TX House members ask Morath for STAAR opt out

A large, bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers has sent a letter to Education Commissioner Mike Morath, asking him to create a mechanism that would allow students and families to opt out of the STAAR exams. The letter was in the name of House Public Education Committee member Rep. Diego Bernal and was signed by new House Public Education Committee Chair Harold Dutton and several other committee members, as well as dozens of other House members. The request is primarily based on concern over the requirement that students take the test in person.

Requiring that all students be in-person for the administration of exams creates an untenable environment that puts students and school personnel at immense risk of transmission. Since it is evident that the Agency has no plans to seek the federal waivers necessary to cancel the 2020-2021 administration of the STAAR, something we strongly believe the Agency should reconsider, at a minimum it should allow students and their families the opportunity to opt-out of the exam.

Click here to see the full letter and signatures.