House Bill 8 Officially Ends the STAAR Test, Replaces It With Shorter Assessments

TYLER, Texas (TXAN 24) - Texas is preparing for one of its biggest education shifts in years. House Bill 8, signed into law earlier this year, officially eliminates the long-criticized STAAR exam and replaces it with three shorter tests spread out across the school year. The new model is set to roll out statewide beginning in the 2027–28 academic year.

State officials argue the change will take pressure off students and teachers by breaking one high-stakes test into smaller checkpoints. Each assessment will measure progress in real time instead of relying on a single spring exam that often determined everything from student advancement to campus ratings.

Education leaders say the goal is a system that’s more flexible, more accurate and less stressful, though some critics worry the new approach could increase testing days and place new burdens on districts already dealing with staffing shortages.

The Texas Education Agency is expected to release more guidance next year, including sample formats and scoring frameworks. Districts will also begin training educators on the redesigned evaluation standards.

For parents, the biggest takeaway is simple: STAAR as we know it is gone. The focus now shifts toward a model meant to track growth through shorter, iterative assessments rather than a single do-or-die exam; a significant shift that will shape classrooms across Texas for years to come.