Self-Reported Data Unit

TEA’s Self-Reported Data Unit (SRDU) was formed in April 2022. The purpose of SRDU is to provide support and strategy to identify potential discrepancies in self-reported data, including those reported through the Texas Student Data System Public Education Information Management System (TSDS PEIMS), submitted by Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to TEA. The unit reviews, analyzes, and monitors the self-reported data and other data submitted to the agency, including data indicators used in the state accountability system. When data anomalies are identified, compliance review letters are typically issued to ensure that LEAs are in compliance with state and federal laws, rules, and regulations. SRDU often works with LEAs to bring them into compliance and/or to establish better local practices, but also collaborates with TEA program areas to ensure LEAs have access to the information and tools necessary to establish better local practices and accurately report data to the agency.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1.What is a compliance review? 

TEA’s self-reported data compliance reviews are a collaborative review process with LEAs to ensure they are acting in accordance with state law and other regulatory requirements. TEA requests documentation and other information from LEAs by a particular deadline to review and determine whether there has been a violation and commonly works with the districts to bring them into compliance and/or to establish better local practices.

2. What could happen as a result of SRDU’s compliance review? How might this impact an LEA's accountability rating?

Generally, TEA may take any of the following actions as a result of a compliance review:

• TEA may close it's review with no further action if the LEA's response satisfies TEA's concerns.
• TEA may work with the LEA to complete corrective actions to ensure more accurate information is provided and/or appropriate policies are implemented in the future.
• TEA may refer the compliance review to TEA's Special Investigations Unit (SIU) for further investigation.

TEA’s 2024 State Accountability Manual includes additional information about TEA’s process regarding compliance reviews that relate to state accountability data. If TEA makes a preliminary determination that the accuracy and/or integrity of performance results may have been compromised (whether intentional or not), a case may be referred to SIU and a special investigation may be opened. If a case is referred to SIU, an LEA may receive a temporary "Data Under Review” label, on either a preliminary or final rating, on TXschools.gov and their Texas Academic Performance Reports (TAPR). As a result of state accountability compliance reviews and investigations, TEA has the discretion to issue one the following accountability ratings for an LEA:

• Issue a "Not Rated: Data Integrity Issues" accountability rating;
• Issue a rating consistent with the actual performance of the district (which may or may not change from the preliminary rating); or
• Lower the district's accountability rating.

If an LEA’s accountability rating is changed, a label representing this change will be added to their accountability reports that states “Overall score or rating updated as a result of a Data Compliance Review”. Please note, when a rating is updated, the underlying data in these reports are not updated and are still reflective of the LEA’s original data submission. This label informs parents, researchers, and the general public that the new accountability rating is reflective of the findings from a data-related compliance review.

3. Is an LEA required to put the current TAPR Report on the district’s website if they have been issued a data-related compliance review?

LEAs that are undergoing a compliance review and/or who have a temporary “Data Under Review” label are still required to post performance related information on their district’s website as specified in TEC §39.362. Updated performance reports will be available on TEA’s website for download shortly after the LEA's final rating has been issued. For more information on posting requirements in general, please see the Requirement for Posting of Performance Frequently Asked Questions page.

4. My district was issued a compliance review in response to triggering an indicator in the Leaver Record Data Validation / Discipline Data Validation / Student Assessment Data Validation system(s). Who should I reach out to with questions?

While the Self-Reported Data Unit also investigates leaver and discipline data concerns, the Data Reporting Compliance Unit (DRCU) within the Information Technology Customer Relationship Management and Data Standards Department at TEA monitors leaver and discipline data through established Performance-Based Monitoring indicators within the Leaver Record Data Validation (LRDV) and Discipline Data Validation (DDV) systems. Questions surrounding any compliance reviews issued in response to triggering an indicator in the LRDV or DDV systems should be directed to the DRCU team at DRCU@tea.texas.gov or (512) 463-9968.

LEAs who trigger an indicator in the Student Assessment Data Validation (SADV) system are expected to conduct a local review to validate and document that their data are correct. LEAs should use the agency's guidance, including the District and Campus Coordinator Resources (DCCR), to ensure that their reporting is accurate and meets the agency’s requirements and expectations. The DCCR also includes information on the next steps LEAs should take if testing irregularities or other errors are identified. LEAs should maintain local documentation of their data validation process. The Student Assessment Help Desk includes an FAQ and provides an opportunity to submit any questions to the Assessment team. Only a small number of LEAs may be issued a compliance review by the Self-Reported Data Unit in response to triggering an SADV indicator. If your LEA has been issued an SADV-related compliance review, you may contact the SRDU team at DataComplaints@tea.texas.gov.

For more information about these data monitoring systems, you may also review the data validation manuals.

5. What should I do if I would like to file a complaint against a school district or charter school related to the falsification or manipulation of PEIMS data?

TEA’s complaint form can be found here: Complaint Form. Please visit our TEA Complaints Management website for more information on TEA’s formal complaint process.