Is It Time to Rethink STAAR? Texas Schools Say Yes

As new standardized test scores were released this week, one North Texas school district reignited a long-running debate over the future of the STAAR exam, calling on Governor Greg Abbott to convene a special legislative session to abolish the test entirely.

Northwest ISD, which serves over 30,000 students near Fort Worth, urged the governor to act on failed legislation aimed at replacing the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR). The district joins a rising chorus of educators and local leaders advocating for accountability models that reflect broader measures of student success. “The current model doesn’t reflect what truly matters in education,” said district spokesperson Anthony Tosie. “We need more than just a renamed version of the same test,” as reported by Houston Chronicle.

Though designed to measure student knowledge based on state standards, critics say STAAR promotes a narrow, high-pressure testing environment that fails to capture the full scope of student learning or teacher effectiveness.

Opposition centers around concerns such as:

• Stress on students and teachers
  
• Teaching to the test rather than fostering critical thinking
  
• Limited value in guiding instruction or supporting long-term learning
  

Northwest ISD and others argue for holistic evaluation models that incorporate local input and more meaningful metrics, like career readiness, professional development, and the arts.

Lawmakers in both the Texas House and Senate filed similar bills this year to reform the current testing system. However, the effort stalled due to disagreements over oversight and accountability. The House proposed a more flexible, three-times-a-year testing model paired with local performance indicators. The Senate pushed to retain the STAAR framework and strengthen the Texas Education Agency’s authority, drawing backlash from district leaders who saw the move as politically motivated. 

More than 100 districts across Texas are piloting community-based accountability systems that reflect student growth beyond test scores. Even high-performing districts on STAAR, like Frisco ISD, are questioning the test’s long-term value.

“A flexible system that blends academic outcomes with community-driven goals would serve our students better,” said Frisco ISD Superintendent Mike Waldrip. “It’s time for a new approach that gives parents a voice in what matters.”

With the regular session over, Northwest ISD is urging Governor Abbott to call a special session to revisit the legislation. In a statement, the district said state leaders should extend the same flexibility and support to public school students that they’ve granted private institutions.

“Texas children in public schools deserve better,” the district wrote. “We ask Governor Abbott to hold lawmakers accountable and give our students the fair, future-focused education they deserve.”

If a special session is not called this summer, students and teachers will be left with the STAAR for several more years.