Texas Legislature Revives Push to Replace STAAR Testing with Multiple Assessments
Texas lawmakers renewed efforts to eliminate the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test Tuesday and replace it with a new assessment system, following previous attempts that stalled during the regular legislative session.
The Proposed Changes
The legislation, approved by the Texas House on a 78-58 vote, would fundamentally restructure how Texas students are tested. Instead of the current STAAR system, students would take three shorter tests at the beginning, middle and end of the year. House Bill 4 would make the test shorter and base scores on how students’ performance compares to national averages.
State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, an Austin Democrat, joined most of her party in opposing the plan to replace STAAR. While she and other Democrats also disliked the STAAR test, they warned that the new plan contained too many last-minute changes. Hinojosa argued that the bill would actually increase state-mandated testing time and give the Texas Education Agency too much power.
Timeline and Implementation
If successful, the transition wouldn’t be immediate. The STAAR elimination and replacement would be phased-in over the next three years, giving time to run pilot programs and train teachers. The end-of-year STAAR tests will continue until the 2027-2028 school year under current proposals.
What This Means for Students
The proposed changes represent a significant shift in Texas education assessment that aims to provide more frequent feedback on student progress and potentially reduce the anxiety associated with year-end testing.
The new system would also change how school performance is measured, moving toward national comparisons rather than state-specific metrics. Additionally, the bill would require the TEA to release school ratings every year, update the accountability system at least once every five years and get legislative approval for major changes.
Current Status
The renewed effort to eliminate STAAR tests is taking place during a special legislative session, though final approval remains uncertain as lawmakers continue to work through differences between proposed versions.
Texas Rep. Brian Harrison (R):
For Texas families and educators, the outcome of these legislative efforts could fundamentally change how student achievement is measured across the state’s public schools, moving away from a testing system that has been in place for over a decade.
A fatal accident on I-35 last night.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
In Georgetown yesterday, a 24-year-old man died after police said a car apparently hit a person who jumped from the Lakeway bridge.
(If you are in distress and need someone to talk to, please call 988, text HELLO to 741741, or visit the crisis hotline’s website. For LGBTQ-specific support for ages 13-24, call The Trevor Project at 866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678.)
Austin police are looking for a woman suspected of posing as an Amazon driver and stealing mail.
A man has been charged in connection to a recent break-in at Austin Pets Alive!
Frustration is rising for Austin business owners on South Congress, as a recent string of burglaries has led to the loss of thousands of dollars in cash and property damage.
An investigation by the Austin American-Statesman shows Cedar Park police failed to stop a sexually abusive officer. (Austin American-Statesman)
The University of Texas has now assigned a permanent UT police patrol unit to the popular West Campus neighborhood to increase oversight in partnership with Austin police. (Austin American-Statesman)
The most urgent deadline is Sept. 4, the last day to apply for financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Residents in 10 counties — Burnet, Guadalupe, Kerr, Kimble, McCulloch, Menard, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis and Williamson — may qualify for help covering housing, personal property, vehicles, medical expenses and other disaster-related needs. (Austin American-Statesman)
San Francisco firefighters delivered toys and school supplies to those involved in the Leander bus crash on the first day of school. (CBS Austin)
Meanwhile, despite seatbelts being present on the Leander ISD school bus that rolled over on Aug. 13, investigators found there was “limited seat belt use among students,” according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
People who live near Sandy Creek are demanding that Travis County fix what they call dangerous conditions on Nameless Road.
Austin Transportation and Public Works says it plans to add two new roundabouts to the city next year, with 47 currently located throughout Austin.
The Austin Independent School District said it will not display the Ten Commandments, at least temporarily, after a preliminary injunction was filed by a district judge last week.
A construction company has pleaded guilty in connection with the death of a worker following a trench collapse in Travis County nearly four years ago. (KVUE-TV)
A boil water notice was removed for customers in the Plum Creek water system after impacting customers in eastern Hays County earlier this week. (KVUE-TV)
Austin Water is relaxing some restrictions following July’s heavy rainfall.
