Both Republicans and Democrats have said STAAR sets students up for failure, raising questions about basing a state takeover on the test’s results.

In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Tribune reporter Sneha Dey and the Commit Partnership’s Bridget Worley about the changes to the state’s standardized test.

House Bill 8 scraps the unpopular exam for three shorter tests at the beginning, middle and end of the year starting in the 2027-28 school year.

Democrats say recent changes to the bill give too much power to the TEA and fall short of meaningfully easing the pressures of standardized testing.

Test scores rose slightly after math scores previously fell last year.

In the 2024-25 school year, 14% of Texas school districts got an A, 71% got a B or a C, and 15% got a D or an F, new state data shows.

Legislators have a chance this summer to replace the STAAR test. What they come up with will decide the fate of schools like Dobie Middle School, where low test scores have pushed the Austin district to intervene.

The mixed-bag results showed early literacy improvements, a key indicator of future academic success, but underline the challenges of preparing children for STEM-related jobs.

Education policy experts say the results align with Texas’ workforce goals but note that students still need help.

An agenda driven by conservative priorities, schools’ financial duress and teacher needs led to an $8.5 billion boost, new discipline rules, more Christianity in classrooms and a DEI ban.

The state standardized test has long been criticized for taking instructional time away from teachers and putting unnecessary pressure on students.

The chambers differ on how much power districts should have to push back in courts over their accountability ratings. They risk keeping STAAR by default if they don’t reach an agreement.

House Bill 4 would make the test shorter and base scores on how students’ performance compares to national averages.

The Texas Education Agency released the 2022-23 school year ratings on Thursday after a 19-month legal battle over how those ratings are calculated.

Failing grades for districts were made public for the first time since 2019. They showed schools with the poorest students were more likely to get a low score.

The bill would require the state to reduce the test’s length, prioritize post-secondary preparation and launch a revamped version by 2026.

Revising the social studies curriculum could be among the divisive issues the Texas State Board of Education tackles next year.

The 18-year-old is now charged with a third-degree felony.

The latest results in math are a setback after two years of modest progress toward recovering from the pandemic.

New STAAR exam data released by HISD Tuesday reveals academic growth across the district this year.

Algebra scores have not recovered since the pandemic, raising worries about students’ readiness for STEM-related jobs.

A 18-year-old student at Klein Forest High School is currently wanted by police after they say he was responsible for cyber attacks which disrupted the district’s STAAR testing.

A 18-year-old student at Klein Forest High School is currently wanted by police after they say he was responsible for cyber attacks which disrupted the district’s STAAR testing.

The state will save more than $15 million by using technology similar to ChatGPT to give initial scores, reducing the number of human graders needed. The decision caught some educators by surprise.

Policy experts worry students will fall short of the state's future workforce needs. Educators hope the new curriculum will help them.

TEA said it needs to make adjustments to account for changes in students’ academic performance after the pandemic. The delay comes after several school districts sued to stop the agency from releasing school rankings produced under a new rating system.

Lawmakers failed to pass legislation on school vouchers or teacher raises this year, but they approved other education-related laws like an $800 million investment in high-quality instructional materials and new rules for students found vaping or using marijuana.

The STAAR test results were released for elementary and middle school students in Houston Independent School District Thursday, and according to Superintendent Mike Miles, “We didn’t do well.”

Test results have gone up since the pandemic in both subjects, but math scores are still below 2019 levels and about half of Texas students read below the level appropriate for most children in their grade.

Mike Miles has wasted no time in restructuring schools and proposing administrative layoffs. The changes are designed to pay teachers at struggling schools more if their students show improvement.

The Texas House’s education committee is soon expected to discuss the new version of Senate Bill 8, which was heavily modified to sway votes in the lower chamber.

In an effort to ease your mind when it comes to making sure your children feel prepared for testing at school, here are some tips the Texas Education Agency has provided for STAAR test preparation:

Readers sometimes ask us if the outcomes in governing are predetermined and whether civic engagement makes a difference. There are plenty of examples of Texans influencing lawmakers’ decisions.

The Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate has said several times he will end the annual standardized tests. State and federal law make it impossible.

The Texas Education Agency has dismissed the notion that the accountability ratings are a poverty rating. As evidence, they point to districts like those in the Rio Grande Valley, which have achieved high marks while serving a high number of economically disadvantaged students.

Students saw improvement in the STAAR tests for Algebra I, Biology and U.S. History.

For the first time since the pandemic, Texas schools will again be rated based on standardized tests. But for one year only, schools that receive a D or F will get a “not rated” label.

On Tuesday, Houston-area McDonald’s restaurants will provide free breakfast to students taking the STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) test and teachers.

Public education in Texas — like everywhere in the country — is hurting after more than two years of pandemic. But many in the political class are preoccupied with reforms that have more to do with social issues than with education.

Some Texas Republicans are busy raising questions about what's in the books in the state's public school libraries. The real problem isn't in the books.

The number of students failing to meet grade-level went up statewide across all grade levels and nearly all subject areas according to results of the Spring 2021 STAAR test released Monday by the Texas Education Agency.

The drop was more significant in districts that had most of their instruction online, compared to districts with more in-person classes.

(TEXAS TRIBUNE) – Texas public school students must show up in person to take the STAAR test this spring and districts can apply for waivers to socially distance test-takers, according to recent guidance released by the Texas Education Agency. School districts can set up sites outside of their schools, including performing arts centers, hotels and recreational centers where they can "ensure equitable access and maintain test security." Currently, Texas requires all districts to allow in-person learning for all students who want it, with few exceptions. Texas has already said students in younger grades who fail required STAAR exams can move up to the next grade. Morath said the data from the tests will show the extent of the educational gaps Texas students have experienced during a devastating pandemic.

HOUSTON – Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Monday that the grade-promotion requirement related to the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test, for students in grades 5 and 8 will be waived in the 2020-21 school year. SCHOOLS: Follow all our latest coverage of what Houston-area school districts have planned for the upcoming school yearThe STAAR test begins in third grade and can stop poor-performing students from advancing to the next grade or graduating high school. Test scores are also used to evaluate teachers and are part of the state’s A-F grading system for schools. The test will be administered in May to coincide with the STAAR testing for other grades 3-8, officials announced Monday. And while he is at it, he should just suspend STAAR testing for 2020-21, period.

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas public school districts haven't finalized their plans for a return to the classroom, but they know the state will resume its high-stakes standardized testing for millions of students. Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath told the state Board of Education on Tuesday that the annual State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, also known as STAAR, will return in the 2020-2021 school year. Days later, the federal government waived its standardized testing requirements. The STAAR test begins in third grade and can stop poor-performing students from advancing to the next grade or graduating high school. “Standardized testing should be the last priority for students, educators and policy makers.

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott announced that he has waived the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) testing requirements for the 2019-2020 school year. Additionally, Abbott is requesting that the Department of Education waive federal testing requirements for the 2019-2020 school year. Abbott said he is working closely with the Texas Education Agency to ensure that schools continue to deliver instruction to students while students are absent or while schools are closed due to COVID-19. Abbott said he will continue to work with the TEA on developing additional methods to ensure that students are learning at the next grade-level. “Your health and safety are top priorities, and the state of Texas will give school districts flexibility to protect and ensure the health of students, faculty, and their families,” Abbott said.