Gov. Abbott Waives STAAR Test for Texas Students

Students in Texas will not be required to take the STAAR test, as this morning Gov. Greg Abbott announced he’s waiving the requirements for the 2019-2020 school year amid coronavirus, or COVID-19, school closures.

The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness started in 2012 and is a series of standardized tests used in Texas schools to assess a students’ knowledge of reading, writing, math, science and social studies, according to their grade level. 

“Your health and safety are top priorities, and the state of Texas will give school districts flexibility to protect and ensure the health of students, faculty, and their families,” Abbott said in a statement.

While parents wait to find out what happens next, Abbott is working closely with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to solidify a way to deliver instruction to students  while they are out of classrooms.

Abbott also is asking the Department of Education to waive federal testing requirements for the 2019-2020 school year. 

“In normal times, STAAR serves as an invaluable tool to accurately and reliably diagnose how well students have learned to read, write and do math. This information is used by parents to support the academic growth of their children and by educators to adjust how they approach teaching to maximize student learning,” the TEA said in a press release. 

The TEA will be closing its offices and teleworking beginning Tuesday.

With the requirement to take the test to measure academic growth waived, questions arose on social media such as how will it affect those who need the test to graduate from high school? Will students take the STAAR at another time? For now, we wait.