Future of STAAR Test in Question as Lawmakers Weigh New Plan

Texas Governor Greg Abbott is calling on lawmakers to eliminate the STAAR test and create a new system to measure student achievement and school accountability.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott is calling on lawmakers to eliminate the STAAR test and create a new system to measure student achievement and school accountability.

The issue is one of 18 topics on the agenda during the current 30-day special session. Critics of the STAAR test say it unfairly penalizes entire districts based on poor results at a single campus and doesn’t accurately reflect student progress.

Earlier this year, a proposal to replace STAAR with three smaller tests spread throughout the year nearly passed but failed to gain enough support.

Abbott hasn’t proposed a specific replacement but says the new system must better serve Texas students, families, and schools.

Education experts warn that even if STAAR is replaced, designing and rolling out a new test could take years—meaning STAAR may stick around during the transition.

 

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