Experts worry high-stakes testing will drive some from public education as STAAR results release

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- On Wednesday, the Texas Education Agency released its first round of high school STAAR test results, which show students are generally performing better.

"The test is very important, it's very important to have that data, but there are high stakes attached to it that can affect campuses and districts," University of Houston Education Professor Duncan Klussman said.

Klussman said STAAR test results play a big role in determining a school's and district's accountability rating, which can impact the level of oversight or autonomy they have in the next school year.

The pressure students face during testing has made STAAR controversial. Former Houston ISD teacher Ruth Kravetz said she feels some districts now put the focus on test-taking instead of learning.

"Testing is a meaningful component of a well-rounded curriculum, but if the only thing we value is a standardized test, that kids aren't going to do labs anymore, kids don't write, kids don't do collaborative activities," Kravetz said.

Test scores for Algebra 1, Biology, English 1 and 2, and US History have been released so far.

ABC13 looked at the data from Conroe, Cy-Fair, Houston, Katy, and Fort Bend ISD, where we see gains in three subjects, but performance was mostly down in English 2 and US History.

And while these results will drive major decisions next year, by the 2027-28 school year, STAAR will be gone, and new testing will drive state and district decision-making.

The state is still developing the new test, but Klussman said the new testing will be shorter and will happen three times a year, as opposed to only once.

Klussman also expects the continued pressure of controversial high-stakes testing and new state-funded private school vouchers to be a combination that could drive some families away from public education.

"I find it very counterintuitive, right, the state is putting in high-stakes testing, has high-stakes testing will continue to, but will give parents dollars to leave that system and go to a private school where there is no high-stakes testing," Klussman said.