“The bottom line is What Gets Measured Gets Fixed, and SB 8 ends the STAAR stress era and measures what matters, student success, in a fairer way while ending taxpayer-funded lawsuits against the public accountability system in Texas,” Senator Bettencourt said, 

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

08-23-25

Just when rumors that Texas State mandated STARR test would be eliminated, a new bill, Texas House Bill 8, filed by District 54 Representative Brad Buckley.

If passed, the new bill would replace the STARR Test with an instructionally supportive assessment program to be implemented in the 2027 school year.  STARR Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) with an “instructionally supportive assessment program” by the 2027 school year according to a press release from the Texas State Senate issued on August 14th.

According to the Release issued by Senator Paul Bettencourt: District 7, it states: (the) Bill Replaces STAAR with 3 Instructionally Supportive Tests & Restores Public School A-F Accountability]

“SB 8, identical to HB 8 by House Public Education Chair Rep. Brad Buckley, is designed to measure student success fairly, return classroom time to teachers, and protect taxpayers from costly public school accountability ratings lawsuits.”

in the release it reads, “House Education Chair Rep. Buckley on SB 8/ HB 8: ‘By replacing STAAR with actionable, student-centered tests and protecting the A–F framework it provides real insight for teachers and parents and shifts the emphasis away from teaching to a test and back to real learning in the classroom. I want to thank Senator Bettencourt for his leadership in the Senate on this. His tireless work to strengthen the accountability system, especially to restore and clarify the A–F school accountability framework, shows a deep commitment to helping kids learn and succeed. By championing policies that bring transparency and fairness to how schools are evaluated, he is truly making a difference for students, families, and educators across Texas.’

Key Reforms in SB 8:

• Replaces STAAR for 3 shorter student support tests, Beginning, Middle, and End-of-Year.
• Delivers results in 48 hours and limits excessive benchmark testing to return classroom time to teachers in the BOY and MOY tests.
• Requires annual A–F ratings and bans statewide “Not Rated” designations.
• Refreshes cut scores every five years to ensure Texas is in the Top 5 states in 15 years.
• Prohibits taxpayer-funded lawsuits against state actions except in narrow cases”

Texas Representative District 49 Gina Hinojosa has posted videos on her Facebook and TikTok accounts that the STARR Test would be replaced by 3 STARR Tests. On Thursday, August 21st, Hinojosa stated the Bill was approved by the Texas House Committee.

“We need less testing, less high stakes testing,” Hinojosa said.

 

08-16-25

Top Picture from Pixabay

AUSTIN, TX – State Representative Don McLaughlin has refiled his three flood preparedness and response bills for consideration in the second special session while House Democrats continue to break quorum, flee the state, and trade legislative work for their 15 minutes of fame.

The bills take direct aim at improving flood readiness and safeguarding lives in the wake of the devastating Fourth of July flash floods:

• HB 45 – Relating to a guide on preparing for and responding to a flooding disaster.
• HB 69 – Relating to creating the Texas Flash Flood Alley Interoperability Council and a grant program administered by the council.
• HB 75 – Relating to building standards for youth camps located within or near certain floodplains.

“These bills are about saving lives and making sure Texans are ready when the next flood hits,” Representative McLaughlin said. “Meanwhile, Democrats are hiding in other states, abandoning their jobs, and chasing cable news interviews. I’m confident these bills, and other flood preparedness measures, will pass as soon as they are done grandstanding for the cameras and get back to doing their jobs.”

02-18-25
 Press Release from State of Texas Representative Don McLaughlin

McLaughlin is taking swift action to protect our families from dangerous offenders. House Bill 2956 creates the Family Violence Registration Program, a groundbreaking database that would stop offenders in their tracks and provide law enforcement and communities with real-time access to potentially life-saving information.

Creating a state-run database, this bill would establish a system to track individuals convicted of or granted deferred adjudication community supervision for family violence offenses. These offenders will be forced to register annually, more often if deemed a greater threat. Failure to register will result in criminal penalties, including a Class C misdemeanor.

“If you lay your hand on an innocent man, woman, or child, you will pay the price, and the state will ensure your sickening actions don’t lurk in our communities,” said Rep. McLaughlin. “This bill equips law enforcement, institutions, and communities with tools to track and stop offenders before they strike again.

There’s no excuse for domestic violence, and no abuser should get a free pass.”
Modeled after the Sex Offender Registration Program, the Family Violence Registration Program is a vital step in combatting domestic violence, providing communities with the resources necessary to protect themselves.

“This is a bipartisan issue,” continued Rep. McLaughlin. “Protecting Texans should not be debated. I urge my colleagues to come together and support this life-saving legislation. Opposition to this bill is a slap in the face to the families we represent, especially to women, who are at the greatest risk of domestic violence. I stand resolute in the fight to protect our communities, and I vow to always do what is right.”