Texas · The STAAR replacement · Updated October 2026
What is replacing STAAR?
The Student Success Tool
Texas is replacing the STAAR test with the Student Success Tool (SST) under House Bill 8 — three shorter tests across the year instead of one big spring exam, starting 2027-28. Here's what's confirmed, in plain English.
Last reviewed October 19, 2026 against Texas Education Agency sources · Updated as TEA publishes new details
What changed since June 2026
- Test dates are final. TEA set the 2027-28 SST windows: BOY August 23-September 30, 2027, MOY January 3-February 21, 2028, EOY April-May 2028.
- Shorter testing is now confirmed. TEA says the new design "reduces student testing time compared to STAAR": each test is as much as 30% shorter, with set time limits by grade.
- The question types are set. Multiple choice, multiple select, inline choice and multi-part. The reading EOY keeps one essay, scored on a 6-point rubric (STAAR uses 10).
- A field test comes first. Selected campuses give an SST field test February 1-5, 2027. It takes 2-3 hours and no scores are returned.
- Draft blueprints are out. TEA has posted a draft blueprint for every SST test: 22-27 questions at BOY and MOY, 24-34 questions at EOY, depending on grade and subject. See the table below.
- Alternative tests: list still pending. Districts may use a TEA-approved alternative for BOY and MOY. TEA's timeline said the list would be published in September 2026; it was not posted when we checked on October 19, 2026.
From TEA's HB 8 FAQ (August 20, 2026), the 2027-28 testing calendar and the other TEA documents listed under Sources.
What is the Student Success Tool?
The Student Success Tool (SST) is the statutory name for the new Texas assessment that replaces STAAR. Created by House Bill 8 (signed September 17, 2025), it swaps one high-stakes spring test for a through-year model — three shorter checks spread across the school year. It covers grades 3-8 (and Spanish grades 3-5) and stays aligned to Texas's own TEKS standards. The goal: give teachers useful results during the year instead of one score that arrives after the year is over.
Source: TEA — Overview of House Bill 8
How the three tests work (BOY · MOY · EOY)
Beginning of Year
A check near the start of the school year to see where each student stands. It is adaptive: questions adjust to how your child answers, and may go above or below grade level.
Middle of Year
A mid-year check to measure growth and flag students who need support. Also adaptive, with no written-answer questions.
End of Year
The end-of-year measure. Every student gets the same on-grade-level test (not adaptive), and its results return to schools within 48 hours.
Together, these three windows replace STAAR's single spring test. Schools use the TEA-provided end-of-year assessment, and its results come back within 48 hours.
When does STAAR end and the SST begin?
Students took STAAR as usual.
The last full year of STAAR. The final grades 3-8 STAAR is spring 2027: reading April 5-16, grade 5 and 8 science and grade 8 social studies April 12-23, math April 19-30.
A one-week SST tryout, February 1-5, 2027, at campuses TEA selected and every campus that gives STAAR Spanish reading. No scores come home.
Students take the new three-test SST for the first time, replacing STAAR: BOY August 23-September 30, 2027; MOY January 3-February 21, 2028; EOY in April-May 2028. The last STAAR end-of-course tests run December 6-17, 2027.
Source: TEA — 2026-2027 Student Assessment Testing Calendar (updated August 2026)
Source: TEA — 2027-2028 Student Assessment Testing Calendar (final, April 2026)
Every spring 2027 STAAR window and results date: STAAR 2027 dates · High school end-of-course tests: STAAR EOC dates.
SST test dates 2027-28
TEA's final calendar for the first year of the Student Success Tool. Districts choose the exact days inside each window.
| Test | Window | Results to schools | Who takes it |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOY (beginning of year) | August 23 - September 30, 2027 | By October 4, 2027 | Required in grades 3-8 (SST or an approved alternative); optional for Algebra I, English I, Biology, U.S. History |
| MOY (middle of year) | January 3 - February 21, 2028 | By February 23, 2028 | Required in grades 3-8 (SST or an approved alternative); optional for the four high school courses |
| EOY reading essay | April 3-7, 2028 (extended April 10-14) | With the reading EOY | Grades 3-8 reading language arts and English I |
| EOY reading | May 1-5, 2028 (extended May 8-12) | By May 24, 2028 (raw scores only) | Grades 3-8 reading language arts and English I |
| EOY math, science, social studies | May 8-12, 2028 (extended May 15-19) | By May 24, 2028 (raw scores only) | Grades 3-8 math, science (grades 5 and 8), grade 8 social studies, Algebra I, Biology, U.S. History |
- Make-up days: districts may test students who missed the EOY windows between May 22 and May 30, 2028.
