The Texas House has overwhelmingly approved a bill to eliminate the controversial STAAR exam, aiming to transform the way the state assesses student learning and teacher performance. However, the Texas Senate, armed with a different vision for school accountability, could pose a significant roadblock in the legislative session’s final weeks.
House Bill 4, authored by Rep. Brad Buckley (R), seeks to replace the high-stakes State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) with a shorter, more practical test administered at the beginning, middle, and end of the school year. Supporters argue this would give teachers real-time data to better inform instruction.
“Assessment should be instructionally relevant and actionable,” state Rep. Buckley said on the House floor. “It is time to rebuild trust in our system… We need to make testing just another day at school.”
Unlike the Texas Senate’s version, HB 4 proposes a major shift in how student performance is measured. Instead of using a rigid scale to track grade-level proficiency, the House plan would compare students’ results nationally.
Proponents argue this offers a clearer benchmark, but critics worry it may blur whether students are truly meeting Texas standards.
Both chambers agree on reducing testing time and revising the A - F rating system used to evaluate schools. However, their proposals diverge sharply on implementation and oversight.
The Texas House would require the Texas Education Agency (TEA) commissioner to seek legislative approval for major changes to performance ratings. In contrast, the Texas Senate version would cement the commissioner’s authority and restrict school districts’ ability to challenge changes in court.
Nikki Cowart, president of the Cy-Fair American Federation of Teachers, testified last month, arguing, “our kids are over-tested and our teachers are overworked. School districts have been punished for failing to meet unreliable and arbitrary standards.”
The Texas House plan aims to launch the new system this fall, but the Texas Senate gives the TEA until 2028 to roll it out.
State Rep. Brian Harrison (R) was the sole state Representative to vote against overhauling the STAAR Exam.
Texas House just voted to end use of the STAAR test, 143 yeas to 1 Brian Harrison #txlege pic.twitter.com/wXnCbYq949
— Robert Downen (@RobertDownen_) May 12, 2025
