by special education students.
Districts that failed to meet standards are required to create plans to improve.
Preliminary records released by the Texas Education Agency showed for the third consecutive year Dallas, Houston and San Antonio fell short of the standards. Austin failed last year, and this is the first year for El Paso.
Failure next year by Dallas, Houston and San Antonio means any student from those districts could transfer to a school in a higher-performing district and receive free transportation.
Overall, 78 percent of Texas school districts met federal standards this year.
Schools must meet the standards two years in a row to be considered improved.
Online:
Texas Education Agency district data tables: http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/ayp/2010/district.srch.html
Texas Education Agency adequate yearly reports: http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/ayp/2010/index.html
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.