What Is Replacing STAAR? What HB 8's Student Success Tool Means for Texas Districts

Beginning in the 2027–28 school year, House Bill 8 replaces STAAR with a new "instructionally supportive assessment program which may be called the Student Success Tool (SST)" (TEA). Instead of one spring test, students in grades 3–8 will take beginning-of-year (BOY), middle-of-year (MOY), and end-of-year (EOY) tests, and the state must return results within two business days of each testing window closing. For districts, that means three looks a year at where students struggle, and less time to act on each one.

This article reflects HB 8's enrolled text and TEA guidance as of October 2026. TEA is still releasing details, so check its HB 8 page before you plan.

When does STAAR end?

TEA says the last STAAR administration will be spring 2027 for grades 3–8 and December 2027 for end-of-course exams (TEA, Mar 19, 2026).

Key dates so far:

How will the Student Success Tool work?

Here is what the enrolled bill requires (HB 8, enrolled):

• Three tests a year. TEA must adopt BOY, MOY, and EOY tests. Students are tested in math and reading language arts every year in grades 3–8, science in grades 5 and 8, and social studies in grade 8.
• Set windows. The law requires windows that include at least the fourth Monday in August through September 30 (BOY), January 2 through February 21 (MOY), and May 1 through May 30 (EOY). The EOY writing portion falls between April 1 and April 15.
• Shorter tests. In grades 5–8, 85% of students who don't need accommodations are expected to finish a BOY or MOY test within 75 minutes, and an EOY test within 105 minutes. In grades 3–4 the targets are 60 and 90 minutes.
• Adaptive BOY and MOY. These tests must adapt to each student to measure individual growth.
• Fast results. TEA must report results no later than two business days after the window closes. The results "should include a diagnostic report for each student and recommendations" for teachers and parents.

TEA's FAQ adds that from the second year, BOY and MOY results will come back "immediately upon completion." It also says BOY and MOY results will not count in the 2028 A–F accountability ratings (TEA, HB 8 FAQ, Aug 2026). HB 8 asks TEA to build a beginning-to-end-of-year growth measure and present it for possible use in accountability by the 2029–30 school year.

High school changes too. End-of-course exams remain for Algebra I, Biology, English I, and U.S. History. HB 8 removes the English II end-of-course exam. BOY and MOY tests for those courses are optional.

What does a "full-scope" test mean for your scope and sequence?

This is the detail most people miss. TEA says "Each SST assessment will be a full-scope assessment" (TEA, HB 8 FAQ). That keeps curriculum decisions local and lets TEA compare results across the year.

It also changes how you read the results. In September, a BOY test covers standards your teachers haven't taught yet, so a low score on one of them isn't a gap. It's the plan. The MOY test in January and February is different. By then, your scope and sequence says certain standards have been taught. A weak result on one of those is the first real signal that the materials, the time, or the routine fell short.

That leaves about ten weeks between the end of the MOY window (February 21) and the start of the EOY window (May 1). That's the window to fix a gap before it counts.

What happens to district benchmark tests?

They get limited. Starting in 2027–28, a district or campus may not give students in grades 3–8 a district-required benchmark test other than an approved alternative to the state BOY or MOY test (TEC §39.0263). Tests a teacher designs or adopts for their own class are exempt. TEA's FAQ says districts may keep giving benchmarks as before through 2026–27 (TEA, HB 8 FAQ).

HB 8 also tells TEA to approve a list of alternative norm-referenced tests that districts may use in place of the state BOY and MOY tests. TEA said in August 2026 that the list was expected by October 2026. As of October 29, 2026, check TEA's HB 8 page for the posted list. Districts that choose an alternative pay for it from local funds (TEA, Aug 20, 2026; TEA, Request for Alternative BOY and MOY Assessments).

Why does context matter more with faster results?

Faster numbers are only useful if you read them right. Spring 2026 STAAR gives a good example. Grade 7 math scores fell while other grades rose or held steady. TEA explained that "far more 7th grade students are taking the Grade 8 math assessment than ever before." In spring 2026, 32% of seventh graders took the Grade 8 math test, up from 16% in 2023. Counted by enrolled grade, the share of students meeting grade level rose in every grade (TEA, June 16, 2026).

The headline number pointed one way and the real story went the other. With three tests a year, teams will make that kind of call more often and with less time. The districts that do it well will know, for every standard, which materials teach it and when.

What this means for your district

Use 2026–27 to get ready. STAAR still runs this year, and benchmark rules haven't changed yet.

