The Texas Senate passed House Bill 4, aiming to replace the STAAR exam with three shorter tests throughout the year.
HOUSTON — A sweeping education reform bill that could reshape how students are tested in Texas is one step closer to becoming law. House Bill 4, which aims to replace the STAAR exam, passed the Texas Senate late Tuesday night with bipartisan support in a 23–8 vote.
The bill, backed by state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, proposes eliminating the single, high-stakes STAAR test and instead implementing three shorter assessments spread throughout the school year. Supporters say the change would allow for more accurate tracking of student progress while giving teachers additional time for classroom instruction.
A recent rewrite of the bill, highlighted by the Texas Tribune, has exposed lingering disagreements between the House and Senate over how student performance should be evaluated. The revised version still includes controversial A through F accountability ratings for schools and would ban the use of public funds to legally challenge those ratings.
Other proposed changes under House Bill 4 include:
- Faster delivery of assessment results to parents and teachers
- Expanded use of teacher-graded writing assignments
- Increased access to career training programs aligned with workforce demands
The bill now heads back to the House for final approval. However, with the Texas legislative session set to end Monday, June 2, time is running out for lawmakers to reach a final agreement.
Further negotiations may be necessary before House Bill 4 becomes law.