During a briefing before Austin City Council Tuesday, local officials spoke of infrastructure improvements made, how bond dollars have been used and what kind of community awareness campaigns have happened in the wake of the deadly flooding over the Fourth of July weekend that killed ten people in Travis County. (KXAN-TV)
TribCast: Is Texas protecting its campers from future floods?
WEATHER
TUESDAY’S HIGH/LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
The unofficial end of summer will feature a little bit of everything, ranging from triple-digit heat in the Southwest, tropical downpours near the Gulf and even sweater weather to millions. (AccuWeather)
Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation Tuesday afternoon that he said will protect the state “against threats from hostile foreign adversaries.” During the signing ceremony Tuesday, Abbott said those foreign adversaries included China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.
The Texas House on Tuesday sent a measure to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk that would let the attorney general’s office independently prosecute election-related crimes, years after the state’s highest criminal court ruled the office could not do so without an invitation from local prosecutors. (Texas Tribune)
The redistricting battle is spreading beyond Texas, where Republicans are set to gain five new seats. Indiana lawmakers met with the White House, a Utah judge ordered new maps, and California voters will decide this fall whether to redraw districts.
Congresswoman Julie Johnson on everything from how lawmakers might divvy up offices now that the Republican redistricting map has passed, to why you should expect to hear a lot more about the Epstein files in September.
Judge Melissa Andrews of Texas’ Business Court has remanded a high-profile lawsuit involving the alleged rigging of the Texas Lottery back to a Travis County district court. (Texas Scorecard)
The Milam County Sheriff’s Office is seeking help in their search for a suspect accused of shooting his girlfriend near Buckholts on Tuesday. (CBS Austin)
Several people were detained in connection with an illegal gambling operation in southeast Bexar County, according to the sheriff’s office. Eighteen gamblers and four employees were arrested.
Bastrop County is set to be home to two large movie production studios. (Chron)
Texans will soon be able to explore immersive experiences inside a new, permanent entertainment venue from Netflix. The streaming giant will launch one of the first Netflix House locations in Dallas this winter. (My San Antonio)
SPORTS
SB Nation writer Matt Tamanini is under the assumption “that Texas is — yet again — overhyped and Ohio State is — yet again — undervalued.” (Yahoo! Sports)
Currently, YouTube TV and Fox Sports have a carriage dispute, which could affect college football fans this weekend. As both Texas vs Ohio State and Auburn vs Baylor are on Fox networks, YouTube TV may not be showing these games.
Texas Longhorns – Ohio State Preview + Player & Coach Sound | 8/27/25
MLB: The Texas Rangers evened their series in Arlington against the Los Angeles Angels last night.
Patrick Corbin gave up three hits over eight shutout innings, Corey Seager became the first Ranger to reach 20 home runs this season, and Texas beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-3 on Tuesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
The Houston Astros returned home to host the Colorado Rockies…and got rocked.
Hunter Goodman hit a two-run homer and Mickey Moniak drove in three runs as the Colorado Rockies snapped a four-game skid with a 6-1 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night. (Yahoo! Sports)
ASTROS NEWS
Yordan Alvarez, activated from the 60-day injured list and returning to the lineup for the first time since May 2 because of a hand injury, went 0-for-2 with two walks. (MLB.com)
ON THE SCHEDULE
AL WEST STANDINGS
The NFL’s roster cut deadline has passed, and the Cowboys have decided which camp standouts made the team and which ones did not.
Houston also has their 53-man roster ser. The Texans kept an unusually high number of seven wide receivers, likely due to last year’s injury experiences.
Are the myths of Texas all true?
In Texas, legends inspire us to live bigger, bolder, and braver. At his ranch in Bee Cave, sixth-generation Texan Terry Boothe has declared his land the official West Pole—a title even recognized by the Texas Legislature. Every year, he hosts celebrations filled with Texas relics, tall tales, and even his own twist on Groundhog Day: Armadillo Day. From heirlooms to history, satire to storytelling, the West Pole is part museum, part shrine, and 100% Texan.
