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Santa Fe ISD administrators outline new three‑test state schedule under House Bill 8
Summary
District staff briefed trustees on House Bill 8 changes to state assessments: beginning‑, middle‑ and end‑of‑year tests (grades 3–8), with beginning and middle tests adaptive and shorter; some operational details remain unspecified and end‑of‑year remains cumulative.
Miss Harris told the board the state’s changes under House Bill 8 will introduce three assessment windows — beginning, middle and end of year — for grades 3 through 8. She said the beginning‑ and middle‑year assessments will be adaptive and shorter; the end‑of‑year assessment remains cumulative.
Miss Harris said new test directions will use language intended to reduce student anxiety and that high school students will see the new directions first. She also said the English II EOC (end‑of‑course) will be removed going forward but that graduates in the classes of 2026 and 2027 will still face a transitional requirement.
"All 3 tests are gonna be required for grades 3 through 8," Miss Harris said. She added the district has received limited written guidance and that many operational questions — such as how the beginning and middle assessments will factor into accountability — remain unresolved.
Trustees asked clarifying questions about timing and accountability; Miss Harris said the state has not finalized scoring or accountability rules and that districts should expect more guidance in the months ahead.
