S.B. No. 8 aims to enhance public school accountability and transparency in Texas by establishing a new instructionally supportive assessment program and amending various sections of the Education Code. Key changes include entitling parents to access state assessment instruments and their results online, and introducing a new assessment framework focused on progress monitoring, which is set to replace the current State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) program by the 2027-2028 school year. The Texas Education Agency is tasked with contracting a recognized provider for this transition and conducting field testing of new assessment items. The bill also emphasizes the assessment of emergent bilingual students, allowing them to be assessed in Spanish for up to three years, and mandates the approval of alternative assessment instruments for school districts.

Additionally, the bill modifies the performance rating system for school districts and campuses, requiring annual ratings of A, B, C, D, or F, and introduces a "Not Rated" category under specific circumstances. It establishes new procedures for assessment administration to minimize disruptions and includes provisions for teacher report cards to ensure relevant performance data is provided. The legislation also outlines requirements for assessment instruments to measure student performance against state standards and mandates independent validation for these instruments. Overall, S.B. No. 8 seeks to create a more effective and transparent assessment system that supports student achievement and educational accountability while holding schools responsible for performance outcomes.

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 39, Education Code 11, Education Code 21, The following provisions of the Education Code 39, Education Code 26, Education Code 7)
Senate Committee Report: 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 39, Education Code 11, Education Code 21, The following provisions of the Education Code 39, Education Code 26, Education Code 7)
Engrossed: 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 39, Education Code 11, Education Code 21, The following provisions of the Education Code 39, Education Code 26, Education Code 7)