- First-year EOY scores are raw scores only. TEA sets the SST score levels after the first EOY (“standard setting”), so spring 2028 results come back as raw scores by May 24, 2028.
- BOY and MOY results come at the end of each window in 2027-28 and right after the test from the second year. Families will see BOY and MOY results in the Family Portal.
- The last STAAR end-of-course tests run December 6-17, 2027. SST June retests for Algebra I, English I, Biology and U.S. History run June 12-23, 2028.
Source: TEA — 2027-2028 Student Assessment Testing Calendar (final, April 2026)
How long is the SST? Time limits and question types
| Grade | BOY & MOY | EOY |
|---|---|---|
| Grades 3 and 4 | 60 minutes | 90 minutes |
| Grades 5-8 | 75 minutes | 105 minutes |
The law (TEC §39.02301(k)) says most students should be able to finish within these times.
- Up to 30% shorter. Each SST test is “as much as 30% shorter per testing event” than STAAR.
- Shorter reading passages, around half the length of STAAR passages.
- Four question types: multiple choice, multiple select (2 points), inline choice, a drop-down inside the text (2 points), and multi-part questions (2 points).
- One essay, on the reading EOY only, given in an earlier April window. It is scored on a 6-point rubric instead of STAAR's 10, a zero is given only for a blank or nonsense answer, and STAAR's short written answers are dropped.
- Every test covers the whole year's standards (full scope), so a fall test can include topics not yet taught.
- Released questions: EOY questions will be released like STAAR's; BOY and MOY questions will not. TEA's practice test site will be updated and stay available.
How many questions are on the SST? TEA's draft blueprints by grade
Each BOY and MOY test has 22-27 questions. The end-of-year test has 24-32 questions in math and 27-31 in reading, including the essay. These numbers come from the draft blueprint TEA posted for every SST test.
| Grade | Math BOY/MOY | Math EOY | Reading BOY/MOY | Reading EOY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 3 | 22 | 24-26 (30 pts) | 22 | 27-28 (34 pts) |
| Grade 4 | 22 | 24-26 (30 pts) | 22-23 | 27-28 (34 pts) |
| Grade 5 | 22-24 | 25-27 (32 pts) | 24 | 28-29 (36 pts) |
| Grade 6 | 22-24 | 27-29 (34 pts) | 24 | 28-29 (36 pts) |
| Grade 7 | 22-27 | 28-30 (36 pts) | 24 | 28-29 (36 pts) |
| Grade 8 | 22-27 | 30-32 (38 pts) | 25-26 | 30-31 (38 pts) |
- Science and social studies: grade 5 science is 22 questions at BOY/MOY and 24-26 (30 points) at EOY; grade 8 science is 24 and 28-30 (35 points); grade 8 social studies is 22 and 32-34 (40 points).
- Reading is half reading, half writing. In grade 5, for example, the BOY/MOY test has 11-13 reading and 11-13 writing questions. Only the EOY has the essay, worth 6 points.
- One overall score. Every blueprint says subscores will not be reported for the strands (for example, Geometry and Measurement).
- How that compares with STAAR: the 2026 STAAR tests were worth 37-48 points in math and 52-56 in reading. See how many points passed each STAAR test.
- Still a draft. The BOY/MOY blueprints take effect with the fall 2027 test and the EOY blueprints with spring 2028. TEA can change them before then.
Source: TEA — House Bill 8: Student Assessment (blueprints, rubrics, samples)
The February 2027 SST field test
- When: February 1-5, 2027, online only. Schools should plan 2-3 hours.
- Who: students at campuses TEA selected, in the grades and courses assigned, plus every campus that gives STAAR Spanish reading in grades 3-5.
- Subjects: math grades 3-8 and Algebra I; reading grades 3-8, Spanish 3-5 and English I; science (elementary, middle school, Biology); grade 8 social studies and U.S. History.
- Scores: none. Schools and families get no results; it only tries out new questions.
- Supports: most online accommodations are available; braille and ASL versions are not.
