Abbott waives some academic advancement requirements tied to standardized tests due to COVID-19 crisis.

With the anticipated impact of COVID-19-relate restrictions on the coming school year, Gov. Greg Abbott has waived some requirements regarding advancement to the next grade level and the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STARR).

The decision impacts all middle school students in grades 5 through 8, according to a press release from the Office of the Texas Governor.

Under existing policy, the STARR is typically administered late in the school year, but students who do not meet academic standards for advancing to the next grade level are then required to retake the STARR in the summer in order to advance.

However, in the 2020-2021 school year, students will now only be required to take the mathematics and reading assessments in the spring.

“By waiving these promotion requirements, we are providing greater flexibility for students and teachers, while at the same time ensuring that Texas students continue to receive a great education — which we will continue to measure with high quality assessments," Abbott said in the press release. 

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath acknowledged the importance of providing assessments in order for both parents and educators to understand the needs and academic situation of students.

“But there is no benefit to our children by requiring them to repeat a year based on a single test score given the disruptions of COVID, so we are waiving the grade promotion requirements from STAAR this year for our students," Morath said in the press release. 

Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen weighed in on the decision as well, and was quoted in the release as supporting Abbott’s decision.

Not only will this approach do a great deal to reduce the ‘high-stakes’ burden of testing in a school year already complicated by this pandemic, it will hold schools accountable for providing a high quality education while equipping teachers and parents with the information they need to make certain students are learning and remain on the path to educational success," Bonnen said in the press release.