MFISD prepares for new exam model as STAAR fades out
The Marble Falls Independent School District is bracing for a major change in student assessment as Texas phases out the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness exam, better known as STAAR. It will be replaced with shorter, more frequent tests starting in the 2027-28 school year.
“The proposed model is expected to deliver results more quickly and at multiple points throughout the year, potentially offering more actionable data for educators and families,” MFISD Superintendent Dr. Jeff Gasaway told DailyTrib.com.
The decision to replace STAAR followed growing frustration with Texas’ education accountability system. Several Central Texas public school districts, including those near Marble Falls, criticized recent changes to the scoring formula, arguing it lacked transparency and failed to reflect actual student progress.
House Bill 8, passed by the Texas Legislature and signed into law in September 2025, is intended to address those concerns by replacing STAAR with a new system designed for real-time feedback. While the format will remain digital and the content areas unchanged, students will be tested three times a year instead of once.
As MFISD prepares for the upcoming change, it continues to demonstrate consistent performance under the current system. The district earned an overall “C” rating of 75 for the 2025 school year, a slight increase from 74 in 2024. However, with little change in year-over-year results, district leaders see potential in the new system to drive more targeted improvements.
“While no subject area experienced a decline, there were no significant gains in any one content area either,” Gasaway said. “Overall, student achievement remained stable across most grade levels.”
District officials noted that while STAAR results inform instruction, they are only one aspect of a broader view of student learning.
For MFISD, the testing change is not expected to cause major disruptions.
“MFISD already monitors student progress at the beginning, middle, and end of the year,” Gasaway said.
Still, questions remain about how the new model will improve on the old one.
“It is currently difficult to assess how the new system will address STAAR’s limitations, as detailed information about the design and implementation is still forthcoming,” Gasaway said.
Once the new system is in place, MFISD plans to evaluate its effectiveness compared to the current model.
“Following the implementation in the 2027-28 school year, MFISD will compare student performance under the new assessment model to historical STAAR data to evaluate its effectiveness and impact,” Gasaway said.