Landgraf presses TEA to release test scores for graduates
In a formal letter to Commissioner Mike Morath, Landgraf requested that ECISD receive its scores by May 21, 2025 — two days ahead of the statewide release date. Without early access to scores, many seniors and early-graduating juniors could be left out of ceremonies scheduled before May 23, including Permian High School's graduation on May 22.
"These students have done everything required of them — completed their coursework, passed their classes, and earned the right to graduate," Landgraf said in a news release. "They shouldn't miss this moment because of a bureaucratic delay."
Landgraf stressed that graduation is a major milestone for students, families, and the entire community, and that the state should do its part to make sure every qualified student can participate.
"I strongly urge the agency to approve ECISD's request, " Landgraf added. "I am fighting to make sure these students get the recognition they've worked so hard to earn."
The parent of a Permian High School student who is planning to graduate early expressed concern Tuesday that his daughter may not be able to walk the stage due to a technicality.
David Patrick said his daughter has taken on a double workload the past semester so that she can graduate early from PHS because he is being relocated for work in June.
"The technicality is that State test results arrive on May 23rd. Since PHS graduation occurs on May 22nd, 22 ECISD students — who, like my own daughter, went above and beyond, are being told they will not be allowed to walk the stage because they haven't fulfilled all the requirements for graduation (if test results arrive early, then they will not be held back if they passed)," Patrick posted on Facebook.
Ector County ISD issued a statement saying:
"Our long-standing school board policy is that students must satisfactorily complete all coursework requirements for graduation and satisfy all applicable state testing requirements in order to participate in commencement activities and ceremonies.
"Unfortunately, this year, the Texas Education Agency's release of individual student test results is scheduled for May 23, which is after all ECISD's high school graduation ceremonies, except Odessa High School.
"The timing not only affects early graduates but also all seniors who are waiting for the results of make up End of Course exams to determine whether or not they have met graduation requirements and will be eligible to participate in their respective graduations. The alternative is to participate in Summer Graduation in July.
"School district leaders have sent a formal request to TEA asking the agency to release ECISD's individual results on or by May 21 to help accommodate our students who have worked so hard to earn their diplomas and are one last piece of data away from walking the stage. We are proud of all they have accomplished and hopeful this request for scores will work out in their favor," the statement said.
A spokesman for the Texas Education Agency said Wednesday there are ways early graduates can walk the stage.
If a student hasn't passed their end of course assessments and they're trying to graduate there is an option called an individual graduation committee where they take a holistic look at what the student has done and they are able to recommend them for graduation, spokesman Jacob Kobersky said.
Also, if a student is graduating early and they have taken a comparative assessment like the SAT or ACT that also counts, Kobersky said.
He added that there is a provision of law that allows districts to issue a certificate of completion for graduates so they are able to walk.
"But also if it is a situation where a kid has not passed the required end of course assessments, typically, again, as a senior they would not be taking those tests for the first time. There are, I believe, up to three different re-testing opportunities. There are a lot of different options to where it doesn't come down to a situation where it's contingent on the date of a graduation because they haven't gotten results," Kobersky said. "It's designed to prevent that type of situation, so there are a lot of different kind of avenues that the district can explore and they may still be doing that."
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