HOUSTON — A sweeping education reform bill that could reshape how students are tested in Texas is one step closer to becoming law. House Bill 4, which aims to replace the STAAR exam, passed the Texas Senate late Tuesday night with bipartisan support in a 23–8 vote.

The bill, backed by state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, proposes eliminating the single, high-stakes STAAR test and instead implementing three shorter assessments spread throughout the school year. Supporters say the change would allow for more accurate tracking of student progress while giving teachers additional time for classroom instruction.

A recent rewrite of the bill, highlighted by the Texas Tribune, has exposed lingering disagreements between the House and Senate over how student performance should be evaluated. The revised

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