Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislationon Wednesday replacing STAAR, the state’s widely unpopular state standardized test, for three shorter tests at the beginning, middle and end of each school year.

With House Bill 8 now law, Texas will swap the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness forthe shorter tests, which students will begin to take in the 2027-28 school year.

“House Bill 8 ends the high stakes and high stress nature of one test, one day,” Rep. Brad Buckley , the bill’s author, said Sept. 3before the Texas House voted to send the proposal to Abbott. “This is unprecedented oversight of the assessment and accountability system by this body.”

Legislators replaced STAAR amid frustration from families and teachers, who say the test puts too much pressure on students a

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