TEXAS– A total of 68 Texas legislators signed a bipartisan letter asking the Texas Education Agency to cancel the STAAR exam this school year. In the letter sent by Rep. Diego Bernal on Wednesday, the lawmaker is asking the TEA to cancel the exam and have it be used as a “diagnostic tool” instead.
Bernal represents a district that covers downtown and north-central San Antonio and serves as vice-chairman of the State House Public Education Committee.
In his letter, Bernal addressed the “COVID Slide” which refers to the belief that the virus has impacted large numbers of students to the point that many are now behind and/or failing drastically.
In July, Gov. Greg Abbott waived the grade promotion requirement related to the STAAR exam for 5th and 8th-grade students. Since receiving his letter the Texas State Teachers Association tweeted out they applaud and support all 68 members for their efforts to have the STAAR testing canceled this school year.