S.B. No. 8 is a comprehensive bill aimed at enhancing accountability and transparency in Texas public schools through a new instructionally supportive assessment program. Key provisions include amendments to the Education Code that require the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to create a new assessment program focused on progress monitoring, ensuring that parents have easy online access to state assessment instruments and results. The bill mandates that school districts provide parents with access to assessment results via a parent portal and notify them of new results. It also outlines a transition plan from the current State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) program to the new assessment program by the 2027-2028 school year, including provisions for field testing and a study to evaluate assessment appropriateness for different grade levels.

Additionally, the bill introduces several amendments to improve the assessment process for emergent bilingual students, allowing assessments in Spanish for up to three years and establishing a language proficiency assessment committee. It emphasizes teacher involvement in the assessment process, mandates the release of assessment questions and answer keys every three years, and requires timely results and diagnostic reports for schools. The bill also modifies performance standards and accountability measures, including the introduction of a "Not Rated" designation under specific circumstances and a grant program to assist districts in developing local accountability plans. Overall, S.B. No. 8 aims to improve educational outcomes by providing better assessment tools, ensuring parental engagement, and enhancing the evaluation of school performance.

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 (The following provisions of the Education Code 39, Education Code 21, Education Code 7, Education Code 11, Education Code 39, Education Code 26)