The End of STAAR: What Texas Parents Need to Know | Mary Lynn Pruneda

Texas used to be one of the best states in the country at math. Today, only 44% of our third graders are on grade level in math, and we've had one of the biggest declines on the Nation's Report Card of any state. So what happened? This week I'm joined again by Mary Lynn Pruneda, Director of Education and Workforce Policy at Texas 2036 and one of the leading experts on assessment, accountability, and school finance in our state. Mary Lynn walks us through the history, from the Ann Richards and George W. Bush era, when Texas took off on the Nation's Report Card, to the three big changes around 2011 that sent our math scores downhill. She also explains why so many people came to hate the STAAR test, and why it was often the only thing telling parents the truth. In this episode, we talk about: What the 2026 STAAR results really tell us, and why math is still behind where we were before the pandemic What's replacing the STAAR test: shorter tests at the beginning, middle, and end of the year, with results going to parents within 48 hours, starting in the 2027–2028 school year How House Bill 8 cracks down on excessive test prep and gives parents a way to report over-testing Why your child's A's and B's might not mean they're on grade level, and what The Opportunity Myth found The new Texas 2036 poll showing that getting kids to read and do math on grade level is the #1 issue Texas voters care about Why the TEKS matter so much, and what I saw firsthand at the State Board of Education Short-form content, dopamine, and why parents have to model what we expect from our kids Why New York City spends about $50,000 per student and still struggles, while high-poverty schools in Webb County are some of the best in the state The supports Texas offers struggling schools, why more districts aren't using them, and what the upcoming TEA sunset review could fix If you care about whether Texas kids are getting what they need to live their best lives, this is a conversation you don't want to miss. Children will live up to, or down to, our expectations, and it's time we raised them. Connect with Mary Lynn: Texas 2036: Texas2036.org Twitter/X: @marylynnpruneda Join us next week as we keep talking about how to transform K–12 education and learn all the things we should have been taught! About The Ashley B. Cash Show: The Ashley B. Cash Show features conversations with education leaders, policy experts, parents, teachers and reform advocates who are working to transform K-12 education. Host Ashley B. Cash brings her perspective as both a parent and business owner to explore systemic education issues and practical solutions for creating better outcomes for students, families, and communities. About Ashley: As both a mother and business owner, Ashley brings a unique dual perspective to education reform advocacy, driven by her desire for better educational outcomes for future generations and informed by her firsthand experience with the skills gap facing employers today. Her passion for transforming K-12 education stems from witnessing the real-world consequences of educational failures and recognizing the critical need for a system that prepares students for diverse career pathways, not just college. Through this podcast, Ashley champions solutions including aptitude-based education tracks, expanded school choice, practical skills integration, and alternative career pathways that align with students' individual strengths and interests. Follow @AshleyBCashOfficial on Instagram & @Ashley Bowes Cash on Facebook. Visit www.AshleyBCashOfficial.com for more content and features.