One of the most powerful collections of data online supporting improved education in Texas is the "Snapshot" collection of data for each public school district in Texas. This listing includes both charter school districts and ISD's and allows for a powerful comparison between them.
Due to the power of this data it may reasonably be feared that attempts will be made to eliminate this data from easy online availability. Beware!
The data is a year old and not posted until a year after the end of the school year. The need for absolute accuracy is valued, but we all need to request that a "subject to correction" copy of the data be posted 10 months sooner so that initial data analysis can be done in a more timely manner.
The easiest way to find the web site is to google TEA and Snapshot. The first hit is https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/perfreport//snapshot/
On that page in the left hand column you have access to year by year data for every school district in Texas going back 20 years. As is stated on that page: "From this website up to 98 items of data for each district can be accessed. The items can be browsed or downloaded. Twenty years of information are currently available at this site:2013-14, 2012-13, 2011-12, 2010-11, 2009-10, 2008-09, 2007-08, 2006-07, 2005-06, 2004-05, 2003-04, 2002-03, 2001-02, 2000-01, 1999-2000, 1998-99, 1997-98,1996-97, 1995-96, and 1994-95. Additional text and exhibits are available from this website for 1996-97 through 2001-02 when Snapshot was published as a book. Beginning with 2002-03 a print version of Snapshot is no longer available.
On this page if you click on Snapshot 2014 at the top in the left hand column you will immediately go to:
https://rptsvr1.tea.texas.gov/perfreport//snapshot/2014/index.html
On that page if you click on State Totals you will immediately see a powerful comparison of all the charter schools in Texas compared with all the ISD's.
This is only the beginning of the comparisons possible with this data.
Note teacher turnover patterns which are high in charter schools and the generally lower achievement in spite of the cherry picking of students they are able to do.
Many hours can be spent on this site, but it is a powerful weapon in the war to improve our public schools!