Source: TEA — Selection for February 2027 SST Stand-Alone Field Test (August 21, 2026)
Approved alternative tests (list pending)
HB 8 lets districts give a TEA-approved norm-referenced test instead of the state BOY and MOY. The district pays for it, approved tests can be used in 2027-28 and 2028-29, and the EOY is still the SST for everyone.
Pending: TEA's timeline said the approved list would be published in September 2026. It was not posted when we checked on October 19, 2026, so no product is approved yet.
We'll add the list here once TEA posts it. Until then, ask your district which BOY and MOY test it plans to use.
Source: TEA — Call for HB 8 Alternative BOY & MOY Assessment Instruments
Practice for the last STAAR, spring 2027
Spring 2027 is still a full STAAR. Each practice test below follows TEA's 2026 released test for that grade and subject. Local pages: Frisco ISD STAAR prep, Katy ISD STAAR prep, Plano ISD STAAR prep, Austin ISD STAAR prep and Richardson ISD STAAR prep.
STAAR vs. the Student Success Tool
| STAAR (now) | Student Success Tool (2027-28) | |
|---|---|---|
| How often students test | One big test in spring | Three shorter tests across the year (BOY, MOY, EOY) |
| How fast results come back | Weeks to months | End-of-year results within 48 hours |
| Grades & subjects | Grades 3-8 (math, reading, plus science & social studies in some grades) | Grades 3-8 math and reading (Spanish versions in grades 3-5), elementary and middle school science, grade 8 social studies; plus Algebra I, English I, Biology and U.S. History |
| Test length | One long test per subject | Each test "as much as 30% shorter" than STAAR; reading passages around half as long |
| Question types | Many types, including typed answers, drag-and-drop, hot spots and graphing | Multiple choice, multiple select, inline choice (drop-down) and multi-part; one essay on the reading EOY |
| Essay scoring | 10-point essay rubric plus short written answers | 6-point essay rubric; short written answers dropped |
| Standards | TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) | TEKS — Texas keeps its own standards |
| High-school English II exam | English II end-of-course test given | English II end-of-course test eliminated |
| First year in effect | Through the 2026-27 school year | Starting the 2027-28 school year |
Source: TEA — Overview of House Bill 8
Faster results
Under HB 8, end-of-year results return to schools within 48 hours — so families and teachers see how a student did almost immediately, instead of waiting weeks or months as with STAAR.
English II exam eliminated
HB 8 eliminates the English II end-of-course exam. Texas also keeps its own TEKS standards — the SST measures the same content standards as STAAR, so what kids are expected to learn doesn't change.
What this means for parents
If your child is in grades 3-8, here's the honest, no-panic version — what actually changes, what doesn't, and what to do about it.
STAAR is still the real, high-stakes test in 2026-27, with the last grades 3-8 STAAR in April 2027. Keep preparing for STAAR exactly as you would now — the Student Success Tool does not start until the 2027-28 school year.
Both STAAR and the new test measure the same TEKS standards. Helping your child master grade-level reading, writing, and math prepares them for STAAR now and the Student Success Tool later. The skills are what matter, not the test name.
By law, the new test’s scoring must be set at an equivalent level of rigor to STAAR, keeping the same four levels (Masters, Meets, Approaches, Did Not Meet). Anyone telling you it will be "easier" or "harder" is guessing — TEA hasn’t said either.
Under HB 8, results return to schools within two business days of a testing window closing, and parents are notified each time scores are available through the Texas Assessment Family Portal. The goal is to catch gaps during the year, not after it.
HB 8 keeps the A-F accountability system, and the new test still feeds school ratings. The change is in how and how often students test — not in whether the results matter.
What TEA hasn't released yet
Some details are still being finalized. As of October 19, 2026, the Texas Education Agency has not released the SST's cut scores (they are set after the first EOY in 2028), the list of approved alternative BOY and MOY tests, or its BOY and MOY administration rules (due by November 2026). The blueprints TEA has posted are marked draft. We'll update this page as those are published — and we only post what TEA has officially confirmed.
Check for the latest directly from TEA: TEA — House Bill 8 FAQ (updated August 20, 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the new STAAR test called?
The new Texas state test is called the Student Success Tool, usually shortened to SST. It is the name TEA and House Bill 8 use for the assessment that replaces STAAR starting in the 2027-28 school year.
What is the TEA SST test in Texas?
