Texas House Votes to Ditch the STAAR Test

If you’ve ever stressed over STAAR testing season,  or had a kid who did, this news might feel like a breath of fresh air.

Lawmakers in the Texas House just voted almost unanimously (143-1!) to move forward with a bill that would replace the STAAR test starting next school year.

Instead of that one big end-of-year exam, the plan is to have three shorter tests spread throughout the year: one at the beginning, one in the middle, and one at the end. Basically, more chances to show what you’ve learned, and way less pressure riding on a single day.

Get our free mobile app

No longer preparing just for a single test.

Rep. Brad Buckley, who wrote the bill, said it’s about preparing students better for college without putting them through the emotional wringer. “This takes away the stress of one test, one day,” he said. “It’s still about accountability, just a smarter version of it.”

Read More: Texas School Uses AI Instead of Teachers And It’s Working

Many teachers and parents have been asking for something like this for years. Critics have long said the STAAR doesn’t capture everything kids actually learn or the work teachers put in. And lawmakers across party lines seem to agree.

Rep. Diego Bernal, a Democrat from San Antonio, said, “The days of teaching to the test, if this passes, are over.”

Another big part of the bill? Schools that are at risk of a TEA takeover (which can happen when performance scores are low) would get a two-year grace period to improve, thanks to an amendment from Rep. James Talarico.

The bill still needs one more House vote before heading to the Senate, but with this much support, it’s likely to keep moving. The legislative session ends on June 2, so we’ll know pretty soon if this change is official.