“We need less testing, less high stakes testing,” Texas State Representatice 49 Gina Hinojosa said.
“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.
