As Pearce Middle School is ordered to close, State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, is opening their books.

"They made tremendous gains in every area – tremendous – and they should be applauded," Dukes said.

Dukes gives no applause for the decision to close the school. But, because of a failing score in science this year and five consecutive years of failing scores the Texas Education Agency said it's too late.

"There comes a point where you have to say, 'How many years of failure is too much and wouldn't these kids be better off someplace else?'" Debbie Ratcliffe, TEA spokeswoman, said.

School closure was a hot topic at the Capitol this session. Dukes fought to change the law for mandatory closure of schools based on failing scores.

Now the state has the option to keep schools open if progress is being made.

"What we've been told for the past three years is that my hands are tied, the Legislature says I have to close these schools," Dukes said. "Well, the Legislature no longer says that."

TEA said under new law they still have the option to close and that based on research, the education commissioner feels it's the right thing to do.

"He just didn't feel we were seeing the kind of progress we needed," Ratcliffe said.

Dukes said progress is progress, and now Pearce students will be punished for progress. She says the decision caught her by surprise, but it's no surprise that she plans to challenge it.

"If you work hard then they shall have an opportunity, not if you work hard we will ignore it and close your school," Dukes said.

The debate about the school is far from closed. It will continue in a public forum at a community meeting hosted by the district at Pearce Middle School next Wednesday, July 15th from 6:30 p.m-8:30 p.m.