Why Even Give a Law If You Can Opt Out? The Confusing Reality of STAAR Testing

Growing up, I remember taking the TAAS test — you took it, you passed, you moved on. Simple. No confusion. No endless debates. Fast forward to today, and things are a mess. Now, we’ve got students being presented with the STAAR test even after supposedly opting out. Houston ISD says that state law “requires that every eligible student participate in STAAR and that every district gives every eligible student an opportunity to take the STAAR test,” but somehow around 100 students a year just… don’t.

Here’s my question: If it’s a law, why is opting out even an option? And if it’s not truly enforced, then what’s the point of calling it a “law” at all? What’s even wilder? You don’t even have to pass it to move on or graduate anymore. Back in the day, if you didn’t pass the TAAS, you were stuck — period. Today, the STAAR is more like a glorified check-in than an actual gatekeeper for your academic future.

Now let me be clear: I understand why the state still administers it. It’s not about punishing students — it’s about measuring whether teachers are teaching the curriculum and whether students are actually absorbing it. It’s meant to show how the district is doing, not to declare your kid’s entire life path. If you think this test determines if your child will have a “good life,” you’ve completely missed the point. There are tons of people out here who didn’t pass every standardized test, didn’t finish college, or even didn’t finish high school — and guess what? They’re thriving. They’re successful. The STAAR isn’t a crystal ball. It’s just a basic measurement tool.

It gives you, as a parent, insight into where your child stands academically. It’s information you can use — not a final judgment on your child’s worth or future. Now, to address some of the reasons floating around for opting out — let’s be real. Your religious beliefs shouldn’t even be considered a valid reason to opt out. Seriously — what does a math, reading, and writing test have to do with your religion? The STAAR test isn’t preaching to your kid, teaching doctrine, or asking them to compromise their faith. It’s basic skills that every student needs, regardless of personal belief systems.

If we’re letting people opt out of basic education standards for vague “moral” or “religious” reasons, what’s next? Are we going to let surgeons skip anatomy tests because they “morally disagree” with cadaver dissection? Are we going to let pilots skip flight exams because they “feel stressed” about it? Come on. Nobody’s crying “religious freedom” when it comes time to take professional licensing exams that protect real lives. We shouldn’t be doing it for kids’ basic education either.

Now, I do understand — teaching strictly to a test isn’t ideal for anyone. It’s frustrating for teachers, boring for students, and exhausting for parents. But I also see the district’s side of it: they have to know whether students are actually grasping the basics for their grade level. Because again — we don’t want high school graduates who can’t read or do basic math.

And another thing: I personally feel that parents should be able to hold their child back if they’re not ready for the next grade. But from what my son’s teachers told me, that’s no longer allowed because of concerns about kids’ mental health and the embarrassment of being held back. I get that — nobody wants their kid to feel bad. But let’s be honest: It’s way more embarrassing to be a middle schooler who can’t read beyond a first-grade level. We’re doing these kids no favors by just pushing them through the system unprepared.

In the recent HISD coverage, some parents, like Quezada, said standardized tests don’t determine their children’s success. Other parents said they opted out because of “religious and moral beliefs” or frustration over how much class time is dedicated to testing. Liz Silva, for example, shared that the curriculum at Crockett Elementary, under Superintendent Mike Miles’ New Education System, has become even more focused on test prep.

And you know what? There’s truth to their frustrations. Teaching kids just to pass a test is not real education — and nobody wants school to feel like a test factory. But tossing out accountability altogether? That’s not the answer either.

At the end of the day, the STAAR test — like the TAAS we took back in the day — isn’t perfect. But it does serve a purpose: to measure whether kids are learning what they’re supposed to at their grade level. It’s not a life sentence. It’s not the end of the world. It’s a tool — one that, if used correctly, can actually help kids who need it the most.

Bring back the clarity of the TAAS era. At least then we understood the goal: Learn the basics, prove you know them, and move on prepared.

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