Elimination of STAAR Test Proposed in Texas House

Cheers erupted in the Texas House as a lawmaker told his colleagues it was time to eliminate the STAAR test.

“The stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas,” Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Salado, said as he rolled out the bill on the House floor this week. “But not the STAAR test.”

In a 143-1 vote on Tuesday, House members passed a proposal that would eliminate the end-of-year test that’s loathed by many students and teachers and replace it with a series of shorter exams administered throughout the school year.

Doing so would give educators quick access to data that they can use to improve children’s learning sooner.

What is the STAAR Test?

Annual student testing is required by federal law. Texas’ academic accountability system — which grades every public school in the state on an A-F rating scale — is largely based on State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, scores. Poor results can lead to consequences for school districts, including a state takeover.

Public school students must take the tests in various subjects beginning in the third grade. For teachers, strong STAAR results can lead to merit-based salary increases. And for high schoolers, passing these exams is a way to qualify for graduation.

Controversies Surrounding the STAAR Test

The current testing system is controversial for myriad reasons, including because it eats up many days of instructional time and doesn’t yield results for weeks. Superintendents have raised concerns with the use of computers to score essay questions.

Dallas ISD Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde is among the many Texas school leaders pushing for testing reform. At her recent State of the District address, she celebrated that Texas could be “standing on the precipice” of eliminating the STAAR test.

“I don’t know if it’ll happen this session,” the superintendent acknowledged. “But we’ve never been closer.”

Proposed Changes to the Testing System

If this bill gets through the Senate, students wouldn’t take STAAR next year. It may face an uphill battle in the chamber, though House members appeared hopeful.

“I believe that it is consistent throughout this chamber and the chamber to the east, that one-test, one-day is not the future for Texas,” Buckley said.

In addition to eliminating the STAAR, House Bill 4 would change elements of the formula used to grade campuses via the Texas’ A-F academic accountability system, including by allowing for more metrics to be used beyond test scores.

Concerns About the Proposed Changes

These suggested changes rankled several business and civic leaders, along with some education advocacy groups.

Jonathan Feinstein, Texas director of the education nonprofit EdTrust, wrote in a letter to lawmakers that he was concerned about the provision that reduces the weight the A-F formula assigns to how well schools close achievement gaps.

That metric looks at how schools do in educating children from different demographic groups, such as those living in poverty or receiving special education services.

“Rather than facing and addressing persistent socioeconomic and racial opportunity gaps head on, this change allows our public school system to ignore them and avoid directing resources to underserved students and communities,” he wrote.

Response to Criticism

Buckley pushed back on criticism.

“I’ve not found a single school leader who does not want accountability,” he said during the bill’s floor debate.“But it is time to rebuild trust in our system, and HB 4 does just that.”

Rep. Diego Bernal, D-San Antonio, said House Bill 4 would remove STAAR from being “the center of gravity” during the school year. The bill proposes a test taken in October, a middle-of-year assessment given around January or February and one for May.

“The days of teaching to the test, if this passes, are over,” Bernal said. “What we’ve done here is create something that is much more of a tool than a test.”

Conclusion

The proposed elimination of the STAAR test and the changes to the testing system have sparked a lively debate among educators, lawmakers, and advocacy groups. While some see the changes as a step in the right direction, others have raised concerns about the potential impact on accountability and equity.

As the bill moves forward, it will be important to continue the conversation and consider the perspectives of all stakeholders involved.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the STAAR test?

The STAAR test is a standardized test given to public school students in Texas, beginning in the third grade, to measure their academic readiness.

Why is the STAAR test controversial?

The STAAR test is controversial because it takes up many days of instructional time, doesn’t yield results for weeks, and has raised concerns about the use of computers to score essay questions.

What are the proposed changes to the testing system?

The proposed changes include eliminating the STAAR test and replacing it with a series of shorter exams administered throughout the school year, as well as changing the formula used to grade campuses via the Texas’ A-F academic accountability system.

What are the concerns about the proposed changes?

Some concerns include the potential reduction in accountability and the impact on equity, as well as the possibility of inflating campus ratings and obscuring academic outcomes of students.