Before the February field test

• Share TEA's February 1–5, 2027 field-test dates with selected campuses.
• Have someone attend or watch TEA's November 12, 2026 BOY and MOY training.

This winter

• Compare your scope and sequence with TEA's posted BOY/MOY and summative blueprints, grade by grade.
• For each grade, mark which standards should be taught by the MOY window.
• Decide whether to use the state BOY and MOY tests or an approved alternative. Budget locally if you choose an alternative.
• List every district benchmark you give in grades 3–8. Plan which ones end in 2027–28.

Before 2027–28

• Set data meetings for the days right after each window closes, not weeks later.
• Build a routine to trace a weak standard back to the lessons that teach it.
• Plan how you'll fill a gap between February and May with materials your curriculum team approves.
• Watch for TEA's Range Performance Level Descriptors, which TEA plans to start releasing in winter 2027.
• Confirm your parent portal setup. HB 8 requires districts to notify parents each time state test results are available.

Where Nvitis fits

Faster results raise one question three times a year: is this a gap in what students learned, or in what the materials taught?

Nvitis Education is built for that question. Our Gap Analysis is designed to line up each required standard with the materials teachers can use and with your exam and performance reports, then rank the gaps by what to fix first. Nvitis builds a profile for each student from exam and performance reports. Student names are replaced with a unique ID, and no photos are used. When a gap needs filling, Companion Materials drafts the missing pieces from the program you already use, and your curriculum team reviews them before anyone uses them.

Three checkpoints a year only help if you can act between them.

FAQ

What is replacing STAAR? HB 8 replaces STAAR with an instructionally supportive assessment program that TEA calls the Student Success Tool (SST). It starts in the 2027–28 school year, with beginning-, middle-, and end-of-year tests.

When is the last STAAR test? TEA says the last STAAR administration is spring 2027 for grades 3–8 and December 2027 for end-of-course exams.

How fast will SST results come back? HB 8 requires TEA to report results no later than two business days after each testing window closes. TEA says that starting in the second year, BOY and MOY results will come back immediately when a student finishes.

Will BOY and MOY scores count in A–F ratings? Not in 2028. TEA says BOY and MOY results won't be used in the 2028 A–F ratings. HB 8 asks TEA to develop a growth measure for possible future use by 2029–30.

Can districts still give benchmark tests? Yes, through 2026–27. Starting in 2027–28, districts can't give district-required benchmark tests in grades 3–8 other than an approved alternative to the state BOY or MOY test. Teacher-made classroom tests are exempt.

Can districts use their own BOY and MOY tests? Only tests on TEA's approved list of alternatives, and the district pays for them. Check TEA's HB 8 page for the current list.

Get ready for three checkpoints a year

Bring one subject and one grade band. We'll show you where the standards, the materials, and the evidence line up and where they don't.

Request a personalized demo

Sources

1. Texas Education Agency. "House Bill 8: Student Assessment." https://tea.texas.gov/data-reports/student-assessment-overview/house-bill-8-student-assessment (accessed Oct 29, 2026)
2. Texas Legislature. HB 8, 89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session, 2025, enrolled version (TEC §§39.022, 39.0225, 39.023, 39.02301, 39.0263). https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/892/billtext/html/HB00008F.HTM
3. Texas Legislature Online. "89(2) History for HB 8." https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?Bill=HB8&LegSess=892
4. Texas Education Agency. "House Bill 8 Frequently Asked Questions," August 2026. https://tea.texas.gov/data-reports/staar/hb-8-faq-update.pdf
5. Texas Education Agency. "School Year 2027–28 Student Assessment Testing Calendar," To the Administrator Addressed, Mar 19, 2026. https://tea.texas.gov/taa-letters/school-year-2027-28-student-assessment-testing-calendar
6. Texas Education Agency. "House Bill 8 Update and Resources," To the Administrator Addressed, Aug 20, 2026. https://tea.texas.gov/taa-letters/house-bill-8-update-and-resources
7. Texas Education Agency. "Request for Alternative BOY & MOY Assessments (RFABMA)," May 8, 2026. https://tea2.tea.texas.gov/data-reports/student-assessment-overview/request-for-alternate-boy-and-moy-assessments-0.pdf
8. Texas Education Agency. "TEA Releases Spring 2026 STAAR Results for Grades 3–8," June 16, 2026. https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/newsroom/tea-releases-spring-2026-staarr-results-grades-3-8