The Senate Education Committee took up a proposal to eliminate the STAAR writing test for 4th and 7th graders as well. Lawmakers also hinted at an interim study on the state’s process for developing the standards those tests are based on.
After hearing more than 100 amendments, only Rep. Mark Strama (Austin-D) and Rep. Naomi Gonzalez (El Paso-D) voted against HB 5.
It’s a big day at the Capitol.
House Bill 1423 would lower the stakes of the STAAR test, by removing the requirement, on the books since 1994, that students pass state exams to graduate. Deshotel’s proposal would limit testing to the federal requirements—just math, reading and science, and only one of each test in high school.
Parents, teachers, students and advocates from all over Texas urged lawmakers to limit standardized testing and increase public school funding Saturday.