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Standing across from House Democrats on the chamber floor Tuesday, Rep. Brad Buckley defended his bill to replace STAAR, the state’s widely unpopular standardized test. Just months ago, they had been standing behind him.

The House voted to approve the measure in the end, despite Democrats’ opposition. The 82-56 vote was a far cry from the broad support an earlier House proposal received earlier this year. It also put a spotlight on what the new test could look like, which will determine whether the replacement for STAAR will ease the pressures of testing on students or exacerbate them.

Lawmakers say changes to the test are urgently needed as they use this ye

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