SST is short for Student Success Tool, the Texas Education Agency's name for the state test that replaces STAAR. TEA's House Bill 8 page describes "a new instructionally supportive assessment program which may be called the Student Success Tool (SST)," starting in the 2027-28 school year. Grades 3-8 take it three times a year: beginning of year (from August 23, 2027), middle of year and end of year. Spring 2027 is still STAAR.
What is replacing the STAAR test?
STAAR is being replaced by the Student Success Tool (SST), a new Texas assessment created under House Bill 8. Instead of one big end-of-year test, the SST uses three shorter tests across the school year — beginning, middle, and end of year.
What is the Student Success Tool?
The Student Success Tool (SST) is the statutory name for the assessment that replaces STAAR in Texas under HB 8. It is a through-year system: three checks per year for grades 3-8 (and Spanish grades 3-5), aligned to the same TEKS standards Texas already uses.
Is STAAR going away? When?
Yes. House Bill 8, signed September 17, 2025, replaces STAAR with the Student Success Tool starting the 2027-28 school year. STAAR continues through 2025-26 and 2026-27, with the final STAAR administration in spring 2027.
When is the last STAAR test in 2027?
TEA's 2026-2027 testing calendar sets the final grades 3-8 STAAR windows in spring 2027: Reading Language Arts April 5-16, grade 5 and 8 science and grade 8 social studies April 12-23, and math April 19-30. Districts choose the exact days inside each window. The Student Success Tool takes over in 2027-28.
What is House Bill 8 (HB 8)?
HB 8 is the Texas law (passed in the 89th Legislature, 2nd Called Session, and signed September 17, 2025) that repeals and replaces STAAR with the Student Success Tool, sets up the three-test through-year model, speeds up score returns, and eliminates the English II end-of-course exam. Note: HB 8 is the law that passed — an earlier bill, HB 4, did not become law.
How is the Student Success Tool different from STAAR?
The biggest difference is timing: STAAR is one high-stakes spring test, while the SST spreads testing across three shorter windows (BOY, MOY, EOY) so teachers see results during the year. End-of-year results return within 48 hours, and the English II end-of-course exam is eliminated. Both stay aligned to the TEKS standards.
What grades and subjects does the Student Success Tool cover?
The SST covers the same tests STAAR did: grades 3-8 math and reading language arts (with Spanish versions in grades 3-5), elementary and middle school science, and grade 8 social studies. BOY and MOY are required in those subjects. Algebra I, English I, Biology and U.S. History have an EOY test, and their BOY and MOY tests are optional.
Is the Student Success Tool still based on TEKS?
Yes. Texas keeps its own TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) standards. The SST measures the same standards STAAR did — the change is in how and how often students are tested, not the curriculum standards.
Have the Student Success Tool scoring levels been released?
Not the cut scores. TEA has published the test format (time limits, question types and draft blueprints), and the SST keeps the same four levels as STAAR: Masters, Meets, Approaches and Did Not Meet. The scores needed for each level are set after the first end-of-year tests, so first-year (spring 2028) EOY results go to schools as raw scores only. TEA plans to publish range performance level descriptors by spring 2027. This page will be updated as TEA publishes them.
Will the Student Success Tool be harder than STAAR?
Officially, neither harder nor easier. By law (TEC §39.02301(f)), the SST's performance standards must be set at an equivalent level of rigor to STAAR, and it keeps the same four levels — Masters, Meets, Approaches, and Did Not Meet. TEA has not said the test will be harder or easier; anyone claiming so is guessing. (Note: a separate 2028 increase to A-F accountability cut scores affects school ratings, not how hard the student test is.)
Do Texas students still need to prepare for STAAR in 2027?
Yes. STAAR is still the real test this school year: grades 3-8 take it in spring 2027 (reading April 5-16, science and social studies April 12-23, math April 19-30), and it still counts toward school A-F ratings. The Student Success Tool does not begin until 2027-28, so nothing changes for this year. Keep preparing for STAAR as usual.
Does preparing for STAAR also prepare my child for the new test?
Yes. Both STAAR and the Student Success Tool measure the same TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) standards. So helping your child master grade-level TEKS — the actual reading, writing, and math skills — prepares them for STAAR now and the SST later. The standards are the constant; only the test format changes.
Will three tests a year mean less testing for my child?
TEA now says yes: its March 19, 2026 letter states the SST's "streamlined test design reduces student testing time compared to STAAR," and each testing event is "as much as 30% shorter" than STAAR. Most students are expected to finish BOY and MOY in 60 minutes (grades 3-4) or 75 minutes (grades 5-8), and the EOY in 90 or 105 minutes. There are three tests instead of one, so testing is spread across the year, with results returned to schools within two business days of each window closing.
