LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - United Independent School District is bracing for major changes after the Texas Senate passed House Bill 8, a sweeping overhaul of the state’s student assessment and accountability system that will phase out the STAAR exam beginning in the 2027–28 school year.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has long pushed for testing reform, called the bill’s passage a win for students and parents. “For far too long, Texas students and teachers have been burdened by the STAAR test, a cumbersome one-size-fits-all assessment,” Patrick said in a statement .

Under HB 8 , the Texas Education Agency would take over responsibility for developing a new “instructionally supportive” statewide assessment system, replacing the current STAAR program. The new framework calls for beginning-, middle

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