Parents Furious State Stuck On STAAR

The Texas Education Agency‘s current guidance is that the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) testing will continue as planned. This comes despite numerous school districts announcing classes will not resume after Spring Break and several Texas colleges moving to an online format for education after Spring Break.

A bipartisan group of state lawmakers is calling for the state to cancel the upcoming April STAAR test. Texas state representative Jeff Leach focuses on local control stating “I fully trust the leadership of Plano ISD and Allen ISD parents and eucators…”

Fifty-six North Texas school districts released a photograph of a letter sent to Governor Gregg Abbott and Commissioner Mike Morath of the TEA. The letter asks them to cancel this year’s STAAR tests. Concern about the spread of Covid -19 is in play; mindful of social distancing at this time, the districts suggest they are scrambling to keep students safe, and exposure in group settings essentially serves to undermine their efforts.

STAAR Struck

A Change.org petition is currently circulating on this topic and our nonprofit is concerned about our student population being forced to take a test it would be impossible to prepare for based on experts’ recommendations on social distancing. This is not a political issue, but a safety issue.

We are currently collecting supporters so that we can approach federal and state officials about removing STAAR requirements from students during this public health emergency. Please add your name to the list so we can appropriately contact your member of the state legislature. Thank you.