When is the SST BOY test?
The first SST beginning-of-year (BOY) window is August 23 - September 30, 2027, with results to schools by October 4, 2027. The middle-of-year (MOY) window is January 3 - February 21, 2028, and the end-of-year (EOY) tests are in spring 2028: the reading essay April 3-14, reading May 1-12, and math, science and social studies May 8-19. Districts pick the days inside each window.
How long is the SST test?
TEA expects most students to finish the BOY and MOY tests in 60 minutes in grades 3-4 and 75 minutes in grades 5-8, and the EOY test in 90 minutes (grades 3-4) or 105 minutes (grades 5-8). Each test is "as much as 30% shorter" than STAAR, and reading passages are around half the length of STAAR passages.
How many questions are on the SST?
TEA's draft blueprints set 22-27 questions for each BOY and MOY test and 24-34 for the end-of-year test, depending on grade and subject. For example, grade 3 math is 22 questions at BOY and MOY and 24-26 questions (30 points) at EOY; grade 8 reading is 25-26 at BOY and MOY and 30-31 questions (38 points) at EOY. Grade 5 science is 22 and 24-26 (30 points), grade 8 science 24 and 28-30 (35 points), grade 8 social studies 22 and 32-34 (40 points). The blueprints are marked draft and start with the fall 2027 BOY and the spring 2028 EOY.
What question types are on the SST?
Four types: multiple choice, multiple select (2 points), inline choice, a drop-down inside the text (2 points), and multi-part questions (2 points). The reading EOY also has one essay (extended constructed response), now scored on a 6-point rubric instead of STAAR's 10 points, and STAAR's short written answers are gone.
Will SST questions be released?
EOY questions, yes: TEA will release them the way it releases spring STAAR tests now. BOY and MOY questions will not be released, because those tests are adaptive and every student sees different questions. TEA says its practice test site will be updated and stay available.
What is the SST field test in February 2027?
A one-time tryout of new SST questions, February 1-5, 2027, online only. It is required at campuses TEA selected (districts were told by August 21, 2026) and at every campus that gives STAAR Spanish reading in grades 3-5. Schools should plan 2-3 hours. Schools and families get no scores from it. Campuses rated F in 2024-25 and those giving NAEP this year were left out of the English sample.
Can my district use MAP, i-Ready or another test instead of the SST?
For BOY and MOY only, possibly. HB 8 lets districts use a norm-referenced test from a TEA-approved list instead of the state BOY and MOY, and the district pays for it. The EOY is always the SST. TEA's timeline said the approved list would be published in September 2026; it had not been posted when we checked on October 19, 2026, so no product is approved yet. Ask your district which BOY and MOY test it plans to use.
When do spring 2027 STAAR scores come out?
For grades 3-8, TEA's schedule sends results to districts on May 28, 2027, and to the Family Portal on June 15, 2027. Final reports reach the Family Portal on July 22, 2027. See our STAAR 2027 dates page for every window and results date.
Does the Student Success Tool still affect school ratings?
Yes. HB 8 keeps the A-F accountability system, and the new assessment still feeds into school ratings. Low ratings can still trigger state sanctions, including school closure or state intervention. The change is in how students are tested, not in whether the results matter for schools.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from these Texas Education Agency documents. Last reviewed .
- TEA — House Bill 8 FAQ (updated August 20, 2026)
- TEA — 2027-2028 Student Assessment Testing Calendar (final, April 2026)
- TEA — School Year 2027-28 Testing Calendar letter (March 19, 2026)
- TEA — 2026-2027 Student Assessment Testing Calendar (updated August 2026)
- TEA — Spring 2026 HB 8 Assessment Updates (slides)
- TEA — House Bill 8 update, summer 2026 (slides)
- TEA — Selection for February 2027 SST Stand-Alone Field Test (August 21, 2026)
- TEA — Notice of February 2027 SST Stand-Alone Field Test (May 26, 2026)
- TEA — Call for HB 8 Alternative BOY & MOY Assessment Instruments
- TEA — House Bill 8: Student Assessment (blueprints, rubrics, samples)
- TEA — Overview of House Bill 8
- TEA — 2028 A-F Accountability Rating Framework
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