EL PASO, Texas – (KFOX14\/CBS4) \u2014 Texas House Bill 8, aimed at overhauling the controversial STAAR exam, is set to bring significant changes, but the most substantial adjustments won’t be seen until the 2027-2028 school year.<\/p>\n
The bill proposes replacing the single end-of-year exam with three shorter tests throughout the year and prohibits teachers from administering practice tests.<\/p>\n
However, starting in December, four other changes will take effect for the current school year.<\/p>\n
RECOMMENDED: Small Business Saturday puts focus on supporting El Paso’s local economy<\/a><\/p>\n These include providing parents with immediate access to scores, offering instructions on managing test anxiety for students and teachers, and simplifying the process for accessing results.<\/p>\n Community reactions to the changes have been mixed. <\/p>\n One commentator remarked, “So basically the same thing but throughout the year.” <\/p>\n Another expressed concern, saying, “They went from teaching just the STAAR for the four weeks prior to the test to teaching STAAR all year long.” <\/p>\n A third added, “You\u2019re going to see less and less kids interested in learning. It\u2019s all pressure now for these tests.”<\/p>\n RECOMMENDED: Salvation Army in El Paso served 800 meals in annual drive-thru operation<\/a><\/p>\n