September 16, 2025
Special Session Actions Affecting Education
The Texas Legislature blew through two special sessions this summer. The first special legislative session ended in a stalemate over congressional redistricting when a critical number of state representatives left the state to break their quorum for the Texas House to do business.
On the same day the first special session expired, legislators began the second special session called by the Texas Governor. Below are the updates on the main items that IDRA monitored.
Eliminating the STAAR exam – Not really…
Legislators passed House Bill 8, which restructures the state assessment exam from STAAR to a new exam for third through eighth graders to be developed by the Texas Education Agency.
The new exam will be administered three times per year instead of once, at the beginning, middle and end of the year. The beginning- and middle-of-year exams can be norm-referenced exams if districts choose to do so. The final end-of-year exam will be aligned to course standards, or criterion-referenced, to assess students’ learning just as the present-day STAAR exam does.
It will have restrictions on the test’s duration, benchmark exams and grading procedures. It also requires that parents be able to access their students’ results within two business days.
It will be developed over the next two years and will be rolled out in the 2027-28 school year.
HB 8 also reduced the high school end-of-course exams from five to four by eliminating the English II end-of-course exam.
In addition, there will be new requirements for how the Commissioner of Education adjusts the A-F accountability system, including broader authority to alter accountability indicators, and restrictions on school districts that want to bring a legal challenge against the state based on their accountability ratings.
Caps on Local Property Tax Revenue – Did Not Pass
Senate Bill 10 was the main measure that legislators discussed to severely restrict how cities and counties with over 75,000 residents set their local tax rates to generate new local revenue funds.
The bill did not apply to school district tax rates but would still have impacted municipal funding for key social services and infrastructure by restricting new voter-approved tax rates to 2.5%, despite rising costs.
Ultimately, legislators could not agree on the provisions in the bill, and it failed to pass by the end of the special session.
U.S. Congressional Redistricting
Texas legislators adopted new congressional election maps through HB 4 earlier in the second special session after much debate and following the return of over 50 Democratic House representatives from a prior break of quorum. The new maps primarily alter Democratic-held congressional seats to create five additional Republican-leaning districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The new maps are already under litigation by LULAC and other parties.
New electoral maps shift how Texans are represented in the U.S. Congress, which makes pivotal decisions about education funding, accountability and oversight over major federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Education, as well as other policies that impact students and families.
Webinar: Understanding New Texas Education Laws – September 24
September 24, 2025 • 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM CT
Texas schools are facing significant changes this year. This webinar will break down the most impactful new education laws from funding to discipline to diversity initiatives. You’ll also get practical insights to help educators, advocates and communities can respond.
Presenters: Chloe Latham Sikes, Ph.D., IDRA Deputy Director of Policy; and Paige Duggins-Clay, J.D., Chief Legal Analyst.
Register to receive the event link and updates!
Click to Act: Stop Unfair Voucher Rules Before New Program Begins
Texas is moving forward with its first-ever statewide private school voucher program, created by Senate Bill 2 during the regular legislative session. The new program is housed under the Texas Comptroller’s office.
The comptroller’s office posted its proposed rules for the school voucher program that is set to begin in the 2026-27 school year. Texans have until September 20 to submit public comments on the new program rules that detail who can participate in the program, how the application and selection process will work, and the program requirements.
We know vouchers are wrong for Texas, but since this program is moving forward, it’s important that the rules do not allow discrimination.
Your voice in this comment process can help hold state leaders accountable. Use our easy action template to send your comment now! We’ve provided a template you can customize or just click and send!
Hurry! The deadline is September 20!
Click to Act: Protect Texas Dreamers
June 4, a federal judge ruled the Texas Dream Act unconstitutional, halting in-state tuition for undocumented students just as many began their summer semesters and without public input. The decision came just hours after the U.S. Department of Justice sued the state to end the law, an action the Texas Attorney General supported instead of defending Texas’s own policy.
This back-door deal sent shockwaves to thousands of Texas Dreamers who are now unable to afford their education this school year.
Since then, there has been much confusion about how colleges carry out the court’s ruling. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the body that determines rules for colleges and universities to follow, has begun rulemaking on the halting of the Texas Dream Act.
These rules reshape how Texas decides who qualifies for in-state tuition, waivers, and exemptions at all public and private colleges and universities. They raise serious concerns for students and families.
Your action is working!
Originally, our campaign asked the coordinating board to hold a public hearing before the rules can take effect. Thanks to advocates who pushed for the hearing, it has now been scheduled for September 22!
Testify in person! You’ll need to register in advance.
Keep up the pressure and submit a public comment.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board still needs to hear Texans calling for protection of our Dreamer students.
Send your comment using our easy action form. We’ve provided a template you can customize or just click and send!
Share why students deserve clear, consistent rules – not confusion.
The deadline is September 28!
