Texas Students Take STAAR Exams as Testing Format Changes Loom

New three-test format to begin in 2027-2028 school year, making this one of the last times students will test with the current STAAR format.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:39pm

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a student studying at a desk, with blurred textbooks, pencils, and a laptop in the foreground, surrounded by a warm, hazy wash of muted colors, conceptually representing the mental focus and preparation required for high-stakes academic testing.As Texas students navigate the final years of the current STAAR testing format, experts emphasize the importance of self-care and mental well-being during the high-stakes exam season.Waco Today

Students across Texas are taking the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) exams this week, marking one of the last times they will face the current single-test format before a new three-test system takes effect in the 2027-2028 school year. The current STAAR exams assess students in math, reading, science, and social studies from grades 3 to 8, as well as for certain high school courses, to determine if they are below, approaching, meeting, or mastering academic standards.

Why it matters

The upcoming changes to the STAAR testing format are part of a broader effort by Texas lawmakers to revamp the state's assessment system. The new three-test format, which will include a beginning-of-year, middle-of-year, and end-of-year exam, aims to provide more frequent and adaptive feedback to students and teachers throughout the academic year.

The details

During the last legislative session, Texas lawmakers passed a bill to overhaul the STAAR testing format. The new system, which won't take effect until the 2027-2028 school year, will include a beginning-of-year test that will be adaptive, meaning it will adjust based on students' performance on the questions. There will also be a middle-of-year test and a final end-of-year assessment that will be the same for all students.

  • Students are taking the current STAAR exams this week.
  • The new three-test format will begin in the 2027-2028 school year.
  • Results from the current STAAR exams will be released by the end of May 2026.

The players

Tish Ptomey

The Regional Testing Coordinator with Region 12, who provided details on the upcoming changes to the STAAR testing format.

Dr. Kristy Donaldson

A professional counselor and the owner of Premier Neurofeedback and Counseling Services, who offered advice to Texas students on prioritizing their health and managing anxiety during the testing season.

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What they’re saying

“Beginning of the year middle of the year and end of the year test and so the beginning of the year will be required for grades 3 through 8 it will also be adaptive so it will adjust based on students' performance of the question and then they will have that one end of year assessment that will be the same for all and so that's very similar to what they are currently doing.”

— Tish Ptomey, Regional Testing Coordinator, Region 12

“We want to get consistent sleep, 9 to 11 hours for elementary students and 8 to 10 for teens and nutritious meals.”

— Dr. Kristy Donaldson, Professional Counselor, Owner of Premier Neurofeedback and Counseling Services

“We want to recognize when we are feeling overwhelmed have strategies to help us and also as adults remember how it feels before you have a big meeting or you have something that's difficult or that you are nervous about remember how that feels so that you can support the child in the same way that you would want to be supported in that moment.”

— Dr. Kristy Donaldson, Professional Counselor, Owner of Premier Neurofeedback and Counseling Services

What’s next

The new three-test STAAR format will be implemented starting in the 2027-2028 school year, making this one of the last times students will take the current single-test version of the exams.

The takeaway

The upcoming changes to the STAAR testing format in Texas represent a significant shift in the state's approach to student assessment, moving towards a more frequent and adaptive system that aims to provide better feedback to students and teachers throughout the academic year. As students navigate the current STAAR exams, experts emphasize the importance of prioritizing health, sleep, and mental well-being to ensure the best possible performance.