An attempt to overhaul Texas' standardized testing system collapsed after House and Senate leaders failed to reach a compromise on House Bill 4 before the critical Texas legislative deadline.
The bill, authored by state Rep. Brad Buckley (R), would have scrapped the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) in favor of three shorter assessments spread throughout the school year, an effort to reduce pressure on students and teachers. But despite agreement in both chambers that change was needed, deep disagreements over accountability and state oversight ultimately doomed the legislation.
The Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) welcomed the bill’s failure, citing major concerns with the Senate’s version.
“We think we are better off that there is no bill at all than what the Senate wanted to do,” said TSTA spokesperson Clay Robison. “We thought the Senate gave far too much authority to the unelected state commissioner.”
The key sticking points centered on the A–F school ratings system, which relies heavily on test results. The Texas Senate wanted to grant the Texas Education Agency (TEA) commissioner sweeping authority to set stricter standards and penalize districts that challenge the system in court. The House countered with a proposal requiring legislative approval for any major changes and a streamlined legal process that preserved school districts’ right to sue without halting public release of scores.
Tensions over the TEA's role and transparency had grown after a recent legal battle froze school ratings for two years. That backdrop contributed to growing mistrust between school districts and the state, with many superintendents avoiding Senate hearings altogether and working behind the scenes with House lawmakers.
The debate also extended to the scope of testing. The House sought to eliminate certain mandatory tests, including social studies, while the Senate pushed to keep them.
The House’s final version, shaped heavily by school leaders’ feedback, came too late in the Texas legislative session to leave room for compromise.
For now, Texas students and educators will continue with the STAAR exam, as the state’s broader conversation on standardized testing and accountability remains unresolved.
