House Bill 8 (HB 8) Update: What Parents & Communities Need to Know

What is HB 8?

House Bill 8 (HB 8) is a new Texas law (passed in August 2025) that changes how students are tested and how schools are measured. It moves away from the single end-of-year STAAR test toward a new “instructionally supportive assessment program.”

This is more than a testing shift — it is about how adults use data and decisions to impact student success and equity.

Does this mean STAAR is gone?

Not completely. Instead of one big test, students will take shorter assessments throughout the year.

• The goal: give teachers earlier feedback so they can adjust instruction quickly.

• The hope: reduce student stress and create a system where no child is left behind until “test day.”

What will change for my child?

• Shorter tests instead of hours of STAAR.

• More frequent check-ins on learning progress.

• Secure online access for parents to see results in real time.

• Teacher review panels shaping test questions to better reflect classroom learning.

If implemented well, this could mean quicker help for students who are struggling, instead of waiting months to know if they are on track.

How does this affect equity?

For years, families in under-resourced schools have seen testing expose gaps — but not always fix them. HB 8 could help if:

• Schools respond to data with real interventions (tutoring, support staff, resources).

• Communities hold leaders accountable for closing learning gaps, not just reporting them.

Equity is not about more tests — it is about whether we use the information to ensure every child has what they need to succeed.

Why is this happening?

Lawmakers wanted to address long-standing criticism of STAAR. HB 8 is pitched as a way to:

• Give timely feedback to teachers and parents.

• Lower test anxiety for students.

• Make accountability more focused on growth.

But the law also centralizes power in the Texas Education Agency (TEA), which worries some communities. Equity will depend on how schools and districts balance local needs with state requirements.

What are the concerns?

• Centralized control: TEA has more authority, reducing local flexibility.

• No opt-out option: Parents cannot exempt their children from testing.

• Data privacy: Families are asking how student information will be protected.

• Implementation challenges: Will schools get enough support to make this work fairly?

Without strong community voice, these changes could deepen — rather than close — inequities.

When will families see changes?

The transition will roll out over several years. Expect to see pilot programs and early adoption in some districts first. Parents should stay alert and ask schools:

• How will you use HB 8 assessments to support my child?

• What resources are in place to respond when students fall behind?

What role do parents and communities play?

Parents and communities are the watchdogs of equity. School boards and district leaders will need to show how HB 8 data is being used to:

• Improve reading and math outcomes.

• Support special education and English learner students.

• Close racial and economic gaps.

Remember: Student outcomes don’t change until adult behaviors change. This includes how teachers teach, how boards govern, and how communities demand accountability.

HB 8 could reshape testing in Texas classrooms, but whether it helps or hurts depends on how adults respond. Parents and communities have a critical role to play in this transition. Staying informed about the rollout is the first step, followed by asking hard questions at school board and campus meetings to ensure the law is implemented with students’ best interests in mind. Most importantly, families must hold leaders accountable for using HB 8 as a tool to advance equity and improve outcomes — not simply as a way to generate more reports.

HB 8 is a reminder that tests alone will not transform our schools. The real transformation happens when adults — parents, educators, leaders, and policymakers — use the data with integrity, urgency, and equity in mind. Our children deserve more than reports; they deserve action that ensures every student has the opportunity to succeed.