Texas Legislature Approves Bill to Replace STAAR with New Testing Model

Austin, Texas — The Texas Legislature has officially passed House Bill 8, a transformative education measure that will replace the state’s long-standing STAAR standardized test with a new assessment system beginning in the 2027–28 school year. The legislation now heads to Governor Greg Abbott for approval.

Under the new model, students will no longer take a single, high-stakes exam at the end of the year. Instead, they will complete three shorter tests administered at the beginning, middle, and end of the academic year. This shift is designed to give families and educators a clearer, more continuous picture of student progress while easing the pressure of the current “one test, one day” structure.

“This bill is about giving teachers the tools they need and parents the information they deserve,” said Rep. Brad Buckley, the bill’s author. “By spreading assessments throughout the year, we can better measure growth, reduce stress, and support learning in real time.”

Supporters of HB 8, including many education experts, argue that the change will modernize the state’s accountability system and allow schools to adjust instruction more effectively. They note that replacing the STAAR with multiple touchpoints will help identify learning gaps earlier and improve student outcomes.

However, not all lawmakers were fully satisfied. Some House members expressed concern that the compromise version of the bill does not go far enough to reduce testing burdens. Rep. Gina Hinojosa described the measure as “a terrible bill,” saying it failed to meet the expectations of many parents and educators who wanted broader reforms.

Despite these criticisms, the legislation marks a significant milestone in Texas education policy. The STAAR exam has been the centerpiece of the state’s accountability system for over a decade and has faced strong criticism from parents, students, and educators for placing too much emphasis on a single test.

With HB 8, Texas joins a growing number of states moving away from one-day, high-stakes standardized testing toward more flexible models that track student learning over time.

If signed by the governor, HB 8 will take effect in the 2027–28 school year, ushering in a new era of student assessment in Texas.