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A plan to eliminate the controversial State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) cleared the Texas House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon, setting the stage for a major shift in how the state measures student performance. The proposal, known as House Bill 8, passed with bipartisan support — but not without deep disagreements about what should replace the test.
While lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree that the STAAR exam is outdated and unnecessarily stressful for students, the details of the replacement plan have revealed stark differences. The bill will now head to the Senate, where its future remains uncertain.
What Does House Bill 8 Do?
At its core, HB 8 seeks to dismantle the STAAR system, which has been the cornerstone of Texas student assessment since 2012. But lawmakers acknowledged that such a sweeping change can’t happen overnight. Here’s a breakdown of the plan:
Eliminates the STAAR test. The exam, however, would remain in place for two more school years to allow time for transition.
Replaces STAAR with a new system. Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, students would instead take three shorter exams spread throughout the year: one at the beginning, one in the middle, and one at the end.
Introduces adaptive testing. The new exams would adjust in difficulty based on a student’s answers, rising or falling by up to two grade levels. Supporters say this will provide a clearer picture of how each child is actually performing. Results would be available within 48 hours.
Creates an Accountability Advisory Committee. The panel would work with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to recommend rule changes and oversee implementation.
Bans extra benchmark testing. Districts would be prohibited from adding practice tests designed to mimic the state exam, a practice many educators say has consumed classroom time.
The proposal represents one of the most significant changes to Texas education policy in over a decade. But how exactly it will affect students, teachers, and districts remains a matter of heated debate.
Supporters Say It’s About Reducing Stress
Rep. Brad Buckley, R–Salado, the bill’s author, called HB 8 a “meaningful change” that balances accountability with compassion.
“Right now, we put everything on one day, one test,” Buckley said during floor debate. “That doesn’t reflect what a student is capable of, nor does it reflect the hard work our teachers put in throughout the year.”
Supporters argue that the new system will shift the focus from a single high-stakes moment to a more comprehensive view of growth over time. Many school districts already use similar adaptive assessments through private vendors, Buckley pointed out. HB 8 would simply replace those with state-developed tools that come at no additional cost.
Buckley also emphasized that the state would gain better insight into student progress. “We’re going to measure growth from the beginning of the year to the end of the year, which has never been done before in Texas,” he said. “That is a way we get better achievement and keep conservatorships out of the school districts.”
Critics Warn of “More Testing, Not Less”
But not everyone is convinced. Democrats in the House — while agreeing that STAAR should go — argue the replacement may be just as burdensome, if not worse.
Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D–Austin, has been one of HB 8’s most vocal critics. She warned that the adaptive end-of-year exam could actually end up longer and more difficult for students.
“This is being billed as a reform to reduce testing stress, but when you read the fine print, it may do the opposite,” Hinojosa said.
Her concerns are echoed by educators. Monty Exter, the director of governmental relations for the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE), said teachers he speaks with fear the plan could increase both testing time and pressure.
“Teachers feel like this is going to increase the amount of state-mandated, high-stakes, accountability-aligned testing,” Exter said. “That’s not what anyone asked for.”
Who Should Make the Test?
A sticking point in the debate has been who designs the replacement exams.
Earlier this year, lawmakers floated a similar plan under House Bill 4, which would have contracted a national vendor to build the tests. HB 8 shifts that responsibility to the TEA — the same agency that currently oversees STAAR.
Hinojosa questioned whether parents and educators would trust a new test coming from the same institution. “The way you restore trust is have an outside vendor create the test, not the TEA,” she argued.
Buckley countered that school districts can still use outside vendors for the beginning- and middle-of-year exams if they prefer. But the end-of-year test will be uniform across the state to maintain consistency. Districts that adopt the state-developed system for all three assessments won’t have to pay for it, he added.
Amendments to the Bill
Despite disagreements, lawmakers did find some common ground. Several amendments were adopted during debate, including two from Hinojosa herself:
Testing reduced to the federal minimum. Her amendment lowers the number of state exams to match federal requirements, trimming excess testing.
Kindergarten excluded from accountability ratings. Hinojosa successfully argued that five-year-olds’ test performance should not be used in grading schools.
These changes passed with bipartisan support, signaling at least some areas of consensus as the bill moves forward.
The Senate’s Next Move
The House isn’t the only chamber pursuing STAAR reform. The Senate has its own version, Senate Bill 9, which mirrors much of HB 8 but with a few key differences. Senators were expected to debate their plan Tuesday night.
Once both chambers pass their respective bills, lawmakers will meet in a conference committee to iron out differences. Only then will a unified version head to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.
Because education reform touches every corner of the state, the stakes are high. District leaders are watching closely, anxious to know how to prepare for changes that could fundamentally reshape the school experience for millions of Texas students.
What’s at Stake
The STAAR test has long been a lightning rod in Texas politics. Critics say it narrows the curriculum, forces teachers to “teach to the test,” and puts too much pressure on kids. Supporters, however, argue that standardized testing is necessary to ensure accountability in one of the nation’s largest education systems.
The new plan attempts to strike a balance by spreading assessments across the school year while gathering richer data. But whether it reduces stress or simply repackages it remains to be seen.
For families, teachers, and students, the next several months will be critical. Until the House and Senate reconcile their bills, uncertainty hangs over classrooms across Texas.
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