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Read. Follow. Verify.Texas bill prohibits using state assessments as sole teacher evaluation criterion and authorizes adaptive interim testing under federal waiver
Last action · August 20, 2025: Referred to Public EducationSponsor: Matt Shaheen
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What This Bill Proposed
Texas public school districts are prohibited from using certain required student assessment results as the sole criterion for teacher evaluations or compensation, effective for the 2026-2027 school year, pending a federal waiver from the U.S. Department of Education.
Changes how teacher performance is evaluated and allows school districts to replace standard state testing with adaptive interim assessments if federal approval is granted.
- Public school student assessments in Texas are generally governed by Chapter 39 of the Education Code and federal requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act. context
- The bill was introduced by Representative Shaheen during the 89th Legislature's called session. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Teachers
School districts
Districts are granted the option to adopt or develop adaptive, growth-based interim assessment instruments if a federal waiver is approved.
Public school students
Students may be assessed using adaptive, growth-based interim instruments administered in electronic formats during the school year instead of standard assessments.
Commissioner of Education
The commissioner must apply for a federal waiver by January 1, 2026, and adopt necessary implementation rules.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can school districts replace standard state tests immediately?
Can a teacher's pay or evaluation be based entirely on standard student assessment scores?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
3 actions- Aug 20, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to Public Education
- Aug 20, 2025HouseIntroducedRead first time
- Aug 15, 2025HouseIntroducedFiled
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Shift Toward Adaptive Growth-Based Assessments
The legislation provides a legal mechanism for Texas school districts to transition from standardized uniform testing to adaptive interim testing, contingent on federal waiver approval.
Connected Entities
Sources
capitol.texas.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 75)
- Controversy50Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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