HOUSTON, Texas– The Texas Senate approved House Bill 4 on Wednesday, aiming to eliminate the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test in public schools and replace it with shorter, more frequent assessments throughout the academic year.
The bill, which the Texas House of Representatives passed earlier, proposes administering three shorter, nationally normed tests designed to better measure student progress and reduce the stress associated with high-stakes testing.
While the Senate’s approval marks a significant step toward overhauling student assessment in Texas, differences remain between the House and Senate versions, particularly regarding the authority school districts have to challenge their A-F accountability ratings based on student performance.
The House version grants districts broader power to contest these ratings, whereas the Senate’s version limits that authority.
Lawmakers must resolve these differences through negotiations before the bill can be finalized. If no agreement is reached, the STAAR test will remain in place by default.
If enacted, the bill will also require adjustments to the school accountability system, including the A-F rating framework that relies on standardized test results.
Texas education officials and legislators are continuing to work on finalizing the details of the new assessment system as the state considers significant changes to its approach to evaluating student performance.
