H.B. No. 8, introduced by Buckley, seeks to enhance public school accountability and transparency in Texas through a new instructionally supportive assessment program. The bill amends the Education Code to ensure that parents have online access to state assessment instruments and results, with school districts required to notify parents when new results are available. It establishes a transition plan from the current STAAR program to the new assessment framework by the 2027-2028 school year, including provisions for field testing and a study to ensure alignment with educational standards. Additionally, the bill focuses on improving assessments for emergent bilingual students, allowing them to be assessed in Spanish for up to three years and creating a language proficiency assessment committee.

The legislation also introduces various amendments to enhance the evaluation and accountability of school districts, including the establishment of an accountability advisory committee and a grant program for local accountability plans. It modifies the performance standards and reporting requirements for the commissioner of education, ensuring stakeholder engagement in decision-making. The bill streamlines the process for awarding academic distinction designations based on student performance and postsecondary readiness, while also implementing new provisions for compliance with low-performing campuses. Overall, H.B. No. 8 aims to improve educational outcomes through targeted assessments, professional development, and a comprehensive approach to accountability.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 26.005, Education Code 39.022, Education Code 39.023, Education Code 39.0263, Education Code 39.0301, Education Code 39.304, Education Code 39.053, Education Code 39.054, Education Code 39.0541, Education Code 39.0542, Education Code 39.0544, Education Code 39.201, The following provisions of the Education Code 39.0531, Education Code 7.057, Education Code 39.001, Education Code 39.151, Education Code 7.056, Education Code 11.185, Education Code 21.4552, Education Code 39.02342, Education Code 39.0236, Education Code 39.0238, Education Code 39.025, Education Code 39.027, Education Code 39.030, Education Code 39.031, Education Code 39.035, Education Code 39.203 (Education Code 21, Education Code 7, Education Code 39, Education Code 26, Education Code 11, The following provisions of the Education Code 39)