Senate, House Rushing Accountability Bills with Little Change | Aug. 20, 2025

With the beginning of the 89th Texas Legislature's second special session on Friday, August 15, both chambers filed identical bills regarding public school accountability that would not significantly change the high-stakes nature of the STAAR, instead rebranding it with a similar system reliant on the criterion-referenced, one-day, one-test model. 

The bills do acknowledge the benefits of measuring growth throughout the school year and include the addition of beginning-of-the-year and mid-year formative assessments. However, the bills do not change the indicators used to determine the state's A-F accountability ratings, so the framework by which campuses and districts are measured would not change. Further, the STAAR would remain in place through at least 2027-28, and the plan would limit comparability to other states and delay the use of a full growth-based model until 2032-33. 

Keller ISD already uses MAP Growth testing during the school year to allow teachers to track student progress and guide instruction. Legislation that had been progressing during the regular session took this type of growth-based formative assessment system into account and would have provided for greater flexibility to districts, allowing for fewer tests that take up less time and provide meaningful measurements by which teachers can personalize lessons and families can compare performance on a nationwide scale. The bills filed in the special session abandon that for a model that more closely resembles our current accountability and testing system. 

Senate Bill 9 is the Texas Senate's version. The bill was filed on the first day of the second special session – August 15 – and that same day was sent to and approved by the Senate Finance Committee. Given that the bill had been filed and heard on the same day that the special session had been called, and it was the first week for many Texas schools to begin their school year, the committee heard very little testimony on the bill. 

House Bill 8 is the Texas House of Representatives' version. It is set for a public hearing before the Public Education Committee on Thursday, August 21. 

Keller ISD supporters who are interested in seeing a real change in the state's standardized testing and accountability model are encouraged to contact legislators and let them know that you value seeing the high-stakes nature of STAAR come to an end. Encourage lawmakers to listen to parents and educators on the topic rather than maintaining the status quo. 

The bills were filed by Representative Brad Buckley and Senator Brandon Creighton. You can click here to look up the contact information for the lawmakers who represent you.