Overview

• HB 8 would replace the single end-of-year STAAR exam with three shorter statewide assessments given at the beginning, middle and end of each school year starting in 2027–28.
• The House concurred with Senate changes and approved the bill 79–47 after a 21–5 Senate vote, advancing the measure to the governor.
• Districts could use approved national exams for the first two test windows, and results would come back in roughly 48 hours with percentile ranks plus end‑of‑year proficiency labels.
• The bill expands TEA’s authority over assessments, orders a new student‑growth metric for A–F accountability, and codifies five‑year benchmark refreshes with a July 15 notice deadline.
• It prohibits teacher‑administered practice tests and removes English II as a graduation requirement while retaining English I, algebra and biology end‑of‑course exams.