Advocacy Blog

A bill aimed at rebranding the STAAR test heads to Gov. Abbott’s desk after contentious debate on the House floor Wednesday night.

The second special session is over, and legislation that will alter Texas' testing and accountability system is headed to the governor's desk.

The STAAR redesign bill awaits its fate, and ATPE shares guidance on SB 12, the Parental Bill of Rights.

Senate Bill 8 will restrict restrooms in government buildings, public schools and universities based on sex assigned at birth and apply $25,000 fines for violations.

HB 8 promises additional transparency and quicker results, but it does not reduce the overall footprint of high-stakes testing in Texas public schools.

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.

Five amendments were adopted before House members advanced the bill to the Senate on an 82-56 vote.

ATPE provided oral comments and written testimony on the bill, which was advanced to the full House on a 8-1 vote with six committee members not present.

The House Public Education Committee has advanced the House’s STAAR redesign bill, and the Ten Commandments law has been temporarily blocked in 11 districts.

The attorneys challenging the new state law hope that other school districts won’t implement it after a federal judge found it unconstitutional.