Twisted Logic 101. If a student earns a failing grade for their assignments during the semester they can still receive a passing grade on their report card because the law requiring honest grading does not specifically mention report cards. In other words, if little Barry fails to learn his lessons he can still be deemed to have passed.

The Houston Chronicle reports.

Austin - A Travis County judge ruled today that Texas public schools are required to give students truthful grades on class assignments and on their report cards under a 2009 state law that 11 school districts were challenging in court.

The school districts - most of them in Harris County - argued that the law applied only to grades on assignments, noting that the statute didn't specifically mention report cards, semester grades, or six- or nine-week averages.

But state District Judge Triana-Doyal ruled that the statute is "not ambiguous" and clearly means districts cannot require teachers to give students grades that they did not earn. The bill's author, Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, has said she intended it to apply to all grades.

Richard Morris, the attorney for the school districts, said he would ask his clients whether they wanted to appeal the decision or to try to lobby for a change in the next legislative session.