For ten years, I stood in a middle school English classroom right here in the Rio Grande Valley. Every spring, I watched my students—bright, creative, hard-working kids—stress over the STAAR test. One thing was clear to me: a single standardized test score has never captured the true heart, quality, or success of our public schools.
Last year, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 8. You might have read the headlines stating that this legislation “eliminated” the STAAR test. But the reality on the ground is much more nuanced and complicated. While the name or format might change, almost all elements of a high-stakes, standardized-test-based accountability system remain intact.
So, what does “eliminating the STAAR test” mean for Texas public schools? What can parents, teachers, and students expect as we look toward the 2026-27 school year and beyond? Now, it’s more important than ever for our communities to have thoughtful, honest conversations about how we measure the quality of our public schools.
To answer these questions, Raise Your Hand Texas hosted a series of statewide events named Beyond the Falling STAAR. These are interactive, hands-on workshops designed to give our communities a meaningful look at the shortcomings of how Texas currently grades its campuses.
We recently hosted a Beyond the Falling STAAR workshop in my hometown of McAllen and another one in Brownsville, and the energy from parents and educators was incredible.
Through interactive exercises, these workshops help break down the complex jargon of state testing into plain facts. Those who joined us left with a clear understanding of:
● The Flaws in the Formula: Understand exactly how the current state A-F ratings for most campuses are based 100% on standardized test scores, drastically limiting what those official letter grades actually tell the public about a school's quality.
● The Bigger Picture: Other meaningful indicators—such as teacher retention, extracurricular access, and school safety—that provide a more accurate picture of how a school meets student needs and community expectations.
● How to Take Action: How to be prepared and empowered to engage lawmakers and advocate for real accountability reform by calling for a reduction of STAAR’s heavy emphasis.
As someone who has dedicated her career to uplifting the voices of young people and public-school employees, I know the power of an organized, informed community. We cannot let a single test define our students or our schools.
Interested in learning more or having me host another workshop in your community? Contact me to schedule one near you at criojas@ryht.org.
Editor’s Note: The above guest column was penned by Clarissa Riojas, regional advocacy director for Raise Your Hand Texas. The column appears in the Rio Grande Guardian with the permission of the author.
A message from Raise Your Hand Texas:
Whether you're ready to get involved or just want to stay informed about the big issues in public education, join us at Raise Your Hand Texas. Visit go.ryht.org/subscribe for our newsletters or text updates, or you can contact Riojas at criojas@rhyt.org.
